Happy Bartering,

Simone

Donate your gift in exchange for being featured in our Power Packs that we’re giving away to Own Your Power Biz conference attendees. Call us for more information at 877-545-7352 or email me at simone@ownyourpower.biz.

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Own Your Power -POWER PACKS sponsored by MACY'S

The next time you think you’re flat broke and can’t acquire something you want or need think again. Physical money isn’t the only game in town when it comes to obtaining goods and services. According to Simone Kelly-Brown, CEO of Own Your Power Communications, bartering is currently experiencing a re-birth.

While Kelly-Brown has been bartering since the mid 90s, she first began to draw others into the world of bartering in 2002 when she was attempting to find a less painful way to network. For five years Kelly-Brown had juggled both full-time employment and her business which was then called Gots to Have it Marketing.

When she left corporate America and decided to focus mainly on her business, she knew she needed to get out and meet new people. Yet despite her outgoing personality, like many professionals, Kelly-Brown dreaded the usual networking scenes.

So she came up with a fresh idea. She would gather women together in a social setting and have them fill out cards. On one side of the card they’d write their name, occupations and what they have to “give” in terms of professional goods and services. On the other side of the card they’d list what they were looking for or what they wanted to “take.”

READ REST OF STORY HERE…

http://www.tnj.com/profiles/no-money-buy-give-bartering-try

I’ve been bartering since 1994 and I’ve been amazed by the things I can get by striking up a deal. Since I’ve launched my own Barter Exchange, I’m even more impressed by the services and products you can get on barter. A lot of my colleagues don’t EVER spend a dime in the store, before they check the barter exchange store first.

I know a few that are actually pretty wealthy in “barter terms” and can afford to splurge in our barter store with over 40,000 merchants to choose from. An Own Your Power Member, Suzette Caloca is actually a web designer of mine who loves to barter. She provides quality work and has a high demand, so she doesn’t have a hard time building up her Barter Bank account. I just paid her in barter bucks to do my business cards!

Her stories about bartering inspire ME to barter even more, check out why she’s barter ballin’!

What is the name of  your business and what do you do?
STUDIO Suzette Web and Print Design (but it not an official business name, I get paid to my name)
I design anything and everything for web and print marketing

How long have you been bartering?
Actively, 8 Months.

What makes an exchange like Give ‘n Take better than bartering on your own?
Give n’ Take’s Barter system allows me to trade with anyone in exchange for barter dollars that I can in turn use with anyone in the DoBarter Network (over 40k members!)

Why do you think you’ve been successful with bartering?
I think I’ve been successful, because I have a product that everyone needs to market themselves, their product or their business.

Top three coolest barters so far?
$9,000 in dental work (including TEETH WHITENING)
$2,200 for a brand new wooden playset with swing for my kids. (Shown in photo).
$1,225 for credit repair.

Why do you think most people don’t get bartering exchanges?
I don’t think they understand the barter system and I still have yet to find a website that knows how to explain it in plain English to someone who is not familiar with barter at all.

What would you tell these people to change their minds?
I was skeptical at first, I didn’t know how this was going to work out for me or if it has anything to offer me, but I swear by it now. What would I tell people to change their minds? Hmm… how about, I’ve bought over $15,000 worth of stuff in the past 8 months with NO CASH… wouldn’t you want that too?

Now how’s that for example of Living the GOOD Life on Zero Cash? I’ve said it time and time again; BARTER IS SMARTER!
Want to barter with Suzette for web design? Join Give ‘n Take for FREE today and we’ll connect you. Also add her as a friend in our community.

Own your power,

Simone

Did you know that approximately 85% of Fortune 500 companies use barter as a way of obtaining skills and resources without spending a lot of money? These companies include Donald Trump’s Enterprises, McDonald’s, Pepsi, Sara Lee, Dole, and many, many more!!!

Are you a Give ‘N Take Network Member who hasn’t started bartering yet? Or are you someone who’d love to join and take advantage of the oldest currency in the world? Well then, SHOW US YOUR GOODS!!!

Participate in the SHOW US YOUR GOODS!!! contest and you’ll get the chance to win prizes valued up to $500!:

- $100 BARTER BUCKS (aka Give ‘N Take Trade Dollars) so that you can go shopping in our barter exchange. You’ll have over 40,000 merchants to choose from, with the opportunity to barter everything from printing services to lavish vacations!

