Swapping Marbles: How to Get a Top-Notch Site Without Paying a Dime

My father is a lawyer, and a good number of his clients are plumbers, plasterers and car mechanics. When they get in trouble, they call my father, because they know that he will rescue them in their hour of need-and they won't have to pony up their rent money for legal fees. My father trades his legal services for drywall, wiring and car repair, and with a nearly 200 year-old- house and a car that's not far behind, he puts that labor to good use. Though "barter and trade" sounds like a medieval concept, it's actually a very common occurrence, even in big corporations. Huge dot-coms often swap ad banners with restaurants and sports promoters, who supply them with event sites, gift certificates, and "shwag" for contest giveaways. Most of the small business owners I know have been a little squeamish about dipping into the barter and trade pool, unless they're massage therapists, naturopaths or Reiki practitioners (until insurance companies cover alternative healthcare modalities, these friends will be forced to get creative with their compensation, whether they want to or not). So what does this have to do with websites? Plenty. I know many webmasters and mistresses who have swapped their services for hypnotherapy sessions, vintage clothes, horseback riding lessons and housecleaning. What holds most of us back from hiring a professional web designer is cost. However, there's nothing saying that money has to even come into the picture, if you have something your designer needs (or even better, just wants!). Put ads on bulletin boards, the local paper, or ask around; maybe one of your best friends has a kid in college who's studying web design, and could use your site as an opportunity to start building his or her portfolio. You can also trade for instruction on how to update or re-design your site yourself, or a tutorial on how to use the latest, cutting-edge software. If you feel a little reticent, don't. It's just like marbles when you're a kid. Your friend wants your green marble, and you want his orange marble, so you trade 'em across the table. It's as simple as that. Take it from a second-generation barterer rader: when I've traded writing or editing for carpet-cleaning or a haircut, not only was I able to eat off my floor, or drive without having to peer through a curtain of hair, but I felt all the closer to my hairdresser or my housecleaner afterwards. Trading is not only a cost-effective way of doing business, but you'll be strengthening your ties to other small businesspeople-and your entire community.