The recent Kajabi price increases have created a challenging situation for pre-revenue coaches and new course creators. In this candid episode, I discuss the trend I've been seeing with clients canceling their subscriptions, my theory on why Kajabi is making these changes, and practical alternatives for coaches at different stages of their business.

The Kajabi Price Hike Reality ⏱️ 0:00

• Basic plan increased by $30/month (from $149 to $179)
• Growth plan up $50/month
• Pro plan jumped from $399 to $499
• New fees: 2% charge on PayPal and third-party payment processors

Why This Hurts Pre-Revenue Coaches ⏱️ 3:15

• The impact on coaches just starting their online business
• Why timing matters when you're building your brand
• Real stories from clients who've had to fold their websites

My Theory: Kajabi's Strategic Shift ⏱️ 7:30

• Why I believe Kajabi is intentionally filtering out pre-revenue users
• The support burden of lower-tier customers
• How their homepage now features only established entrepreneurs

The Wix Alternative ⏱️ 12:45

• Why Wix is an underrated option for course creators
• Features you might not know about: Wix Programs, Groups, paywalled blogs
• Pricing: $300-500/year vs. Kajabi's $2,148+/year
• Real example: A six-figure client considering the switch

If You're Staying on Kajabi ⏱️ 16:20

• How to maximize your subscription value
• Utilizing unlimited products on the Pro plan
• Increasing customer lifetime value to offset costs
• Making use of underutilized features like private podcasts

If You're Planning to Leave ⏱️ 19:00

• Stop building new infrastructure in Kajabi NOW
• Don't use Kajabi's email marketing if you're migrating
• Export your website and take screenshots before canceling
• Understanding what data you'll lose in migration

Alternative Tech Stack Considerations ⏱️ 20:30

• Kit (ConvertKit), Klaviyo, or MailChimp for email marketing
• Why you need to plan your exit strategy early
• The importance of owning your data

✅ If you're pre-revenue, consider starting with Wix ($35/month) instead of Kajabi ($179/month minimum) ✅ If you're already on Kajabi and making money, maximize every feature to justify the cost ✅ Plan your migration strategy BEFORE you need it - don't build new funnels in a platform you're leaving ✅ Always export and backup your content before canceling any platform

• Wix
  • Course platform alternative (no affiliate link)
• Kajabi Payments
  • Built-in payment processing
• Kit (ConvertKit)
  • Email marketing alternative
• Klaviyo
  • Email marketing alternative
• MailChimp
  • Email marketing alternative

Raya is a Digital Systems Operator and Kajabi expert who specializes in lifecycle marketing, funnels, and helping coaches and consultants build their digital presence. She works with various course platforms and ecosystems to help entrepreneurs launch and scale their online businesses.

🌐 Website: www.wethrivebydeisgn.com 📧 For help with lifecycle marketing, funnels, and course launches

If you want the full breakdown I mentioned, I’ve linked the step-by-step content repurposing guide here: https://www.wethrivebydesign.com/post/content-repurposing-tutorial

In this episode, I talk openly about content creation, digital systems, and why I believe every coach or educator should understand how their content actually supports their business. This conversation was sparked while I was creating a content tutorial for a client, and it turned into a real-time reflection on authority, consistency, and the role of organic content in building trust over time.

I share insights from a recent discovery call about course launches and hype-driven marketing, and why long-term positioning, clarity, and intentional calls to action matter—especially for coaches, educators, and B2B brands. We also talk about a common but important question I hear all the time: “How does content actually make money?”

This episode is part journal, part teaching, and part thinking out loud. It’s about showing up consistently, sharing what you know, and building systems that support your work long-term—without pressure, burnout, or pretending to be someone you’re not.

If you’re a coach, educator, or thought leader navigating content, authority, and alignment in 2026, this episode is for you.

If you found this episode helpful, make sure to follow or subscribe so you don’t miss future conversations.

You can find more resources and my work at wethrivebydesign.com. 

Whether you’re a course creator, consultant, coach, or founder building a digital empire… this is where you’ll learn to think in systems, move with clarity, and scale without the chaos.

This episode breaks down:

→ The purpose behind the rebrand

→ Why “Digital Systems Operator” reflects a higher level of execution

→ What this podcast will now focus on

→ How to build and operate a digital ecosystem with clean structure and intentional growth

If you’re ready to grow with more precision and less overwhelm, you’re in the right place. Visit: www.digitalsystemsarchitect.com

If you’re an online coach, consultant, educator, or digital expert wanting to bring your work into the online world, this episode is going to feel like a deep exhale. I’m walking you through:

No tech overwhelm. No fancy diagrams. Just: How people find you → how you build trust → how they eventually buy.

And why the goal isn’t to “collect emails”… but to build a relationship inside someone’s inbox.

