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Anyone barter their offline marketing skills for stuff they want?

by Tiger66466
17 replies
I'd like to get a new (to me) car. I've been looking around and have found some used cars that appeal to me.

I had the idea to see if any of these dealerships would be interested in bartering with me. Especially since I'm interested in a used car, not a brand new one. I have a lot of skills with online marketing that I could offer - video, text message marketing, mobile website, etc.

I was just curious if any of you have effectively bartered your offline marketing skills to get a car or something else that is usually pricey.

If you HAVE - any tips or advise/suggestions would be appreciated.

Thanks,
Stacy
#barter #marketing #offline #skills #stuff
  • Profile picture of the author SashaLee
    Hi there,

    Why not just sell them the services for $$ and buy the car you want?

    All the best,

    Sasha.
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    • Profile picture of the author Claude Whitacre
      Of course I have. Not every dealer will be open to it, but some will. The thing is, you have to start with the idea of online marketing. When the price comes up (usually pretty early) just say "You're in luck. I need a car. I'll just take my fee in car value. Fair enough?" You will never lose that deal.

      You'll have a client who really wants what you offer, and really really won't shop you on price, because it's a trade.

      I traded (not for a car, sorry) my online service for $5,000 in hand made furniture, tons of printing (that took over a year to even out), and carpeting for my store.

      And every person I ever bought advertising from, bought a high end vacuum cleaner from me. Win-win.

      I don't know why more people haven't asked that question. Good luck.
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    • Profile picture of the author shane_k
      Originally Posted by SashaLee View Post

      Hi there,

      Why not just sell them the services for $$ and buy the car you want?

      All the best,

      Sasha.

      Because bartering can be fun.

      But it is also just another option to have in your tool box.

      They might not be open to spending money but they might be open to bartering or trading services.

      @Tiger 66466 do a search for "IamNameless" on of the members of this forum.

      He had a great post (at least I think it was him) in July or September of last year where he bartered for a Boat!
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  • Profile picture of the author vndnbrgj
    That is how I got my first client.
    Everyone said to give away something for free to get your foot in the door.
    Well, to me my knowledge was vaulable.
    So I traded chiropractic care for 4, for local SEO.
    Started at a total of 8 visits a week, now its 2.5 a week.
    I hardly do anything for the SEO any more.
    I save $400 a month, get a testimonial, and referrals.

    Bartering works well.
    My brother does it for HVAC.
    Trades for plumbing, painting, flooring, drywall, electrical, construction, trailers, just about everything.
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  • Profile picture of the author Jon Martin
    Made a website for a drivers-ed company in exchange for enrollment in a course + some additional one-on-one lessons. Saved myself from paying a good $900 haha. Bartering and trading up services/products can be a lot of fun.
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    • Profile picture of the author AndrewCavanagh
      Many businesses will be willing to barter and most will
      be very happy to barter if you barter soft costs.

      In other words the car cost the dealer real money to
      buy but if you offer to pay the dealer's cost on the car
      and barter services for the rest he'd be crazy to pass
      up that deal.

      The same is true for other businesses.



      When I started out I didn't buy anything without first
      thinking "can I barter my services for this product or
      service?"

      You get experience dealing with clients, potential referral
      sources and you save money on products and services
      you're going to buy.

      It's a great idea for someone starting out.

      Further down the road when you have more skill and
      experience you can look at bartering when you make
      significant purchases or ongoing purchases.

      Kindest regards,
      Andrew Cavanagh
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      • Profile picture of the author RenegadeSC
        I barter all the time. As a marketer, your clients always feel like they are getting a good deal because you have shown the value in your services. While I have not bartered for a car, I have for many other things.

        I have a client who owns 4 restaurants. As part of the deal, I get $400 in meals every month. The meals are placed on a gift card and while I never use it all every month, I do give the card to other clients to have a meal on me. Potential clients love it when I bring them to one of the restaurants and I pay for the meal. I've closed many deals over a good meal I "paid" for with bartered services.

        I have another day spa client who has agreed to "throw in" 2 free massages a month. It's rare that I'll give those away. I love the service!

        I did have one client willing to give me a motorcycle in exchange for services. I already own a Harley so I took the cash instead.

        You can barter in exchange for all your services or a portion. You'd be surprised how many would offer some of MORE value if they didn't have to pay in cash.

        I know of one Warrior who was given a 7-day Caribbean cruise in exchange for a web redesign.

        Bartering works!
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      • Profile picture of the author Claude Whitacre
        Originally Posted by AndrewCavanagh View Post

        Many businesses will be willing to barter and most will
        be very happy to barter if you barter soft costs.

