Comments on: Interview with August About Lenguajero.com http://www.nerdynomad.com/2009/09/03/interview-with-august-about-lenguajerocom/ Backpacking around the world on my income from the internet. Tue, 07 Feb 2012 14:02:40 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Lenguajero Blog » Blog Archive » Two Month Report http://www.nerdynomad.com/2009/09/03/interview-with-august-about-lenguajerocom/#comment-36247 Lenguajero Blog » Blog Archive » Two Month Report Wed, 30 Sep 2009 16:46:17 +0000 http://www.nerdynomad.com/2009/09/03/interview-with-august-about-lenguajerocom/#comment-36247 [...] http://matadorabroad.com/5-steps-to-building-a-startup-while-living-in-latin-america/ http://www.nerdynomad.com/2009/09/03/interview-with-august-about-lenguajerocom http://www.kirstenwinkler.com/first-look-at-lenguajero-com/ http://briefcasetobackpack.com/2009/09/culture-shock-language-barriers/ [...] [...] http://matadorabroad.com/5-steps-to-building-a-startup-while-living-in-latin-america/ http://www.nerdynomad.com/2009/09/03/interview-with-august-about-lenguajerocom http://www.kirstenwinkler.com/first-look-at-lenguajero-com/ http://briefcasetobackpack.com/2009/09/culture-shock-language-barriers/ [...]

]]> By: Natalie Gordon http://www.nerdynomad.com/2009/09/03/interview-with-august-about-lenguajerocom/#comment-35590 Natalie Gordon Mon, 07 Sep 2009 03:43:35 +0000 http://www.nerdynomad.com/2009/09/03/interview-with-august-about-lenguajerocom/#comment-35590 Ask Goldfish Care - Thanks!! I really appreciate the feedback and the advice. We don't need to monetize now but we will by the end of November. We're trying to get a feel for what is possible and what isn't. I think we'll take your homepage advice. Thanks for putting it so bluntly. Dave - The world is so small. I totally remember you. I miss Medellin. tiffany - That's the perfect analogy :) Ask Goldfish Care – Thanks!! I really appreciate the feedback and the advice. We don’t need to monetize now but we will by the end of November. We’re trying to get a feel for what is possible and what isn’t. I think we’ll take your homepage advice. Thanks for putting it so bluntly.

Dave – The world is so small. I totally remember you. I miss Medellin.

tiffany – That’s the perfect analogy :)

]]> By: Ask Goldfish Care http://www.nerdynomad.com/2009/09/03/interview-with-august-about-lenguajerocom/#comment-35578 Ask Goldfish Care Sun, 06 Sep 2009 14:50:54 +0000 http://www.nerdynomad.com/2009/09/03/interview-with-august-about-lenguajerocom/#comment-35578 I forgot re other languages........ You have chosen the biggest market in this domain, if the site like I believe it could do, becomes huge you wont need anything else diluting it in any way would be a sin. I forgot

re other languages……..

You have chosen the biggest market in this domain, if the site like I believe it could do, becomes huge you wont need anything else diluting it in any way would be a sin.

]]> By: Ask Goldfish Care http://www.nerdynomad.com/2009/09/03/interview-with-august-about-lenguajerocom/#comment-35577 Ask Goldfish Care Sun, 06 Sep 2009 14:45:11 +0000 http://www.nerdynomad.com/2009/09/03/interview-with-august-about-lenguajerocom/#comment-35577 August, Lenguajero......? my mind not functioning to well in the morning, it went directly to what is Kirsty going on about? rather than read any further I found the link and clicked through. Then Wow what a great looking site it looks awesome and instantly I got what the site was about, this in itself is a big plus..... back to the article "now I knew what I'm reading about. I love the idea the site the name the feel all is good, I would never have guessed it was new with little traffic, after reading the article & comments and then taking a look at the site again....... I would suggest that you forget anything that remotely goes within 500 miles of monetization for a while, plough all your efforts in to creating natural traffic. I believe the site has the making's of a mega site maybe not a Facebook or a twitter but the next level down. Your efforts at monetizing will in my opinion impede the growth of this site in a way that is unimagineable sticking the adsense on the site "particularly on the home page" makes it just another site. I would go look at Facebook & the likes & see what they are doing & model your selfs on the route they have taken. If you must monetize it now! you could promote one single quality product Say a Rosetta stone product 2-3 clicks deep. Good luck August, Lenguajero……? my mind not functioning to well in the morning, it went directly to what is Kirsty going on about? rather than read any further I found the link and clicked through.

