http://gobarterlink.com/weblog/ Weblog of the latest practices and news of barter en-us Nucleus CMS v3.51 � Weblog http://backend.userland.com/rss http://gobarterlink.com/weblog//nucleus/nucleus2.gif http://gobarterlink.com/weblog/ http://gobarterlink.com/weblog/index.php?itemid=11
In the course of conducting business I am often met with the question, “what if the business I am trading with does not have what I am looking for in return”. Must people seem to think that bartering is a “one-on-one” trade, where it is necessary to find someone with an item you want or need in return. While this scenario does describe a barter transaction, it is in fact not the way organized bartering works. When participating in organized bartering or as a member of a barter exchange, members actually trade their excess labor, capacity, or inventory for barter credits that can be spent just like cash. By utilizing this cash alternative businesses can maximize the value of their product or service while preserving their cash. This means that if your service business has unbilled hours, or if your retail business is left with unsold merchandise, each of these commodities can be traded at full value.

Another advantage of becoming an active participant in an organized barter exchange is the introduction of your product or service to what for many businesses is a new market. Selling to other businesses can not only increase your business-to-business sales, but will help you to attract new cash paying customers through referrals. In many instances the increase in referral business has resulted in both increased cash sales and expansion of a business’s existing customer base. Although you may think that organized bartering is not for your small business, statistics show that most businesses operate at less than 100% capacity. There is no reason why you would not consider converting those unused commodities into a valued asset.

Organized bartering does not replace your current cash business. It is instead used to augment your cash business by creating value from your unused assets. You do not have to find another business that has what you want or need to trade. Your barter exchange should work with you to determine how you can best apply your dormant assets and create new value for your business. The exchange should also act as a marketing partner to promote your product or service to other members of the exchange. Before you conclude that barter will not work for your business, you should take a closer look at organized barter trade.

]]> General http://gobarterlink.com/weblog/index.php?itemid=11 Tue, 28 Apr 2009 07:04:57 -0700 http://gobarterlink.com/weblog/index.php?itemid=10 “This is the perfect time to build your own personal fortune”

Many of us are wondering what will happen if the country goes into another economic downturn like the Great Depression of the 1930’s. What few of us know however is that more millionaires were created during the Great Depression than at any time in Americas’ history. You should know that the Great Depression actually began several years before the 1929 stock market crash and lasted until World War II brought the country out of depression. Not unlike today’s economic downturn, individuals and companies ran up large amounts of credit debt. When banks were no longer able to extend credit and businesses were unable to pay their debts, businesses closed resulting in massive lay-offs and business failures. In the artful words of Yogi Beira “ it’s like Déjà Vu all over again”.

Many people believe (me among them) that the best possible time to build an incredible fortune is during the worst of times. Not only are more people in need of products and services that cannot afford them, but the playing field is much more level because everyone is doing without. During these times insightful individuals can use the power of their creativity to make a tremendous difference in the lives of many. That is in fact the driving force behind a successful business; find a product or service that the masses need and offer it in a practical cost effective way. During the depression many of the businesses that were unable to maintain, were bought up by those with liquid assets. The number of businesses that changed hands are too numerous to mention, but needless to say those that produced products in support of the war effort became some of Americas biggest companies and their owners became some of Americas richest people. Those products and services included; iron, steel, clothing, hats, cots, petroleum products, shipping containers, back packs, ammunitions, ready packaged foods and the list goes on.

This begs the question what is your plan for capitalizing on the current economic recession. If you are thinking business as usual you may want to rethink your current plan. Concentrate on modifying your business to accommodate the needs of today’s current consumer. Not the consumer that could acquire your product or service before with cash or credit, but the ones now that are without work, homeless, or on the verge of foreclosure. One thing that you can count on is that the value of your product or service will not change just because consumers cannot afford to pay cash for it. You may want to consider a means of offering that product or service, for equal value for the things you need to get through these tough times yourself. You might want to consider organized barter trade!