        In other words the car cost the dealer real money to
        buy but if you offer to pay the dealer's cost on the car
        and barter services for the rest he'd be crazy to pass
        up that deal.

        The same is true for other businesses.


        Kindest regards,
        Andrew Cavanagh
        You're right about soft cost services being easier to barter. But I also barter with hard goods with little markuo.

        Used cars? The huge advantage is that the car is already paid for. The prospect doesn't have to come up with more money on the spot. And if the markup is 30% (on a used car) , that still sounds real good to the dealer.

        And I always trade at the retail value, on both ends.
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        • Profile picture of the author JayBay
          Nice topic! I made a gag craigslist ad about exchanging a website and 3 months SEO for a gently used car and got a bite from someone who sold auto mechanic supplies to different dealerships out his van! Needless to say I was stunned.
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  • Profile picture of the author sdentrepreneur
    I currently have 3 Barter Clients.

    1. Shared Workspace, I help them with SEO, SEM and Social Media, I get free use of the place.
    2. Limo Company, I get free use of limo or party buses, I just tip the driver, SEO, SEM, SMM
    3. Bar Restaurant, I get $300.00 Food/Drink tab, Social Media and Google Places.

    Both myself and clients love this type of trade.
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  • Profile picture of the author Andrew H
    I think Claude is dead on with this:

    The thing is, you have to start with the idea of online marketing. When the price comes up (usually pretty early) just say "You're in luck. I need a car. I'll just take my fee in car value. Fair enough?" You will never lose that deal.
    Go in and sell them on your services, and then transition to the car. Most likely you can get a better value car than you would simply for the money.
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  • Profile picture of the author Jeff Lenney
    I bartered for my wedding I saved about $6000 total on my wedding photographer and my wedding florist… it's possible you just have to make the right offer to thd right person :-)
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  • Profile picture of the author scottgallagher
    My barter experience currently includes Chiropractic services, dental services, Tae Kwon Do and a handful of others over the years. I put together to find a mutual attorney, with video, snail mail, email campaign to attorneys with no luck, it's against the bar association to barter.

    Barter is ok, but with all my current bartering clients, I still get paid, but their monthly fee is reduced by the cost I'd pay them. For example, my Chiropractor only pays me $750 a month and my whole family gets Chiro care twice a week. My son gets free Tae Kwon Do. We did their website and rang up a tab.
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    • Profile picture of the author James English
      I've only bartered once. I traded a mobile website for a years worth of free chinese food from one of my favorite restaurants up the street from me.

      Needless to say..it was a very bad move on my part. I am just barely getting back to my pre-chinese food weight. :p
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      • Profile picture of the author Tiger66466
        Originally Posted by Trent English View Post

        I've only bartered once. I traded a mobile website for a years worth of free chinese food from one of my favorite restaurants up the street from me.

        Needless to say..it was a very bad move on my part. I am just barely getting back to my pre-chinese food weight. :p
        Trent, that cracked me up! How did this transaction go down? Were you just really craving Chinese and thought you could eat it all the time? lol

        --Stacy
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        • Profile picture of the author James English
          Originally Posted by Tiger66466 View Post

          Trent, that cracked me up! How did this transaction go down? Were you just really craving Chinese and thought you could eat it all the time? lol

          --Stacy
          Honestly, this place is so good my roommate and I would order it about 2 times a week before I had the idea. The owner was pretty familiar with me after ordering from him for 3 months straight that it was fairly easy.

          I left the house one day and went into the restaurant and asked him how he was advertising. His response "we don't want to pay for any advertising for the first year of business so we can see where we stand". I just threw some mobile website statistics at him and mentioned that I would be willing to build him a site on trade for a years worth of food from his restaurant.

          Ordering two times a week quickly turned into four...I only kept it up for about two months until I got sick of it. I haven't eaten there since, but I refer friends and family to him all the time now!
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  • Profile picture of the author Tiger66466
    Great replies, everyone! Thank you.

    I've bartered a tiny bit. I HATE doing yard work and as Murphy's law would have it - I have a big yard. Last summer I found some folks on Craigslist advertising lawn care services that did not appear to have a website and contacted a couple. Got one guy to bite.

    If you would indulge me - any advice on how to best approach a business about bartering (not just for the car situation). Did you do as Claude suggested and sell them on the marketing and then say 'You're in luck - I actually want your services; let's barter/trade"? or bring up trading/bartering first?

    I love the idea of getting stuff I want for free. Of course, I like having paying clients too. A good mix of both is just fun.

    Thanks,
    Stacy
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