Moontoast is a sort of Web 3.0 app – a next generation Yahoo answers or Ehow.com, which provides instructional information and advice, sometimes using video. Rather than simply providing a video tutorial – say, how to use Adobe Photoshop – you actually connect with an expert advisor via the Moontoast site, so you can converse back and forth. Consider it a type of on-demand customer support for, well, everything.
This is not a free service – it costs money to connect with an expert – but it’s a pretty revolutionary way for people to share information. You can be certain that the web is going to be more video-based as the technology gets better and more widespread. Moontoast is only the beginning, but it’s a promising start.
Practical Uses:
- Get step-by-step instructions in real time and have the ability to ask questions if you get stuck along the way
- Become an expert on a particular topic and help promote your business
- Earn some additional income working from home as a Moontoast expert
Insider Tips:
- Start with those experts who offer more-detailed background information
- If you want to be an expert, look into those areas that don’t have heavy competition
- Google the experts to see if they are indeed versed in their field before shelling out money
- Check out the free demo to see how the site functions
What we liked:
- Great and innovative use of webcams, with high-quality video – not the warbly, poor-quality video you sometimes see on Youtube
- Free to join and easy to navigate site
What we didn’t like:
- A lot of the descriptions of people’s credentials are sparse. The site should require more-extensive description if people are going to be paying to talk to people one-on-one
- Moontoast should have a better system for recommending and reviewing experts so people know what they’re getting into – a service like this could be abused if paid experts are not properly vetted
- Many of the experts’ rates are rather expensive
Alternatives:
Company Info:
- Launched: March 2009
- Privately Held
- Headquarters: Austin, TX
- Founded by: William Baxter
- Web site: http://www.moontoast.com
Costs:
- $1.00 per credit (many advisors charge between 2-5 credits per minute, typically with a 15 minute minimum)
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