]]> General http://gobarterlink.com/weblog/index.php?itemid=10 Mon, 6 Apr 2009 09:03:39 -0700 http://gobarterlink.com/weblog/index.php?itemid=7
It's not where you work, it's what you do...

The current state of our economy has resulted in great change for American business. It has also meant a change in the fundamentals of business operation. The Home Office, once identified as a place for new start-ups and cottage industry type business, has grown to now include corporate executives and entrepreneurs alike. Home offices have become less of a convenience and more often a necessity.

The Internet, video conferencing, picture mail and other new technology, have made it possible to accomplish as much from a home office as can be accomplished from any corporate facility. Many structured costs for operating a business have proven to be a financial drain on both employer and employee alike. As more businesses look to reduce overhead in order to bring operating costs in line with shrinking revenues, home offices have become a feasible option for many businesses. As a result spare bedrooms, basements or designated work areas are becoming the norm. Evolution of the home office is another sign that businesses are re-thinking their model, with an eye on practical use of cash resources in contrast to the free spending approaches of the past.

This and similar trends are projected to continue as the American and world economy reconfigures itself to accommodate the realities of a 21st century economy. Today’s businesses are rethinking fixed and discretionary costs while searching for alternatives in capital management. Many businesses have discovered that by reducing their fixed costs, such as office space, along with other practices like organized barter they can be both profitable and successful.

By establishing a barter account, businesses are able to target and reduce specific costs associated with operating a business, but for many it has proven to be the saving grace as well by freeing up dwindling capital. Barter is the perfect way to trade service for service or product for product without spending cash. You can establish a trade account wherein you can trade for office supplies, printing costs, marketing, legal support or many other services your company spends cash on monthly. No matter what type of business you are engaged in, barter just makes good sense.


]]> General http://gobarterlink.com/weblog/index.php?itemid=7 Tue, 31 Mar 2009 22:08:39 -0700 http://gobarterlink.com/weblog/index.php?itemid=5
There are times when the next step in both life and business is obvious. Other times we haven’t a clue. Or if we know where we’re going, we don’t know how to get there. As you mull over plans for the future, consider the following:

1)
Pushing past your comfort zone takes practice. Write down five small things you’d ordinarily be scared to try. Pick one and commit to doing it this week. Once you’ve done that, work your way down the list. By the time you reach number five, risk taking should be second nature.
2)
Are you convinced your future lies in your past? Before you look up an old boyfriend, an ex-boss, or high school music teacher, examine your intentions and expectations. Why are you trying to connect with this person now? Is it possible that someone in your life today might be able to offer you what you need?
3)
Is your dream achievable, given where you are today? Ask yourself: Could I reach this goal within three to five years? Do I have the emotional, financial and practical support I need to pursue this goal? What needs to happen to make the conditions right?
4)
Imagine you have a paid leave for six months. What will you do? Where will you go? Whom will you be with?
5)
Are there any ways in which you could sync up your life today with your dream? For instance, if you want to travel to Greece and see the Parthenon but don’t have the vacation days, you might take an art history class, try a Greek restaurant, or go online to research a trip for when you do have time.

]]> General http://gobarterlink.com/weblog/index.php?itemid=5 Mon, 16 Mar 2009 09:52:28 -0700 http://gobarterlink.com/weblog/index.php?itemid=4
Barter considered the oldest means of commerce known to man, is a process used to exchange one product or service for another without the use of cash. While a traditional barter transaction would involve only 2 individuals or businesses, organized barter allows these traders to collect points or barter credits that can be spent with any member of the barter exchange. This process gives individuals and business owners access to literally thousands of businesses trading products and services of every kind. A business trades their excess inventory, capacity, or labor at full price earning “Barter Bucks” instead of cash. Barter Bucks are then credited to the businesses account just like cash to a regular checking account. The exchange is charged with the responsibility of maintaining account records, providing tax reports and monitoring trades among its members.