Then Wow what a great looking site it looks awesome and instantly I got what the site was about, this in itself is a big plus….. back to the article “now I knew what I’m reading about.

I love the idea the site the name the feel all is good, I would never have guessed it was new with little traffic, after reading the article & comments and then taking a look at the site again…….

I would suggest that you forget anything that remotely goes within 500 miles of monetization for a while, plough all your efforts in to creating natural traffic. I believe the site has the making’s of a mega site maybe not a Facebook or a twitter but the next level down. Your efforts at monetizing will in my opinion impede the growth of this site in a way that is unimagineable sticking the adsense on the site “particularly on the home page” makes it just another site.

I would go look at Facebook & the likes & see what they are doing & model your selfs on the route they have taken.

If you must monetize it now! you could promote one single quality product
Say a Rosetta stone product 2-3 clicks deep.

Good luck

]]> By: Dave http://www.nerdynomad.com/2009/09/03/interview-with-august-about-lenguajerocom/#comment-35562 Dave Sat, 05 Sep 2009 17:49:09 +0000 http://www.nerdynomad.com/2009/09/03/interview-with-august-about-lenguajerocom/#comment-35562 Natalie - after realizing I met you and August in line for a tango show in Medellin earlier in the year, I revisited this interview and saw all the comments. I agree with Language Dude's feedback. It might take awhile to monetize the site, but if you're passionate about it, the effort won't feel like work at all. I can say this after almost years of being a Wordpress addict. :) Speaking of links to your site, I just added one at http://MedellinLiving.com and will also add one at http://GoBackpacking.com Regards! Natalie – after realizing I met you and August in line for a tango show in Medellin earlier in the year, I revisited this interview and saw all the comments.

I agree with Language Dude’s feedback.

It might take awhile to monetize the site, but if you’re passionate about it, the effort won’t feel like work at all. I can say this after almost years of being a WordPress addict. :)

Speaking of links to your site, I just added one at http://MedellinLiving.com and will also add one at http://GoBackpacking.com

Regards!

]]> By: tiffany http://www.nerdynomad.com/2009/09/03/interview-with-august-about-lenguajerocom/#comment-35545 tiffany Sat, 05 Sep 2009 01:20:02 +0000 http://www.nerdynomad.com/2009/09/03/interview-with-august-about-lenguajerocom/#comment-35545 I think that is swimming up-stream. I think you need to think like a bar on ladies night. Get the ladies in there free and the guys will be willing to pay. Ok, maybe that’s a bit blatantly one-sided, but you need to focus on North Americans if you want to make money or even break even..... I think that is swimming up-stream. I think you need to think like a bar on ladies night. Get the ladies in there free and the guys will be willing to pay. Ok, maybe that’s a bit blatantly one-sided, but you need to focus on North Americans if you want to make money or even break even…..

]]> By: Natalie Gordon http://www.nerdynomad.com/2009/09/03/interview-with-august-about-lenguajerocom/#comment-35530 Natalie Gordon Fri, 04 Sep 2009 15:41:45 +0000 http://www.nerdynomad.com/2009/09/03/interview-with-august-about-lenguajerocom/#comment-35530 Thanks for the feedback! We aren't using Google ad sense anymore. At launch, we naively thought that we could use it to fine-tune the level of english and spanish speakers online. (Eg. there are 10 english speakers and 0 spanish speakers today - run an ad). Instead what we've learned is that pulling spanish speakers to the site is cheap and english-speakers is way too expensive. Lesson learned. If this proves successful we'll think of other languages. Since spanish is the #1 learned language by english-speakers, at least Americans then there is some balance in the community (even if it's 2:1, it's not 30:1). I think we'll lose that balance if we go to another language. It's my dream to be featured in TechCrunch. :) Vamos a ver. Thanks for the feedback!

We aren’t using Google ad sense anymore. At launch, we naively thought that we could use it to fine-tune the level of english and spanish speakers online. (Eg. there are 10 english speakers and 0 spanish speakers today – run an ad). Instead what we’ve learned is that pulling spanish speakers to the site is cheap and english-speakers is way too expensive. Lesson learned.

If this proves successful we’ll think of other languages. Since spanish is the #1 learned language by english-speakers, at least Americans then there is some balance in the community (even if it’s 2:1, it’s not 30:1). I think we’ll lose that balance if we go to another language.