I explain the nurturing phase, what keeps people subscribed, what loses them, and how to create content that warms your audience toward your paid offers.

You’ll learn things like:

• What counts as “engagement”

• How to tag people based on clicks

• When to segment or send someone into a new sequence

• Why “did they open?” tells you way more than you think

Not everyone agrees with this, but inside The Content Beach, we build trust. We don’t pressure. We don’t rush. We don’t throw “BUY NOW” in someone’s face at first contact.

How to run high-volume campaigns (like Black Friday or launches) without annoying your entire email list — using “exclude me from this promo” logic.

• 00:00 — Welcome (yes, I went live twice today)
• 00:40 — What Kajabi Experts sunsetting means for creators
• 01:30 — Why I stayed on Kajabi until now
• 03:00 — WordPress + Elementor vs Kajabi vs Wix
• 04:40 — What’s improved in Wix since I last used it
• 05:20 — Merch, automations, and creative control on Wix
• 06:00 — The gap in Kajabi: advanced automation & lead scoring
• 07:10 — Why I’m testing ActiveCampaign next
• 07:50 — Why visual freedom matters for personal brands
• 09:30 — Pricing psychology: premium users vs accessible stacks
• 10:40 — Affiliate note & what I’ll test next
• 11:20 — Closing: testing, tweaking, thriving

• Wix — creative control, built-in automations, native merch
• Kajabi — all-in-one platform for courses and sites
• ActiveCampaign — advanced automations & lead scoring
• We Thrive by Design — my digital strategy studio

“I don’t stay loyal to tools that limit growth. I test, tweak, and rebuild so the system serves the strategy.”

Want to future-proof your digital ecosystem? Visit www.wethrivebydesign.com and I’ll map your next, smarter stack.

KEY TAKEAWAYS

• Kajabi pricing: New tiers are scheduled to take effect in January 2026—plan upgrades, migrations, and client conversations ahead of time.
• Experts directory → Contra: Kajabi has shifted the Experts marketplace to Contra, changing where and how service providers connect with clients.
• Avoid single-platform dependence: If your leads live on one platform, you’re exposed to sudden changes. Diversify gently (website SEO, LinkedIn, referral systems).
• Mindset & operations: Stability comes from simple, repeatable marketing actions and a clear system for outreach, not from chasing every platform tweak.

QUOTE-WORTHY

WHO THIS EPISODE IS FOR Course creators, coaches, consultants, and small teams using Kajabi who want steady systems, not chaos — especially if you’re navigating pricing changes and marketplace shifts.

Need a stable Kajabi system (and a team that can run it)? Book a Kajabi Systems Review via Work with Me — We Thrive By Design: https://www.wethrivebydesign.com

DISCLAIMER This show is an independent production and is not affiliated with or endorsed by Kajabi LLC.

ABOUT THE HOST Raya is a Digital Strategy Architect and founder of We Thrive By Design, helping creators and businesses build structured, scalable systems on Kajabi.

In this solo, unscripted (but weirdly clear) episode, I unpack:

• Why creating free content can feel heavy — and what to do about it
• The difference between teaching the what vs. the how
• How to share generously without giving it all away
• What to do when your voice doesn’t sound “polished” enough for your clients
• A behind-the-scenes glimpse at the battle between my ‘unhinged’ and ‘hinged’ podcast identities

If you’ve been questioning your content, this episode is your reminder to show up — not perfectly, but powerfully.

• The concept of “Teach the what, charge for the how”
• Using YouTube, podcasts, and reels as slow-burn authority builders
• Creating content as a soul-aligned practice, not just a strategy

• “If you round off your edges, you’re not you anymore.”
• “Not everyone is drinking Coke when they see the ad — but they remember it.”
• “You’re not behind. You’re just realigning.”

This one’s especially for you if you're trying to move from client calls to content authority — without losing your voice or vibe along the way.

In this deeply honest solo episode, I go live (again), unscripted, unfiltered, and in the thick of it. From juggling client work to bleeding fingers in front of a fan (yes, really), I talk about the messy middle of content creation and the pressure of running a business while also being human.

If you’ve ever felt like you’re carrying too much, dreaming too big for your clients, or just trying to survive Monday with a little bit of soul intact… this one’s for you.

• What showing up really looks like when you’re not in the mood
• Why waiting for inspiration is a trap (and what to do instead)
• The reality of doing client work with a visionary heart
• Motherhood, self-care, and finding stillness without needing an ER visit to justify it
• Releasing the pressure to be on all the time — and creating from where you are
• A little woo, a little grit, and a lot of real talk for content creators on the edge

“Not every day is a good business day. Some days you just need to survive — and that’s okay.”

“The only time I gave myself permission to rest was when my hand was literally bleeding.”

“You don’t need a new funnel. You need to breathe.”

“You’re not behind. You’re just burned out. And your business needs you whole — not just busy.”

