Comments on: Do You Barter?

By: Triona Guidry

Triona Guidry — Fri, 18 Sep 2009 02:40:26 +0000

I agree with Chris. Barter can be worthwhile if you’re bartering for something you need anyway. I’ve bartered for PR and other marketing help, and I’ve bartered articles for advertising. I also have a deal with my regular tech support clients: I charge for less time if I can bring my kids, which works well for those clients who also have kids. But in general I don’t barter unless it’s something of real value to me.

By: Chris

Chris — Thu, 17 Sep 2009 17:56:29 +0000

I worked for one site that said straight out it couldn’t pay, but sent lots of products from PR companies. I got a pretty nice chair and portable hammock out of the deal. Overall, bartering is tough, especially for an extended time period. I find it difficult to get motivated to write when I’m essentially working for free junk. I think the best way to make it work is to barter for something that you actually need, not just want–this way it’s saving you money, which is as good as pay.

By: John Lister

John Lister — Thu, 17 Sep 2009 15:37:34 +0000

I must confess there has been the occasional proofreading-for-footrubs barter in my household…

By: Freelance Writing Jobs for September 17, 2009 : Freelance Writing Jobs for Web and Print

Thu, 17 Sep 2009 14:11:35 +0000

[...] Do You Barter? [...]

By: Deb

Deb — Thu, 17 Sep 2009 00:09:28 +0000

@Lisa, no comment….

By: Deb

Deb — Thu, 17 Sep 2009 00:07:49 +0000

That’s more of a contest than a barter, I think. Even so, you’re supposed to report prizes and winnings too.

I’m not saying every writer does, just that it’s what you’re supposed to do.

By: Deb

Deb — Thu, 17 Sep 2009 00:06:37 +0000

I’d definitely barter for fresh veggies. Good deal!

By: LIsa

LIsa — Wed, 16 Sep 2009 23:01:08 +0000

our barter’s closer to what Deb describes: plumbing for press releases, babysitting for web copy, that kind of thing. person to person, not “official.” works very well for us.

By: John

John — Wed, 16 Sep 2009 22:57:04 +0000

I bartered a lot when I had my design studio – I would barter domain name registrations, site design, hosting – everything in exhange for eating out, hotels when we traveled, interesting things on the marketplace. It was all through a barter company that I still barter through today.

Personally I don’t see how direct barter ever works more than once or twice because I never wanted what they had, it is through TransMedia that I earned barter dollars that I could spend anywhere.

There are a lot of barter companies out there, but most charge a crazy fee to ‘join their club’ – it’s not that way with TransMedia and the work with small guys like me all the way to airlines and major hotels. Hey, maid service and massages even.

Barter can be good, I like it personally.

By: LIsa

LIsa — Wed, 16 Sep 2009 22:56:13 +0000

honestly, Deb, do you really and truly value and report every barter deal? IMHO, the great up side to barter is the fact that if nothing is said, nothing is said.

By: Stefanie

Stefanie — Wed, 16 Sep 2009 21:19:44 +0000

@Dava That sounds great! I’d love to be able to write and get a box of fresh veggies every week. Think of how much money you save on grocery bills!

By: Jim Lochner

Jim Lochner — Wed, 16 Sep 2009 20:56:21 +0000

I have an online magazine that I routinely write for that only pays in barter: CD’s. It’s nowhere NEAR what I’d be making if I were charging by the project or the hour. But they gave me my first published piece back when it was a print magazine. And it’s in my niche and keeps my name out in front of people who might hire me. Occasionally I get a little irritated that I spend so much time writing for things that don’t pay nearly enough when I need to be finding more paid gigs. But I have cut WAY back on my writing for them (every other month). So it’s sort of a tradeoff. I do it because the subject is a passion of mine and it’s good exposure. I’m sure there will be a time, maybe even within the next year, that I stop writing for them so I can focus on other things. We’ll see.

By: Stefanie

Stefanie — Wed, 16 Sep 2009 20:26:30 +0000

Hi Deb,

I write for a gaming site called HookedGamers.com. It’s volunteer, no payment involved, but each month the site gives away two free video games to the writers who have the highest rated articles/blog posts. Is this considered a barter, and something I should be claiming as income, or since it’s a giveaway is it considered a gift or contest prize? Would either of those need to be claimed?

By: Dava Stewart

Dava Stewart — Wed, 16 Sep 2009 20:12:45 +0000

I have bartered quite a bit this summer. Once, for a half share of a CSA – in other words, for a box of fresh, organic produce every week of the season. I exchanged a monthly email newsletter to the other members of the CSA. More recently I bartered another monthly email newsletter for a gym membership. So far, so good in both cases. It’s helping me build a solid portfolio and getting me things I would definitely pay money for….