- 4 COMPLIMENTARY Coaching sessions with your choice of 4 coaches from our round table of hand-picked experts! (1 session per coach)

-A copy of the “Best of” The Own Your Power Radio Show CD

How Can I Play?
All you have to do is create a barter store page. A barter store page is similar to a profile page in the Own Your Power community (www.ownyourpower.ning.com), only you will need to sell a service or a good. If you don’t think you have anything to offer, consider items in your home or office. A computer, vacuum cleaner, cool vase, or a used digital camera. It’s similar to Ebay, but instead of cash, you sell things for BARTER BUCKS!

Step 1: If you’re not a Give ‘N Take Network Member, take advantage of our FREE registration!

Step 2: Once your membership has been approved, create your page and SHOW US YOUR GOODS!!! Don’t worry, you don’t have to be a web designer! A panel of Give ‘N Take judges will review your page based on the following criteria:
-Company Logo
-Photo of item with description (always a PLUS). If you’re selling a service a headshot is always good.
-Contact information; website address if you have one (if you don’t have a website, you can always use your Own Your Power Community profile page, ex:
http://ownyourpower.ning.com/profile/SimoneKellyBrown
-Testimonial (s) Depending on service/goods
-Shipping price (if needed)
-Quantity on hand: Even if it’s a service you want to list what you’re willing to barter. For example: Our Give ‘N Take Network Founder, Simone Kelly-Brown has 4 hours of coaching as one of her items up for barter.

Once you join, make sure you call our Marketing Coordinator, Salima Smith, to set up a 30 minute orientation to help you with any questions you may have. Salima can be reached at 877.545.7352.

Feel free to add as many items as you’d like. When you complete your page, e-mail me at simone@ownyourpower.biz, so that I can enter you in the contest.

Important Dates:

Contest starts on Tuesday, February 24, 2009
Contest ends on Friday, APRIL 31, 2009 (date extended)
Winner will be announced on Monday, March 23, 2009 in the Own Your Power blog (http://ownyourpower.biz/blog/) and via the Own Your Power community (www.ownyourpower.ning.com)

Now go ahead and SHOW US YOUR GOODS!!!

Good Luck!

As a start-up or small business trying to cut costs, I don’t advise that you skimp on design too much. That’s a big no-no! Let’s face it, your brand is your badge of honor, it’s your corporate identity, it’s how you want to be remembered. Who wants to be remembered as the person at that networking event with the blurry cards and hideous logo? I know, I know … you tried to do it yourself in Microsoft Word and uploaded it to VistaPrint. Hey, I’ll give it to you, your effort was great, but if you want to be taken seriously, you should definitely hire an experienced designer or at least someone more experienced than you! LOL! No offense to VistaPrint, because you can do some cool and very affordable things with them *ahem* that is, if you have design help.

How To Get a Good Design Deal!

Just Ask Around:

I know it sounds easy, but sometimes, it just is.

Call and e-mail all of your friends and colleagues and ask for a design referral. You might be surprised by how many people you already have access to who might not charge you too much. Try your friends here in the Own Your Power Community. Send out a message saying you’re looking for design quotes. Make sure you are specific, because not all graphic designers are web designers, for example. Join me in the forums and ask around. Go to the members area and type DESIGNER in the search. We have a few in the family. Someone can refer you to some designers that they like.
Try Outsourcing Sites:
There are many sites where you can find low cost designers from all over the world. Here are just a few, but Google for many more!

http://www.elance.com
http://www.getafreelancer.com/
http://www.guru.com/
http://www.getafreelancer.com/

Here’s a tip: I highly recommend this book, The Four-Hour Work Week. It mentions a lot of low-cost outsourcing that you can do to save you time and money! Check it out!

Barter:
Found your favorite designers? Before you make your final choice, find out if there is anything they need that you can offer them. Is it your service/product on barter, promotion to your lists, or referrals? Whatever it is, see if there is a way for you to get your price down or create a full barter. Of course, what you are bringing to the table must be of equal value to make it work!

Get a Design Intern:
Someone might be close to graduation or in grad school majoring in design. Your project could be a part of their portfolio. Look for design schools in your neighborhood and reach out to their career centers to find your intern! Most internships are short-term, about three months, but sometimes it can work out to be longer. Free help is great, right? I love sweet deals like this!

Not So Fast!

• Before you hire them … PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE … get examples of their work.
• Ask to see their portfolio.
• Speak to at least two references.
• Talk with them (even though you might not meet them in person, due to location) speaking with them on the phone helps. Get a judge of their personality. Do you both click? Do they understand the direction you’re going in?

Get a Contract:
Definitely make sure you have your agreement in writing and work out specifics. You should have their deliverables, deadlines, and value just to name a few in the contract. If you have a lawyer or pre-paid legal, use them!

