barter and practice building

[Guest guest]

Hi all,

 

What works in San Diego is different for Nashua, NH and definitely

different in the boonies of southeastern Ohio. The Tradia network is a

great idea, and it would take a lot of work and time to develop here.

There are no business groups other than the Athens Rotary Club and

Chamber of Commerce. So one has to give a lot of talks and health fair

shows. Many want to trade, but if they're not a dentist, computer geek,

or auto mechanic, I don't need it. With another health professionals, I

prefer cash/barter to 100% trade. We pay each other 1/2 of our

professional fees when we exchange services. Of course, it is by

mutual agreement. Each one is free to utilize one another's services

prn. No one is left holding the bag or getting the short end of the deal.

 

Frances Gander, R.Ac.

Three Treasures Health Center

11315 Jackson Drive.

The Plains, Ohio 45780

 

>Re: barter and practice building

>

>Hi Todd and All,

>

>Todd my experience has been just the opposite. When I first started I joined a

barter group. Maybe yours is different, but mine cost to join and they took 5%

as commission fees for providing the service. I joined hoping to help build the

practice this way. It only worked marginally. I did much better by joining BNI,

Business Networking International. I was able to barter with the members of the

group and the soul purpose of that group is to build each others business. While

I am no longer a member, it was very much worth my time in the beginning stages

of my practice. All the services you mentioned could be obtained within BNI and

exchanging services within a group like that does not leave you 'holding the

bag'. Once the members learned what Chinese medicine could do, they sent many

referrals.

>

>Cheers,

>Michael O'Brien

>Nashua Acupuncture

> -

>

>

> Saturday, May 28, 2005 2:34 AM

> barter and practice building

>

>

> One lesson I learned early on in my practice was not make direct trades with

people. more

> often than not, I was left holding the bag. however there is an option that

some of you

> may not know about. barter networks. barter networks are always looking for

people

> offering various professional services that are normally purchased in cash.

this is a great

> way to network and gain access to services that might be hard to come by in

the lean

> years of starting a practice. Instead of making direct one for one trades,

you just do

> business on the network, gaining credits when you sell your service to any

other member

> or having your account debited when you purchase something from another

member.

>

> When I lived in portland, it was nice to be able to get things like haircuts,

nice meals out,

> business cards, graphic design, tax prep, etc. These are luxuries you might

otherwise do

> without and necessities that you shouldn't cut corners on, such as how your

brochures

> look. I do business with a company called called tradia which has a lot of

members on the

> west coast. you can check our their websiteat http://www.tradia.net/ or

contact the socal

> rep at michelle.marr or 619-446-6884. Mention the chinese

herb

> academy if you talk to Michele. I have told her to expect some of you.

>

>

> Chinese Herbs

>

>

>

 

 

 

 

[Guest guest]

, " "

wrote:

> One lesson I learned early on in my practice was not make direct

trades with people. more

> often than not, I was left holding the bag.

I also have made some bad direct trades but also some very good ones.

Right now I have a trade on for music lessons that I probably would

never do if it wasn't for this really great teacher that needs lots of

acupuncture and herbs. It is almost a perfect match since she will

have to work hard to mold me into any kind of a musician. I have fun

doing something I never thought I could do.

I also trade for massage and I have a standing trade with my yoga

teacher. I try to limit my direct trades to one or two a week. I

think with the right people direct trades can be successful.

 

Jill Likkel