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I run a language learning business that nominally competes with Rosetta Stone in part of the market. Language learning really is about communication with human
by snoonan 14y ago
I run a language learning business that nominally competes with Rosetta Stone in part of the market. Language learning really is about communication with humans, not cramming linguistic junk into your head. Having worked in the same market with them for 1/2 a decade, it's not in their DNA to connect people with language (despite their TV ads to the contrary!). LiveMocha, on the other hand, is all about this.
I can only see the new bosses spamming and burning out the LiveMocha vibe & goodwill because they don't understand it's not a "platform", it's a community. It grew precisely because it's the opposite of how the RS management team thinks. To see more of this perspective, read the press release & coverage from the RS side... very telling.
- jcampbell1 14y agoLiveMocha grew because they bought about $7 million dollars worth of ads. They blew through much of their $14M in venture capital just acquiring users who never had any intention of paying.
- deleted 14y ago[deleted]
- snoonan 14y agoI didn't mean to imply a single factor. The ad spending may be the lighter fluid and the match, but community referrals are the fuel. They did a good job with that part. I've never seen an ad from them and I refer them to hundreds of thousands of language learners.