Remember, your image truly does make an impact on your bottom line, so when you’re working with designers, choose wisely and realize you don’t have to break the bank to stand out. Have your company be remembered for its clean and chic design, not the smudged font with the blurry logo you tried to do yourself.

Good luck on your quest! Remember to use the Own Your Power Family. We all have loads contacts.

Keep Livin’ Good!

Simone

A spark of creativity, a great connection, a desire to save, and a buried treasure
or talent you possess are all you need. You can get what you desire
with just some of those main ingredients to lead you to a trade that
can blow your mind. I’ll admit, finding good deals isn’t always easy,
but when you stumble upon someone who has something amazing to offer
and is open to trading or, better yet, a member of a trade exchange that you’re a member of, then GO FOR IT!

I looked around and found some really interesting deals that others have been able to nail and wanted to share them with you.

In Tallahassee, FL, a photographer traded for:- A year’s lease of office space

- A Jacuzzi tub

- Pavers for landscaping

- Hair, Nails, Massage, Permanent Makeup, and other personal services

- Clothing and Shoes

- Computers – Hardware and Services

- Signage

- Furniture

- Print Advertising

- Hotel Rooms

- Concrete Patio

- Restaurants

In Brooklyn, NY, Publicist Fiona Bloom
was able to get a week-long vacation in a luxurious villa in Barbados
for publicity work. She did it not only once but two years in a row.

In Boca Raton, FL, an owner of a human resources firm created custom employee handbooks and in exchange was able to rack up on:

- A billiards table- Office furniture

- Event tickets

- Restaurants

On barternews.com they mentioned a barter and cash mixed that was a great savings for hotel rooms:-
Koh-I-Noor, a manufacturer of artists’ instruments in Bloomsbury (NJ),
bartered trade credits held in its account with Active Travel for
accommodations at a hotel in Woodcliff Lake (NJ) for a four-day
meeting. Jeffrey Murray, manager of sales promotion, education, and
training, said, “The rate for a single room was $130, but, by
bartering, we saved a third off that amount and paid a rate of only
$80.”

- Hi-tec, a division of a UK-based athletic shoe
manufacturer, is getting more than just a reduced room rate when it
holds its annual sales meeting for 150 attendees at a Fort Lauderdale
resort. Hi-tec paid 35% of the room bill in trade credits along with
25% of its food and beverage costs.

Some of my very own favorites that I’ve been able to barter are marketing coaching for:

- Web design

- Pampering (massages, manicures, pedicures, and facials)

Ghost Writing for Someone:

- Getting my office, living room, and dining room redecorated and painted.

Team Motivation presentations for a salon’s staff:

- My hair done whenever I’d like, on the house!

Now
you have an idea of some things that others are doing in the barter
world. Pick up your own magic lamp to conjure up your own barters that
rock. Who needs a genie?

Keep Livin’ Good,

Simone

Join our BARTER EXCHANGE FREE FOR A LIMITED TIME! GO HERE…

During our beauty shop banter where we discussed everything from business to relationships, the small group began to bond. There was a gentleman who just had his locks done, sitting next to me under the dryer.

He lifted up the dryer so that I could hear him better, “What exactly is it that you do again? You wrote a book or something right?”

“Yes, I’m an author and  coach.”

He asked more about what I did and after explaining how I work, he said, “Oh, so your like a marketing trainer in a sense. I need one of those, someone to hold me accountable. Please send me some more info, I’d like to find out how coaching can help me.” I emailed him the next day some info.

After reviewing my rates, he admitted he didn’t have it in his budget right now, but wanted to discuss further. Of course, the wheels started turning in my head, and I remembered that he was a photographer and I’ll need one soon for one of my upcoming events. He was referred to me in the past, so I knew he was good. NOTE: You should check out people’s references before agreeing to anything and always get it in writing.

If you’re going to have to spend money on something anyway, why not barter when you can? I like to make smart choices and not just barter with ‘anyone’. I always ask myself is this something I really NEED, before I over extend myself. Especially if it’s a barter that includes my time.

Like for instance,I love a cash and barter mix when someone has something I really need. I have a client who owns a salon and I get paid a monthly retainer in cash, however if I’m in need of a mani-pedi, then just put on my tab. Well, the tab just essentially comes out of my monthly retainer check. However, I was going pay for a pedicure and manicure anyway, right?

