March 27, 2009 42 Comments

Moontoast Equips You for Micro-Consulting

Moontoast I caught Marcus Whitney out in the street on my last day at South by Southwest. He was in a hurry, on the phone, and clearly living a good moment. He flipped me a card for his new project, Moontoast, and was on his way in no time.

Finally, many days later, I’ve had a chance to look at it.

Moontoast is a site that enables one-on-one video learning with flexible rate-setting. It means that I could consult with you via a video chat window for an hour using their technology, and I could set my rate accordingly. Want a guitar lesson? Swell. Want to learn how to cook? Just fine.

I think it’s a nice implementation, and that there’s a business opportunity for this kind of product. It’s not like you can’t exactly do this with just using a few tools yourself, but Moontoast puts it all together nicely and makes it easier for people to get down to business.

What’s your take?

Related posts:

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  4. GTD Hack: Set Micro-Goals

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  • http://www.weinkrantz.com Alan Weinkrantz

    I am going to recommend this to my guitar teacher and see how this goes for him. While it expands the potential reach of “experts” my overall concern with sites like these is that it further commoditizes expertise.

  • http://www.weinkrantz.com Alan Weinkrantz

    I am going to recommend this to my guitar teacher and see how this goes for him. While it expands the potential reach of “experts” my overall concern with sites like these is that it further commoditizes expertise.

  • http://www.60SecondMarketer.com Jamie Turner

    Hey, Chris.

    Moontoast looks very cool indeed. I took a spin through the site and, assuming all goes well, it’ll be a great resource for people interested in online learning. Thanks for letting us know about it.

    The 60 Second Marketer team has taken a look into the online learning space and are launching something called 60 Second Online University in a couple of months.

    60 Second Online University is different from Moontoast in that it will provide streaming video seminars that include 21 days of free email consulting, but the overall idea for Moontoast and 60 Second Online University is the same — that the computer is turning into the classroom of the future.

    Thanks for your introduction to Moontoast. I’m sure it’ll be a huge success.

    All the best,
    Jamie

  • http://www.60SecondMarketer.com Jamie Turner

    Hey, Chris.

    Moontoast looks very cool indeed. I took a spin through the site and, assuming all goes well, it’ll be a great resource for people interested in online learning. Thanks for letting us know about it.

    The 60 Second Marketer team has taken a look into the online learning space and are launching something called 60 Second Online University in a couple of months.

    60 Second Online University is different from Moontoast in that it will provide streaming video seminars that include 21 days of free email consulting, but the overall idea for Moontoast and 60 Second Online University is the same — that the computer is turning into the classroom of the future.

    Thanks for your introduction to Moontoast. I’m sure it’ll be a huge success.

    All the best,
    Jamie

  • http://BuckingtheRealEstateTrend.com Susie Blackmon

    Wow! I like this. Need a guinea pig? ;-)

  • http://BuckingtheRealEstateTrend.com Susie Blackmon

    Wow! I like this. Need a guinea pig? ;-)

  • http://www.bridgetcavanaugh.com Bridget Cavanaugh

    Chris, the untapped potential here is the opportunity for an expert to build community and perhaps people with similar passions (cooking, music) to connect. As a lark, I searched “horses” and found a saddle-maker willing to teach you everything he knows. I was really impressed that the site was populated to this level of detail. Mmmmm…. now, what’s something I’ve always wanted to learn? Mmmm… patience… I need to learn patience.
    http://www.twitter.com/@bcavanaugh

  • http://www.bridgetcavanaugh.com Bridget Cavanaugh

    Chris, the untapped potential here is the opportunity for an expert to build community and perhaps people with similar passions (cooking, music) to connect. As a lark, I searched “horses” and found a saddle-maker willing to teach you everything he knows. I was really impressed that the site was populated to this level of detail. Mmmmm…. now, what’s something I’ve always wanted to learn? Mmmm… patience… I need to learn patience.
    http://www.twitter.com/@bcavanaugh

  • http://www.jonglassett.com Jon

    Now this is something I can get behind. Intriguing. This kind of thing might actually get me to take a crack at giving some bass lessons. The best part: I don’t actually have to be in the room with the student. Or smell them.

    People smell funny.

  • http://www.jonglassett.com Jon

    Now this is something I can get behind. Intriguing. This kind of thing might actually get me to take a crack at giving some bass lessons. The best part: I don’t actually have to be in the room with the student. Or smell them.

    People smell funny.

  • http://www.deirdrebreakenridge.com Deirdre

    Chris, thanks for sharing info on Moontoast. I like it and it piques my interest. However, when I went to find out more info about it…the About Moontoast area just says “coming soon.” You’re probably right that someone could put this together using a few tools, but for those folks who are busy day in and day out, it’s a great place (that’s organized) and will let you learn and share interests. Will watch this to see how it develops further :)

  • http://www.deirdrebreakenridge.com Deirdre

    Chris, thanks for sharing info on Moontoast. I like it and it piques my interest. However, when I went to find out more info about it…the About Moontoast area just says “coming soon.” You’re probably right that someone could put this together using a few tools, but for those folks who are busy day in and day out, it’s a great place (that’s organized) and will let you learn and share interests. Will watch this to see how it develops further :)

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  • http://www.keithburtis.com Keith Burtis

    I can speak with folks over skype face-to-face. In fact skype is my favorite networking tool because it is free and I use it everyday to connect with people better. I am a huge advocate of funneling down your contacts and meeting with at least one completely new person each week. I share my expertise with them and in turn I get to learn more about their projects.

