Effectively Using Barter for Business

Why I joined a barter system?

•   I needed exposure to a new group of clients.

•   Turbo-boost over the initial start-up

•   Build my portfolio with easy sales

•   Less cash going out of business

Starting out:

•   Didn’t do anything because I didn’t really understand how to get started.

•   First Customer $1000.00 sale – Woohoo!

It was on!:

• I revamped my entire spending for personal and professional –Pharmacy, school supplies, computers, projector, ink, snow board, skateboard, shoes, gps, iPod, gifts, food, office supplies, glasses, dentist, jewelry, gutters, landscaping, mulch, VCR, DVD, guitar, Mary Kay, pampered chef, backpacks, bike, bunk beds…

How to build a successful Trade Business:

• Build relationship, don’t just make transactions

• Treat trade customer the same as cash customers – they can lead to cash customers (only if they would recommend you even if you weren’t on trade)

• Remember you should be treated like any other paying customer – just because they can’t do it right away doesn’t mean its because you are on trade. You may just have to wait your turn.

•  Realize not every trade business is the same. If you have a time service that you can offer 100% on trade it does not mean that everyone else is able to offer 100% on trade. Some businesses have up front $ charges that it just doesn’t make sense that they would be able to offer 100% on trade. Be reasonable in your expectations and you will be treated reasonable as a customer.

• Encourage Trade partners to use your other services and learn about your company. Create ambassadors and repeat business not just one-time customers.

Use tradebank as another marketing outlet for your business.

• Daily emails, classified ads, wants and haves online, run specials, attend Trade U, attend networking and social events.

•   Sponsor events, set up at tradeshows, have events and invite Trade members.

Tell other people about Tradebank:

• More members = more opportunities for sales and options for spending.

Get to know your broker and Regional manager:

•   Every transaction consists of 2 of their clients and it only benefits them if both parties are happy.

•   The more they know about you and what you offer the more they can do for you.

•   Contact them before you BUY anything!

Keep Your Customers, Keep them Happy!

The most important thing you do as a business owner is to make your current customers happy. This is the basis for repeat business, referrals and overall ongoing new business for you company. If you cannot retain your current customers you will have a very short-lived existence in the business world. I wanted to break this down to a step-by-step how-to for not only keeping clients but how to keep them happy and coming back!

1. Show that you Value Your Clients Time and Choice to Work with You! – Your client could have gone with any number of other contractors or consultants and they chose you. Your acknowledgment of that fact will show by how you manage your time for them. If you say you will be there – get there and be prepared – on time and without excuses.
“To be early is to be on time, to be on time is to be late.”

2. Communicate. Communicate. Communicate. – So many times, people get contracts and dig right in and do not let the customer know of progress being made. The customer then either thinks they have been forgotten or that they hired a bad choice and start looking for ways to fix their mistake. It is YOUR job to relay to the customer what progress is being made and what timeline you are on for finishing… but do not make the mistake of over promising. Make your time goals realistic and then add a few days for the unseen circumstances that will undoubtedly arise.

3. Be Flexible, but not a Push-Over – Every client is not the same so be careful at being too tied to your personal communication preference or your timeline. Customers sometimes need to spread out a project for financial reasons or may not be comfortable with certain communication methods (i.e. – texting or email when they prefer phone calls or office visits). If you want to retain their business you must realize that you may have to give on your preference for timing and communication. It is better for you to your methods rather than to put your customer out of their comfort zone and create a stress in the relationship.

4. Avoid Surprising your Customer with Billing – You do not want the end of an otherwise good contract to be filled with any surprise about pricing or how they got their bill. In the beginning, you should make it very clear on what the billing process will look like. From down payment to final installment, they should know what to expect and when. You may think it is not a big deal to send a bill right away but for business owners and home owners, they are looking for that bill and want it off their minds and books. There should be no surprises in what the price is either. All contracts should clearly state pricing and how add-ons work so there are no questions. If something gets changed during the contract it should be in writing with pricing quoted clearly.

5. Continuously ask for Feedback – When you are starting the process of a new contract, ask the customer if there is anything you did not answer for them that they have questions about. During the process, ask them how they believe the process is going. After the job is complete, ask for feedback on your performance and if it is good – GET THE REFERRAL!