At a time when retail customers are becoming harder to find and businesses are suffering as a result, every business should take a closer look at bartering. After all it makes no difference if you sell your product for cash in order to feed you and your family, or trade it for a five course meal at a restaurant; the end result is that your family eats. Before you consider spending cash for your next purchase I suggest you take a look at what is available through trade. You may just be surprised at how much cash you can save, how many new cash paying customers you can attract and how to sustain your business during these tuff economic times.

]]> General http://gobarterlink.com/weblog/index.php?itemid=4 Sat, 14 Feb 2009 07:18:52 -0800 http://gobarterlink.com/weblog/index.php?itemid=3
The current economic meltdown has largely been attributed to decline of the housing market brought on by sub-prime lending, leading to foreclosures unprecedented since the great depression. As markets have continued to tumble, the downturn has revealed deeper more severe problems with the American economic system centered on poor management and simple greed. As with most economic recessions, the first to be effected are those at the bottom of the economic ladder who can least afford to lose their job, financially sustain through tough economic times and those on limited or fixed incomes. To-date of the more than 3 million jobs lost, most have been confined to low and middle income families, single parents, and those working in sectors of the economy providing basic lifestyle services and employer support. However, we have only seen the beginning of what is destine to happen over the next 12 to 18 months.

The continued meltdown of our country’s financial sector, coupled with major layoffs in the industrial and government sectors will mean a new round of layoffs and cutbacks as the economy continues to contract. As business failures accelerate the types and numbers of unemployed will rapidly creep into the neighborhoods of the upper middle class, executives in middle management and the so called financial elite. Already we are beginning to see the result of these cut backs in the financial, automotive and retail sectors, but most economists believe the worst is yet to come. Bank consolidation and failures, a depressed housing market, frozen credit markets and record foreclosures will lead to massive layoffs in multiple areas of the economy resulting in even more cuts. So, how are you preparing for the second wave?

Businesses and skilled professionals may want to revisit the practical benefits of organized trade and consider just how they can apply these methods for not only their current but future survival. In this climate of change, many of the old methods of doing business and maintaining a reasonable standard of life are again in vogue. Although the flow of currency drives our economy and is at the center of our capitalistic system, smart businesses and consumers are finding that maintaining the value of their product or service through barter within an organized trade exchange has meant the difference between closing their business and sustaining through these perilous times. A concerted effort on the part of small businesses to move surplus merchandise, or utilize excess labor and capacity through barter could be the lifeline your business needs! As we prepare for the “second wave” businesses should not overlook the prospects of bartering in lieu of spending cash as one means of navigating through these or any times.

]]> General http://gobarterlink.com/weblog/index.php?itemid=3 Mon, 2 Feb 2009 11:48:54 -0800 http://gobarterlink.com/weblog/index.php?itemid=2 During this gifting season each of us should take a closer look at our value and what constitutes fair compensation for what we have to offer. In order to be fair to yourself, don’t just think about what you earn from a current employer or the standard rate of pay for your industry. Instead give some real thought to the value of your “gift”. God has given each of us a personal talent that has the ability to sustain our every need and to gain great abundance through the use of that talent. By placing a cash value on what it is you have to offer, one limits themselves to only what other are prepared to pay. True value should not be calculated based purely on a cost plus basis. If you could trade your talent for food, or clothing, or shelter, is there a significant difference then paying cash for those same things? Don’t allow the substance of your gift to be diminished because you are intent on selling it for cash. You could find that by rethinking the nature and value of your gift you are much richer then you ever knew.
Barter; which is the process of trading one product or service for another without using cash, can change the way you look at your value and that of the things you want or need. The process has survived for thousands of years, through recession, devaluation of currencies and more important the reduction of mans value based on the amount of cash they might have. These are fact we should all consider when attempting to assess our own value.

]]> General http://gobarterlink.com/weblog/index.php?itemid=2 Thu, 8 Jan 2009 07:30:33 -0800 http://gobarterlink.com/weblog/index.php?itemid=1
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