It’s my dream to be featured in TechCrunch. :) Vamos a ver.

]]> By: Diogo Slov http://www.nerdynomad.com/2009/09/03/interview-with-august-about-lenguajerocom/#comment-35523 Diogo Slov Fri, 04 Sep 2009 10:52:10 +0000 http://www.nerdynomad.com/2009/09/03/interview-with-august-about-lenguajerocom/#comment-35523 Haha! I like Language Dude's opinion about it. And I pretty much agree. The Internet markets in Latin America aren't as evolved as in other places: people are a lot less willing to grab a credit card and pay for something. And if they see the bill being charged in dollars, they automatically think is too expensive. As far as more monetization ideas, I'd hop in LiveMocha.com. Seems to be quite a similar service, although I think yours is a lot more focused and should stay that way for a while. EN-SP-EN services seem to be the most profitable niche out there -- although I could be wrong. However, if you do consider expanding your services in the future, I think Brazilian Portuguese would be a natural choice. Similar markets, expanding infra-structure throwing new broadband users everyday on the internet. And, btw, I'm Brazilian. :-) Best of luck, Diogo Haha! I like Language Dude’s opinion about it. And I pretty much agree. The Internet markets in Latin America aren’t as evolved as in other places: people are a lot less willing to grab a credit card and pay for something. And if they see the bill being charged in dollars, they automatically think is too expensive.

As far as more monetization ideas, I’d hop in LiveMocha.com. Seems to be quite a similar service, although I think yours is a lot more focused and should stay that way for a while. EN-SP-EN services seem to be the most profitable niche out there — although I could be wrong.

However, if you do consider expanding your services in the future, I think Brazilian Portuguese would be a natural choice. Similar markets, expanding infra-structure throwing new broadband users everyday on the internet. And, btw, I’m Brazilian. :-)

Best of luck,
Diogo

]]> By: Backpacking Japan http://www.nerdynomad.com/2009/09/03/interview-with-august-about-lenguajerocom/#comment-35521 Backpacking Japan Fri, 04 Sep 2009 09:55:33 +0000 http://www.nerdynomad.com/2009/09/03/interview-with-august-about-lenguajerocom/#comment-35521 Wow! Very impressive indeed. I second "Language Dude" - you have a unique site so try the startup angle. Write off to magazines and publications too. Encourage the people you have currently signed up to spread the word to their friends either via a prize draw/competition or through an awards programme. The sky's the limit - I wish you the very best! Wow! Very impressive indeed. I second “Language Dude” – you have a unique site so try the startup angle. Write off to magazines and publications too. Encourage the people you have currently signed up to spread the word to their friends either via a prize draw/competition or through an awards programme. The sky’s the limit – I wish you the very best!

]]> By: Language Dude http://www.nerdynomad.com/2009/09/03/interview-with-august-about-lenguajerocom/#comment-35519 Language Dude Fri, 04 Sep 2009 07:10:40 +0000 http://www.nerdynomad.com/2009/09/03/interview-with-august-about-lenguajerocom/#comment-35519 Nice site and great idea. If you read through recent posts here lately, you'll realize you need links. The fact that you are using Google app engine might make it easier to get publicity through TechCrunch, Mashable and the like. I would play up the whole 'Cloud' angle when approaching them. Also I think your personal story, location, shoe string start-up may work to your benefit. Submit to Killer Start-ups as well since they have a fair amount of reach. I would try to get publicity rather than burning money on Adsense. Adsense is not the way to try and buy your way out of chicken and egg situation. Adsense on a zero payout conversion is what puts people out of business fast. You might want to try craigslist and the like to gain some ground for a while. I think you might get a good take-up from CL. You will need to figure out how to post to multiple cities on CL. As far as monetizing South Americans. I think that is swimming up-stream. I think you need to think like a bar on ladies night. Get the ladies in there free and the guys (Americans) will be willing to pay. Ok, maybe that's a bit blatantly one-sided, but you need to focus on North Americans if you want to make money or even break even. With that in mind, be prepared for hard road as monetizing is way harder than building something cool even if it is the best thing since sliced bread. And just to reiterate. You need links, lots and lots of links. You will need to use guerrilla tactics, and be prepared for a long struggle to reach success. Good luck, and I hope it's easier than what laid out. Nice site and great idea. If you read through recent posts here lately, you’ll realize you need links. The fact that you are using Google app engine might make it easier to get publicity through TechCrunch, Mashable and the like. I would play up the whole ‘Cloud’ angle when approaching them. Also I think your personal story, location, shoe string start-up may work to your benefit. Submit to Killer Start-ups as well since they have a fair amount of reach.