Becoming A Resource – Using Great Resources

“Knowing what you have to offer and understanding your limits is essential to turning a business idea into reality.” Caron Beesley

With the job market being competitive it is important to have clarity about who you are and what you have to offer to know which new work options are attainable for you. Finding a new career and then embarking the journey requires research. Explore the industry and role that interest you by:
• Make connections –
o Person to Person – Networking/Conferences/Political Luncheons/etc.
o LinkedIn – Twitter if it fits. (business black box, GSA
• Read Articles online and off –
o World View – Twitter, Inc.com, Success, Forbes, Harvard Business, Business.gov
o Local – Business Black Box, Greenville Talk, Greenville Business, GSA Today, Behind the Counter, etc
• Take Action -
You can actively pursue your desired career with the wisdom of people who are already in it. You only need three steps to become a resource in your field.

1. Connect Your Interest to Your Field Activists –
Training yourself to be confident in talking to your potential peers is not an easy step. Start by talking to people you meet about things you have in common – such as non-profits, hobbies, interests, location or local interest stories. Practicing finding common ground with strangers and talking easily with new people will help build you confidence. Try to find where your industry peers are going to be to mingle with them – Be creative in tracking your industry peers.

2. Learn the Skills and Connect with those who Have them -
When you find people in similar positions that you desire to have ask them if they could meet for coffee. Do not ask for work or tell them that is your motive for wanting to meet. Be there to learn and not to take advantage! Always be prepared to find out more if the opportunity for work comes up but be sure that you know what you are looking for and that you are not going to be asked to deliver outside of your real knowledge and skill level. Always ask if they know of others in the field that may be a valuable resource for you to find out more about the industry. Most people love being asked to share their knowledge and will be flattered that you thought of them as a mentor. Always send a thank you note and reiterate the value you found in them personally and professionally – don’t forget your contact information – Just in case!

3. Employment -
If you have taken adequate time to really make the first two steps, then you are ready to make yourself the walking resource you set out to be. Ideally, after you have mingled with potential co-workers and interview those already in the industry, you have found a place where you see yourself joining that world. If not, start over with a different industry – it may be that through this process you have realized the initial industry you desired is not really for you at all. You should plan a good 4 – 6 months of transition time if you are switching industries. If you have indeed found your niche in your desired industry, start pursuing interviews with your new-found knowledge and connections. Contact those that you have connected with over the past few months and let them know what you have done. Whether you have taken a class or two or self-taught – if you have really done your work – you can approach the interviewing process you’re your new industry knowing that you can be valuable to that company and showing them what you have done to make good use of your transition time. Be prepared to prove it and do not embellish!

• Hoover’s: comprehensive directory to company and industry information; in-depth coverage of companies; basic search information available for free: for example, find company overviews showing company subsidiaries or units, company address, phone, and Web site URL as well as key numbers such as yearly sales, number of employees, and key people; subscribers can get more detail
• CNNMoney: Web presence of Fortune, Money, Business 2.0, and Fortune Small Business paper magazine about business; news, markets, technology, jobs, personal finance, real estate; rankings such as lists like the Fortune 500 and the best cities for business
• Inc: for entrepreneurs and small business owners; outgrowth of the paper Inc. magazine; resource centers, Inc. 500 list, columns, technology, startups, events, Inc. TV videos
• AllBusiness: business questions and practical solutions; how-to articles, contracts and agreements, expert advice, blogs, business news, business directory listings, product comparisons, business guides, a small business association; geared to small, growing businesses
• Business.gov: US Government-related business information; businesses involved in US federal government services, information, and transactions; covers doing business with the government, international trade, labor, laws, the latest news, and finance; if you are doing business with the U.S. government or own a business in the United States, this site is a must-see; strength: authoritative, deep, and comprehensive coverage
• Others with good articles – inc.com, forbes.com, success.com, allbusiness.com, entrepreneur.com, CEO Express.com

Caron Beesley has over 15 years of experience working in marketing, with a particular focus on the government sector. Caron is also a small business owner and works with the Business.gov team to promote essential government resources for small business owners.

Business.gov -
• Start a Business
• Register a Business
• Loans & Grants
• Run a Business
• Business Law
• Business Opportunities
• Business Types & Industries
• State & Local
• Doing Business in your State