I know, I know you might say..’Come on Simone, pedicures are not a necessity.’ I’m going to be honest, I am so not the “girly, girl type”, but um…I beg to differ! When you live in South Florida and your toes are out 90% of the time, oh yes indeed it is a necessity. It’s apart of the wardrobe and your marketing package, and Ladies, don’t you forget it! LOL When I lived in NY, maybe I could get away with missing a few weeks, hiding them in boots, but here, not a chance.

So, I digress… I did say this is about living the good life on zero cash didn’t I? Just because the economy is going the way it is, why should you have to change your lifestyle at all?

In the last couple of months, I’ve been bartering with my hairstylist, a nail salon, a massage therapist and even an interior designer. Next, I’m on the hunt for a cruise and of course anything including some pampering. I love me some pampering. LOL Keep an eye out for me will ya?

Keep Livin’ Good,
Simone

Bartering for the Big Ballers

Oprah Winfrey OWN a Television Network Now

Discovery Communications and Oprah Winfrey have announced a deal where the Discovery Health network will be bartered to Winfrey next year, and become OWN — the Oprah Winfrey Network. OWN will premiere in 2009 with a distribution in 70 Million U.S. Homes and will be simulcast in HD.

The cash-free transaction involved Winfrey turning over half ownership of her

website (six million unique visitors a month) to Discovery, while the communications company makes her chairman of the network. Sweet deal, don’t you think? The two entities will be joint owners, i.e. 50/50 in ownership and profits.

Donald Trump Places His Bets in This Barter
Donald, chairman and CEO, bartered options in his Trump Hotel & Casino Resorts to acquire shares in Riviera Holding Corp., the Las Vegas casino company that owns the Riviera Hotel & Casino. The Riviera shares will help in his pursuit of a license to operate other casinos in Nevada, as Nevada authorities require applicants to own a stake in a casino before applying for a casino license.

Martha Stewart Reality?

Reality TV czar Mark Burnett created a reality show with Martha Stewart in 2005. The popular producer pursued Stewart and structured a lucrative trade enabling him to gain a stake in long-term revenue streams. Burnett secured the right to buy 2.5 million Martha Stewart Living shares.
For entrepreneurs and small business owners typically, trades can range from $10 to $10,000.
For larger companies there’s the corporate barter, where domestic trading of goods and services is practiced primarily at $500,000 and above, with many deals in the millions.
Internationally, major corporations, and governments themselves, engage in trade where a direct deal begins in the high six figures. Worldwide, total transactions are valued at tens of billions of dollars, annually.
We watch their shows, read their biographies, surf their sites, and fantasize about rolling around on a fluffy fur rug in their money (Oh, okay, maybe that’s just me. LOL!) So, you see, small business owners are just a piece of the pie in the world of barter. THE BARTER INDUSTRY ALONE CONSISTS OF OVER 600,000 companies involved worldwide that barter their products and services through trade exchanges and corporate barter companies. It’s a currency that many don’t take seriously and even though it’s not pure cash, it’s your time, resources, and/or products you are giving in exchange. Why not take a little lesson from how these shot callers are saving their millions, so you can work on MAKING yours. Who wants to fantasize forever, right?

Keep Livin’ Good,
Simone

Many people barter their services, from consulting, coaching, hairstyling, contracting, plumbing, you name it. We know that time is definitely valuable.

So, before you say yes to a barter, ask yourself the following…

1. How much extra time can I REALISTICALLY offer each week or month without over-extending myself or cutting into my paying client’s time?

2. What’s my return looking like and when will it be delivered? You want to make sure this is clear. What if you spend five hours a week on a project and they don’t fulfill your barter until two months from your date. Get it in writing first!

3. Is the service something that can be delegated to another team member, intern, or volunteer to save me time?

Dig Up Some Products and Perks

Don’t have the time? Search for some more buried treasures to offer up.

1. Do you have access to tickets, events, restaurant discounts etc, that your barter client might need instead?

2. Instead of getting you in the flesh, have you duplicated yourself in the form of a book, e-book, CD, DVD, or podcast? Informational products work wonders. You produce it one time and can reach thousands!

3. Do you have extra inventory on a product that you can offer up?

I remember when I first started bartering years ago, I was saying YES to a lot of things, because I wanted what they had. I also remember I went through a period of over-extending myself to the point of working overtime to fulfill the needs of cash-paying and barter paying clients. Remaining a person of my word means a lot to me.

Your reputation as a person who comes from a place of integrity can go a long way and also be a predictor for how long you’ll be in business. Needless to say, I kept my word after learning that STRESSFUL lesson of over-doing it. If you learn anything from my mistake, only barter when you absolutely know you have to resources and time to fulfill that order. Bartering should be fun, not a chore!

Keep Livin’ Good,

Simone