The Art of Bartering for Web ServicesWritten by Marc McDonald
Do you need a specialized task performed for your Web site? Such as a new custom logo? Or a specialized script? Or a new database? Before you reach for your checkbook to pay a commercial company to do work, consider bartering for project. Over years, I've found that it's possible to get virtually any sort of specialized Web task done for free, via bartering. All it takes is some legwork and creativity. My first barter deal arose a couple of years ago, when I needed a site of mine translated into Spanish. Initially, I explored several of Web's commercial translation services. However, after I did some legwork, it transpired that a neighbor of mine was professionally fluent in Spanish. He was also a newbie to Net and was eager to get a Web site up and running. We bartered a deal: in return for him translating my site, I guided him through process of setting up his Web site. Since then, I've bartered countless deals for various projects for my sites. And, as a result, I've been able to get a lot of vital tasks completed for free that would have easily cost thousands of dollars had I simply bought services from a commercial company. What's best way to get started in bartering for Web-related work? First of all, consider your strengths and areas of expertise as a Webmaster. Many successful site owners, by necessity, are capable of doing many types of tasks on Web, from writing HTML to promoting their sites via search engines. However, most Webmasters have at least specific area in which they excel. Perhaps they're proficient in creating graphics. Or maybe they have strong writing skills. Or perhaps they're an HTML guru. If you have at least one Web-related area in which you excel, then odds increase that you'll be able to leverage that skill in successful barters on Web.
| | A Special Man's Triumph In The Gold Rush!Written by Richard Bolduc
Thomas F. Seymour is a 48 year old man, from West Hartford CT. He was diagnosed with polio as a child. Thomas has never really had use of his legs. He has also been burdened his entire life with all other challenges that polio can bring with it. The day I met Thomas at his home for first time, he was in middle of his yard spreading a pile of mulch, 8 feet wide and 5 feet tall. He did this while seated on ground with a shovel. He looked up at me, and smiled, as he said "Good Day." I then took notice of a garden of wild flowers and vegetables, impressive enough to make any farmer jealous. I just had to think of obstacles that he has had to overcome every day of his life. Daily tasks, most of us take for granted, can be time consuming and tough for someone with Thomas' disability. I have never seen Thomas complain, or allow himself to be set back by challenges. The perspective from a man like Thomas F. Seymour has on success, is from a much different point of view. It is a perspective all of us can learn from. Thomas told me, when we first met, that all he wanted was "money, coming to him, in mail from everywhere","I would rather take only a dollar from thousands of people than to take a thousand dollars from one." Said Thomas. With this idea in mind he started his first online business "The Gold Link." http://www.tgoldlink.com. He was easily able to corner price on high quality solid 14kt Italian gold, with an Internet low of $10 per gram. His pricing allowed Thomas a very competitive position in his online venture. He now had best place to get gold on Internet, but ... it was hidden in woods. The first real obstacle Thomas ran into was getting traffic to his online store. For 3 years Thomas persisted with Gold Link with credit card processing fees and webhosting fees eating into his low monthly profits. To make things worse he invested a great deal of money with many ineffective Internet marketer's. His turn around came, when he saw an ad for "Guaranteed Front Page Placement in all Major Search Engines for under $100." (This can be found at http://www.rhinosweb.com/frontpage.html)
|