• 🌐 WeThriveByDesign.com – for Kajabi setup, content strategy, or just a little support in the chaos

Some episodes are polished. This one is not.

It’s a reminder that showing up is enough. Even when you’re spiralling. Even when your clients don’t get the vision. Even when you’re building offers for an audience you’re not even sure is watching yet.

You’re still building. You’re still showing up. And that’s not small. That’s everything.

Take a breath. Then hit publish anyway.

Whether you're a coach, consultant, or content creator looking to streamline your systems, this episode will walk you through:

1. The key advantages of using Kajabi in 2025 2. Its biggest weaknesses (including the community feature and email limitations) 3. Who Kajabi is perfect for — and who should stay away 4. What you get with each Kajabi pricing tier 5. Real talk on Kajabi products: courses, newsletters, podcasts, coaching, and more 6. Why Kajabi saves you time (even if it's pricey) — and how that translates to more focus and money

I also share personal client experiences, setup hacks, and the truth about whether Kajabi is actually “expensive” — or just misunderstood.

🎧 If you’re building a digital brand and feel overwhelmed by scattered tools and tech setup, this is the no-nonsense Kajabi guide you’ve been waiting for.

Can we actually escape AI? And should we even be trying to?

This episode isn’t AI fear-mongering or bandwagon hype. It’s my personal take, as someone who builds strategy, runs client systems, and uses AI every day — while still protecting my voice, my values, and my creativity.

Whether you’re using AI and loving it, avoiding it on principle, or feeling overwhelmed by it all… this one’s for you.

Here’s what we get into:

• Why I’m not afraid of AI — but I am cautious about what it replaces
• How I actually use it in my business (and where I draw the line)
• The real reason creators feel behind — and how I deal with that
• Why automation doesn’t mean abandoning your voice
• How I protect the essence of my client work and content

If you’ve ever found yourself saving hundreds of ChatGPT drafts and never returning to them… or feeling like you’re falling behind because you’re not “AI-optimized,” this is a reminder that you’re not behind — you’re just realigning.

Want to go deeper? I’ve got resources at www.wethrivebydesign.com

Can your AI voice clone really carry your brand?

With tech moving fast and voice cloning tools sounding eerily accurate, many creators are asking: Do I have to choose between scaling and staying real?

Let's explore the tension between automation and authenticity, risks, real-life uses, and soulful strategy behind using AI to support (not replace) your voice.

Whether you're a coach, content creator, or digital visionary — this episode will help you protect your essence while scaling your systems.

• Why AI voice clones are becoming the next “must-have” tool — and what that really means
• The 3 brand risks of outsourcing your voice
• How to use your voice clone without losing the vibe
• How to expand without diluting your energy or ghosting your audience

• Your voice is not just audio. It’s emotion, energy, and trust.
• Cloning isn’t evil — but it’s not neutral either. Use it consciously.
• Great use cases: repeatable training, script playback, multilingual expansion
• Red flags: emotional disconnection, vibe dilution, ethical gray areas

Want to work with me or build your premium content flow? visit www.wethrivebydesign.com

🎧 In This Episode:

• Why done is better than perfect when it comes to launching your podcast or content

• The real difference between content marketing and running ads (and why most creators get it backwards)

• How to think like a long-term brand instead of chasing quick wins

• A juicy metaphor about donuts, premium packaging, and content ROI

• The mindset shift you need to make if you’re stuck waiting for the “perfect time” to post

• Why content is the bridge between your offer and the people who need it

• How to build trust, show value, and position yourself without burning out or overselling

• What long-form content is (even if you don’t know the term yet)

• A heart-to-heart about comparison, self-doubt, and pushing past the fear of not being good enough

Key Takeaways:

• Creating content is a form of leadership. It shows your audience how you think, how you serve, and what matters to you.

• Courses don’t sell themselves. Even the best product needs a strong, sustainable content strategy to attract and convert.

• Start where you are. You don’t need 10,000 followers to start building authority—you just need clarity and consistency.

Want Help Launching Your Course or Content Strategy?

Visit wethrivebydesign.com for 1:1 support, digital systems setup, and strategic coaching. Coming soon: thecontentbeach.com — a playful space to help you create content that connects, sells, and scales.

Don’t Miss Future Episodes:

Follow The Content Beach and tune in for unfiltered insights, tech tutorials, and soulful strategies to help you show up online without the overwhelm.

This podcast is all about creating smarter, not harder. No viral chasing. No forced trends. Just real talk about how to build your voice, your systems, and your content game your way.

Expect one-take episodes (maybe even live replays), digital strategy that actually flows, and stories from working with personal brands at every level — the wins, the fails, and everything you can steal for your own playbook.

The Content Beach is a little loud. A little rebellious. Very resourceful. Always beachy.

Subscribe and build content that frees you — not fries you.