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IMS Barter�s Online Sales Soar

International Monetary Systems (OTCBB: ITNM) has announced that its online Marketplace had record sales during the fourth quarter of 2009. Early in 2008, IMS established the barter Marketplace as a new sales venue for its nationwide network of clients. As a result, members who in the past could sell only to local customers, now have the ability to expand their markets by shipping their products throughout North America.

Online Marketplace sales during the fourth quarter of 2009 increased by 124% over the totals for the same period in 2008. The number of orders processed increased by 93%, and the average price-per-order increased by 16%.

Commenting on these results, CEO Don Mardak confirmed, �Needless to say, we are very pleased with these increases. We believe that the Internet is a tool that has been unexplored or underutilized by most barter systems, and this new venue places International Monetary Systems ahead of the curve. Our clients really like the idea that they can now sell their merchandise in far-away markets. This additional sales channel makes barter an even more valuable tool for them in enhancing their business models.�

For more information on IMS Barter go to www.imsbarter.com.

The Competitive Edge Newsletter Begins 29th Year Of Publication

This month begins the 29th consecutive year that the 4-page monthly CE newsletter has been published and provided for trade exchanges across the United States. Some exchanges have been subscribers for the entire 29 years, and others for a decade or so.

Beginning March 1, the cost of The Competitive Edge service will be $200 a month. Any exchange that arranges to subscribe prior to March will subscribe at the current lower price of $100 for this specialized service � where they�ll receive a printed copy (for their printer) as well as a PDF file for e-mailing to their client base and prospects.

(All current subscribers are �grandfathered in� and will continue to pay the same $100 per month as they�ve always paid.)

Interested exchanges should e-mail Bob Meyer ASAP if they are interested in this newsletter service at bmeyer@barternews.com.

To view a sample newsletter click here.

* * ANNOUNCEMENT * * 25 Years Of BarterNews Issues Now In Digital Format Welcome to the largest repository of barter contacts, strategies, and barter techniques in the world. All 64 issues of BarterNews now available in digital format at http://www.barternews-ezine.com.

�         International visitors look for BARTER CONTACTS in our Global Barter Section. If YOUR exchange isn�t listed see the forms on the lower left of the page. (Click here.)

�         Attention trade exchange owners...thousands of visitors every month visit our BARTER CONTACTS section on our web site where we have names & addresses of barter companies in the USA. If YOUR exchange isn�t listed, or the information is incorrect, you can correct the situation by using the forms to the lower left of the USA map. (Click here.) 

Click here www.barternewsblog.com.

Best Way To Attract Additional Business

Referrals are a hot topic. And they should be. Many businesses rely more on referrals than any other source of new business � but many don�t get it right when they think about referrals. They see referrals as something they can achieve or produce. They try to build systems or plans to generate referrals.

The reality, though, is different. Referrals are an outcome of doing things well. When you take care of your customers and you do it better than anyone else, referrals should come your way. A referral is an outcome, and outcomes cannot be controlled. We influence them with inputs. So if you want to get more referrals, you need to do the things (inputs) that are more likely to create referrals.

Referrals happen naturally when several conditions are met:

�         A customer feels good about doing business with a particular person or with a company.

�         They have a friend who wants what the person or company sells.

�         They believe their friend will have a similar experience as they did with this person or company.

When a person makes a referral they are doing so to help the person they are referring. They care about that person. They know enough about them to believe they will benefit from what your company provides. The referrer benefits because of the opportunity to help a friend. Your job (as the product or service provider) is easy. All you need to do is help their friends like you helped them. In others words, do what you do best.

Note, in the three necessary conditions for a referral, you do not control any of them � but you can INFLUENCE them. Your actions will determine (to a large degree) whether conditions #1 and #3 exist. If you discover what your customers want and give it to them better than anyone else, then the odds are very good you will help generate conditions #1 and #3.

If you focus on what you want and give little attention to helping them get what they want, then conditions #1 and #3 will probably never occur. And referrals will dry up.

If you want referrals, begin by helping your customers get what they want...plus a little more. Cause them to be pleasantly surprised when they do business with you. Deliver a great experience for them, so they tell their friends and neighbors about your business.

Keep delivering your best day after day, week after week. Get better and better. The more right action you take, the more you�ll see the outcomes you want. In this case, you�ll see more referral business than you could ever get by asking.