How do you know if you should barter? If you have a skill or product people want, if you have time or extra product to spare, and if you are willing to put in effort looking for people to barter with, it might be a good idea for you.

Where do you find people to barter with? Check Google for barter directories and barter sites. Many Work at Home Mom sites have barter sections. If you don’t find what you’re looking for, go find someone who does or has what you need, and offer a barter deal. Sometimes they’ll go for it, sometimes not. My SEO deal came through a barter site. My massage therapy plan is strictly my own. But I’m betting out of 60 massage therapists in my city, one will be interested.

If you don’t have time or extra product, or if you’re uncomfortable trading your products or services for other people’s, then barter might not be right for you at this time. Keep it in mind for future, though.

If you can get it, barter’s a good deal. You often get more than you could afford to buy or would put money into, and you expand your business as well.

Now you probrably won't make a fortune doing this type of market testing. The main benefit of using Ebay in this manner is that it will show if there is an interest in what you are offering.

If you are getting a decent amount of views to ad, bids and even inquiring emails. Then it is a good indicator that your product or service will sell and have a higher ROI when using higher cost advertising.

This is especially true if you have a new product or a better version of whats already out there. But you can try this technique on any product or service you have.

Trying this with new offers saves you money. If new item or service etc. does not seem to be bringing any interest. Then you can save all that time and money in producing it, packaging etc. This is a great way to get your new offer off ground without spending a dime on production before hand.

I have found that Ebay buyers are most hesitant of internet customers. So, if THEY are willing to buy what you offer, general internet community will be even more apt to be interested in your offer.

As a side note - by using My Ebay page on Ebay, you do get to place a link to your site which is an inbound link and to some extent will help your site popularity with search engines.