    The thing I find intriguing about moontoast is the ability to charge for session times. In the many hundreds of contacts I have made over the past few years I get a lot of request for social media consulting. This might be a nice ‘pro solution’ and a skype alternative for professionals. Neat stuff. I will check it out.

    @keithburtis

  • http://www.keithburtis.com Keith Burtis

    I can speak with folks over skype face-to-face. In fact skype is my favorite networking tool because it is free and I use it everyday to connect with people better. I am a huge advocate of funneling down your contacts and meeting with at least one completely new person each week. I share my expertise with them and in turn I get to learn more about their projects.

    The thing I find intriguing about moontoast is the ability to charge for session times. In the many hundreds of contacts I have made over the past few years I get a lot of request for social media consulting. This might be a nice ‘pro solution’ and a skype alternative for professionals. Neat stuff. I will check it out.

    @keithburtis

  • http://www.theblacktechreport.com Jayson Flint

    Chris I agree the site is nice but for what they do, if I just take my time and set things up I could do this on my own. We all know most people will use a service like this because of convince. That that’s what it’s all about.

    @jaysonflint

  • http://www.theblacktechreport.com Jayson Flint

    Chris I agree the site is nice but for what they do, if I just take my time and set things up I could do this on my own. We all know most people will use a service like this because of convince. That that’s what it’s all about.

    @jaysonflint

  • http://johnhaydon.com John Haydon

    What I like about this is that moontoast could potentially handle all of my payment and scheduling for “micro-consulting”.

  • http://corporatedollar.org John Haydon

    What I like about this is that moontoast could potentially handle all of my payment and scheduling for “micro-consulting”.

  • Misty

    That’s awesome! I just signed up. I just love the concept.

  • Misty

    That’s awesome! I just signed up. I just love the concept.

  • Timo

    Cool idea! I didnt dig too deep but are there samples? I wouldnt pay someone for their time to find out they arent really good at what they do. I need to look further i guess. Great concept though.

  • Timo

    Cool idea! I didnt dig too deep but are there samples? I wouldnt pay someone for their time to find out they arent really good at what they do. I need to look further i guess. Great concept though.

  • Erika Owens

    I think this is great, just another way to reach more people.

  • Erika Owens

    I think this is great, just another way to reach more people.

  • http://www.CoherentSalesBlog.com Ed Callahan

    Chris:
    Thanks for pointing out this site. I just joined and offered some LinkedIn training. I am curious to see the results from this type of a channel.
    Ed

  • http://www.CoherentSalesBlog.com Ed Callahan

    Chris:
    Thanks for pointing out this site. I just joined and offered some LinkedIn training. I am curious to see the results from this type of a channel.
    Ed

  • http://flashalisious.com Matthew Wallace

    Hey guys I am one of the developers for Remarkable Wit. I helped build Moontoast and I would like to say thanks for all the comments and interest and thanks so much for the article that was posted here as well. I would really like to hear more about your experiences with the site. Please Please Please give us feedback on features and thoughts you have about the site as you begin to use it. We are going to start on the next round of features real soon and it is only going to get better.

  • http://flashalisious.com Matthew Wallace

    Hey guys I am one of the developers for Remarkable Wit. I helped build Moontoast and I would like to say thanks for all the comments and interest and thanks so much for the article that was posted here as well. I would really like to hear more about your experiences with the site. Please Please Please give us feedback on features and thoughts you have about the site as you begin to use it. We are going to start on the next round of features real soon and it is only going to get better.

  • http://tv.factor77.com Jared O’Toole

    Really cool stuff. I like the application for things like music lessons. However I wonder how it works for business consulting. I feel as though you need a more personal relationship with a coach/consultant who actually fully understands your business.

  • http://tv.factor77.com Jared O’Toole

    Really cool stuff. I like the application for things like music lessons. However I wonder how it works for business consulting. I feel as though you need a more personal relationship with a coach/consultant who actually fully understands your business.

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  • Anonymous

    In response to Jared and others above. Consulting relationships have to start somewhere. Moontoast provides a platform where relationships can both start and grow into more robust understandings. I don’t see how this has a negative any more than any other form of online connecting be it Monster, Linked In, Facebook, or Twitter.

  • http://compassioninpolitics.wordpress.com Nathan Ketsdever

    In response to Jared and others above. Consulting relationships have to start somewhere. Moontoast provides a platform where relationships can both start and grow into more robust understandings. I don’t see how this has a negative any more than any other form of online connecting be it Monster, Linked In, Facebook, or Twitter.

  • http://www.CoherentSalesBlog.com Ed Callahan

    I joined after reading your post. Moontoast chose me as an “explorer” of the week. See http://www.moontoast.com/index.php/. This is an experiment for me; let’s see what happens.

  • http://www.CoherentSalesBlog.com Ed Callahan

    I joined after reading your post. Moontoast chose me as an “explorer” of the week. See http://www.moontoast.com/index.php/. This is an experiment for me; let’s see what happens.

  • http://mindbroker.de/wiki/LockConsult RalfLippold

    Sounds like MicroConsulting could become the consulting way of the future:-)

  • http://mindbroker.de/wiki/LockConsult RalfLippold

    Sounds like MicroConsulting could become the consulting way of the future:-)

  • http://platformit.com.au/ Luke Latimer

    Just came across this article – to me it looks like Moontoast is going to have to start competing with Google Wave as I see Wave being a far superior communications platform that will be customisable enough to have everything that Moontoast offers and more

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