In yesterday’s post, I presented a case study about how bloggy giveaways reap fantastic benefits for the giver and the receiver.

I’m a strong believer in the barter system, and over the years, I’ve benefited by trading my professional services for goods and services I needed, but couldn’t afford.

• I’ve literally “worked for food,” exchanging public relations services for freezer meals from a meal assembly business.

• I’ve given editing and proofreading services in exchange for tens of thousands of dollars worth of graphic design and printing services.

• I’ve done professional blogging and teaching in exchange for book promotion services and tuition at conferences.

I’m still trying to convince my massage therapist that I’ll prepare her e-newsletter in exchange for massages, and I’m reminding my hair stylist that I’ll give her a spanking new Web site in exchange for cuts and highlights.

I’m also hoping to negotiate a king-sized bed in trade for blogging services. Any mattress companies out there that need a blog?

With a little creativity and a can-do attitude, most entrepreneurs can work out trade agreements that are beneficial to all. Last summer, I attended a CRAVEparty in Seattle.  When we registered, we were asked:

What (services) do you want? What do you have to give?”

We listed both on our name tags, and as we mingled, we had opportunities to negotiate on-the-spot trade agreements.

Our Twitter followers volunteered some of their favorite trade agreements:

• @GHCU (Shannon Perry) - Traded editing services in exchange for a computer when my former boss closed up his independent business to take a job. Woot!

• @karenrobbins -Traded writing articles for advertising for flower shop. Earned a column in the local paper.

What about you? What’s the best trade you’ve ever made?