I would try to get publicity rather than burning money on Adsense. Adsense is not the way to try and buy your way out of chicken and egg situation. Adsense on a zero payout conversion is what puts people out of business fast.

You might want to try craigslist and the like to gain some ground for a while. I think you might get a good take-up from CL. You will need to figure out how to post to multiple cities on CL.

As far as monetizing South Americans. I think that is swimming up-stream. I think you need to think like a bar on ladies night. Get the ladies in there free and the guys (Americans) will be willing to pay. Ok, maybe that’s a bit blatantly one-sided, but you need to focus on North Americans if you want to make money or even break even.

With that in mind, be prepared for hard road as monetizing is way harder than building something cool even if it is the best thing since sliced bread. And just to reiterate. You need links, lots and lots of links.

You will need to use guerrilla tactics, and be prepared for a long struggle to reach success. Good luck, and I hope it’s easier than what laid out.

]]> By: Food hampers http://www.nerdynomad.com/2009/09/03/interview-with-august-about-lenguajerocom/#comment-35516 Food hampers Fri, 04 Sep 2009 05:06:21 +0000 http://www.nerdynomad.com/2009/09/03/interview-with-august-about-lenguajerocom/#comment-35516 Nice interview as well as nice cite have you talking about. Regarding language i like it. Nice interview as well as nice cite have you talking about. Regarding language i like it.

]]> By: Mike http://www.nerdynomad.com/2009/09/03/interview-with-august-about-lenguajerocom/#comment-35514 Mike Fri, 04 Sep 2009 02:38:52 +0000 http://www.nerdynomad.com/2009/09/03/interview-with-august-about-lenguajerocom/#comment-35514 Nice site. I think the site could work well with other languages. Japanese/Chinese for instance. Maybe you could license the technology to someone? Nice site. I think the site could work well with other languages. Japanese/Chinese for instance. Maybe you could license the technology to someone?

]]> By: all star http://www.nerdynomad.com/2009/09/03/interview-with-august-about-lenguajerocom/#comment-35510 all star Thu, 03 Sep 2009 22:44:56 +0000 http://www.nerdynomad.com/2009/09/03/interview-with-august-about-lenguajerocom/#comment-35510 i found a partner for a weekly hourly spanish conversation via skype on craigslist. i just put an ad on a big SA CL, got many replies and picked a very nice person who reads the articles i send her in preparation. payment is through paypal. so i´m good. nice site design though.. i found a partner for a weekly hourly spanish conversation via skype on craigslist. i just put an ad on a big SA CL, got many replies and picked a very nice person who reads the articles i send her in preparation. payment is through paypal. so i´m good. nice site design though..

]]> By: Natalie Gordon http://www.nerdynomad.com/2009/09/03/interview-with-august-about-lenguajerocom/#comment-35503 Natalie Gordon Thu, 03 Sep 2009 17:50:16 +0000 http://www.nerdynomad.com/2009/09/03/interview-with-august-about-lenguajerocom/#comment-35503 Hi, I'm Natalie from Lenguajero. Maybe you guys have some advice for our next steps. Here are some of our current challenges. 1. Reading Kirsty's previous post about monthly earnings was inspiring. We've earned about $60 in the previous month. ($6 Amazon affiliates, $25 sold article, $29 Google ad words). So hopefully there is nowhere to go but up. Anyone have any advice about affiliate programs? 2. Related - any advice on how to monetize non-USA users? Half of our traffic is from Latin America. We have a lot of Google Ad words clicks but clicks from South America are worth a lot less. 3. Any feedback on the website? Thanks Kirsty! Natalie Hi,

I’m Natalie from Lenguajero. Maybe you guys have some advice for our next steps. Here are some of our current challenges.
1. Reading Kirsty’s previous post about monthly earnings was inspiring. We’ve earned about $60 in the previous month. ($6 Amazon affiliates, $25 sold article, $29 Google ad words). So hopefully there is nowhere to go but up. Anyone have any advice about affiliate programs?
2. Related – any advice on how to monetize non-USA users? Half of our traffic is from Latin America. We have a lot of Google Ad words clicks but clicks from South America are worth a lot less.
3. Any feedback on the website?

Thanks Kirsty!

Natalie

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