Expert Professional Advice

Rosetta Stone advertises an immerse language experience as the quickest way to learn a language, but to call it software isn’t really accurate, they’re just selling flash cards – or more simply photographs, disguised as language learning software.  The viewer clicks on the picture to select an answer to the question – it is poorly designed without regard to any modern e-learning research and techniques. Do not waste money purchasing such a program to learn Mandarin – there are no conversation exercises – and no animation for any of the vocabulary. The only reason Rosetta Stone might be useful is as a vocabulary review before you take a test.

As a language learning product it fails.

As a gift I received a Mandarin vocabulary and phrase book – and then got into a two hour phone call with a contact from Taiwan where I practiced some of the phrases and developed a game show where I approach Chinese tourists on the street and test them on their understanding of my Mandarin. Here’s an update of some of footage from the show:http://www.metacafe.com/w/5478477

http://www.metacafe.com/w/5487511

http://www.metacafe.com/w/5487539

http://www.metacafe.com/w/5492543

TV information product sales pitches rely on credulity… Let me save you some time and money:

*Internet:

What is referred to as Anthony Morrison’s system in the infomercial isn’t really a system at all but a front for affiliate marketing to the uninitiated. The claim is that his sales program will walk the buyer through making an income from promoting the products of established companies…but the oldest example of such a business model is the Amazon Associates program where people act as affiliates for a five percent referral fee for the sale. So, you’d have to refer roughly $100,000 worth of business to earn $5,000, and then think about doing that each month or every few months – it’s not going to happen. This Amazon sales program has been going on for over ten years and there aren’t many people who can make much income from it. The one thing Anthony leaves out is how you get massive amounts of website traffic without paying for it – you need thousands or hundreds of thousands to millions of website visitors because only one or two percent of them will convert to a sale. He doesn’t mention it because it’s nearly impossible. As of April 2008 it’s been estimated that there are 162 million websites – good luck getting yours noticed and driving a sale to someone’s site. *Updated 8/10

Real Estate – no money down:

Carleton Sheets and other real estate program hucksters provide outdated techniques for acquiring property at little or no cost. Ask your bank’s mortgage department… they’ll tell you it is foolishness. The only way to get a good deal is to take advantage of another person’s misfortune – they don’t mention that in the infomercial.

Cash Flow notes:

This one has been around for fifteen years or more by various companies, at first they offered seminars to introduce you to the business. I spoke with the operator of the seminar and he couldn’t prove he had any substantial income from cash flow notes. The cash flow notes infomercial simply says: 1) Find them 2) List them 3) Make money. But that’s not even a three step process: 3) is a result, not a step…

No one is going to find them for you – and why would any serious buyer pay a mark-up price when if it’s so easy to find the notes, the buyer could easily work with a note holder directly? Call a few note buying firms directly and ask them how the industry works and tell them about that wonderful two step process which you hope will bring you a large income… they could use a laugh.

Forex and stock trading infomercials, etc.

They claim: Just follow the arrows…

Just show me your tax returns and audited financial statements.

If it’s such a wonderful program why don’t you trade it with real money for a year or two and then come back to me…

I’ve got a system too, it’s called you flip a coin until it comes up tails ten times in a row and then I’ll listen to you… infomercial jerks.