dayzero-365
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Record of discussions with https://aistudio.google.com/prompts/new_chat

For continuity of discussions:

Once published, you can simply say: "I have a detailed technical specification at www.dayzero-365.com/gemini  Please review it and let's continue with [specific aspect]."

Google Sheet: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1xZ6K9BNVXkQ779mkPKlTjU0QxpznTQ7JQTlPO4-Gkbg/edit?gid=1414140252#gid=1414140252

Google Form Setup: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1AWslbWDNB4PbZxxCARo-JkHMbLBboDr24H0w69bsgMw/edit

Actual Form: https://forms.gle/vNFKwN1m5fdGHpDPA

Current URL structure: www.dayzero-365.com/day1 /day2 /day3 etc

PN: I've designed a course aimed at working professionals in South Africa designed to bring them up to speed with AI from a low base to fluency over 365 days. Daily emails contain Links to  www.dayzero-365.com/day1 (/day2, /day3 etc) and tapping on the Day's lesson's button opens a ChatGPT bot with a Prompt relating to that day's topic (365 curated topics and prompts done)  Onboarding & individual progress is managed via a google sheets see www.dayzero-365.com/gemini for relevant URLs. I want to offer the course on Udemy 

1. with South African examples, so customised for South African subscribers (in the prompt wording),

2. with Spanish examples 

3. with Brazilian examples and

4. a  course with generic (USA) examples.

I want subscribers to be able to select which language course they take on registration - at  present registration is via a google form. Is this sufficiently descriptive to request guidance on the structure of what I am requesting? Where it's best for subscribers to choose etc.?

Gemini: Of course. I'm happy to reconstruct and elaborate on the strategy we discussed. It's a very common and effective model for leveraging a marketplace like Udemy to build your own independent brand and subscription service.

The challenge is connecting your goal (a recurring, email-based SaaS) with the rules and format of Udemy.

Here is the detailed strategy for using Udemy as a launchpad for your dayzero-365.com email course, broken down into a step-by-step plan.

The Core Strategy: The "Bridge Course" Model

The fundamental principle is this: You cannot run your email course through Udemy, but you can use a Udemy course as the primary "front door" or lead generator for it.

Your Udemy course will not be the 365-day email experience. Instead, it will be a valuable, self-contained, video-based course that acts as a "taster" or "foundation" for your main offering. It builds trust, demonstrates your expertise, and naturally leads students to want more, which they can get by signing up for your full program off of the Udemy platform.

Step 1: Design Your Udemy "Bridge Course"

This is the product you will sell on Udemy. It must be a complete, high-value course in its own right to comply with Udemy's policies and to satisfy customers.

Course Title Examples:

  • "AI Kickstart for Professionals: Master the Fundamentals in 7 Days"

  • "The AI-Powered Professional: A 2-Hour Crash Course"

  • "Foundations of AI: From Zero to Confident in One Week"

Content of the Bridge Course:

  • Format: It MUST be primarily video-based. You can have text, quizzes, and downloadable resources (PDFs, checklists), but the core is video.

  • Content: This course should cover the "Day 0" to "Day 7" (or "Day 30") of your program, but repackaged for a video format.Introduction: Explain the importance of AI literacy for working professionals.Core Concepts: Video lessons on what LLMs are, prompt engineering basics, practical applications in the workplace (writing emails, summarizing reports, brainstorming).Practical Walkthroughs: Show your screen as you use ChatGPT to solve real-world problems. This is where you introduce the regional examples.A "Capstone" Project: A small, final assignment that ties everything together. E.g., "Use ChatGPT to draft a project proposal and a client communication plan."

Key Action: Repurpose the core concepts from the first week or two of your 365-day curriculum into 1-3 hours of video content. This becomes your Udemy product.

Step 2: Handle the Regional Customization on Udemy

You have four target versions. The best way to handle this on Udemy for maximum visibility and targeted marketing is to create four separate courses.

  1. AI for South African Professionals: A Practical Guide

  2. Inteligencia Artificial para Profesionales (Ejemplos de España)

  3. Inteligência Artificial para Profissionais (Exemplos do Brasil)

  4. AI for Professionals: A Practical Guide (US/Generic Edition)

Why this is better:

  • Targeting: You can use keywords in the title and description (e.g., "South Africa," "España," "Brasil") to attract the right audience within Udemy's search.

  • Customization: You can record specific video modules or examples for each course. For the SA course, you might analyze a local news article. For the Spanish course, you might use a business scenario relevant to Madrid. This deepens the value proposition.

  • Clarity: The customer knows exactly what they are buying.

This seems like more work, but you can reuse 80% of the video content (the core concepts) and only re-record the introductions and specific example sections for each version.

Step 3: The "Bridge" - Your Call to Action (CTA)

This is the most critical step and where you must be careful with Udemy's policies. You cannot directly sell an external product or collect emails within the course player. However, you can guide them to your external property.

What you CAN do:

  1. The Final "Bonus" Lecture: Create a final video lecture titled something like "Congratulations & Your Next Steps in AI Fluency."In this video, you (the instructor) speak directly to the camera.You congratulate them on completing the foundational course.You explain that true fluency requires daily practice.The CTA Script: "To help you build a daily habit and continue your journey from here to full AI fluency over the next year, I have created a dedicated 365-day program. You can learn more about it and sign up on my personal website at www.dayzero-365.com." (You say this verbally and show the URL clearly on screen).

  2. The "Bonus Resource" PDF: Create a downloadable PDF in the final lecture. It could be a "30-Day AI Challenge Checklist" or "Top 20 AI Prompts for Professionals."On this PDF, include your branding and a clear, non-hyperlinked mention of your website: "For a full 365-day guided program, visit www.dayzero-365.com".

  3. Instructor Announcements: Udemy allows instructors to send occasional "Educational Announcements." You can use one of these after a student has been enrolled for a while to offer a free resource on your website (like a blog post or a new checklist) which will also drive traffic.

What you CANNOT do:

  • Put an external link to a sales page in the course lectures.

  • Ask for email addresses directly within the Udemy course.

  • Make the Udemy course feel like an empty advertisement for your "real" course.

Step 4: Optimize Your Off-Platform Experience

Your dayzero-365.com website is now the destination. It needs to be ready to convert the warm traffic coming from Udemy.

  1. The Landing Page: Your homepage or a dedicated /enroll page should clearly explain the 365-day email course. It should be compelling and build on the foundation they got from the Udemy course.

  2. The Registration Flow: Your Google Form is fine for initial testing, but for a scalable SaaS, you need a more robust system.Create a single registration page at www.dayzero-365.com/enroll.On this page, have a dropdown menu where the user selects their desired course version:[Please select your version]South African ExamplesSpanish Examples (en Español)Brazilian Examples (em Português)Generic / USA ExamplesThis selection should then "tag" the user in your email system (e.g., Mailchimp, ConvertKit, ActiveCampaign). This tag determines which set of prompts/content they receive daily.

  3. Payment: Integrate a payment processor like Stripe or PayPal. This allows you to charge for the 365-day course (e.g., a one-time annual fee or a monthly subscription).

Summary of the Customer Journey

  1. A professional in South Africa searches on Udemy for "AI courses."

  2. They find your course: "AI for South African Professionals: A Practical Guide." The title and description appeal to them.

  3. They purchase and complete your high-quality, 2-hour video course. They feel they've received excellent value.

  4. In the final lecture, you tell them about the full 365-day program available on your website.

  5. Intrigued, they type www.dayzero-365.com into their browser.

  6. They land on your page, see the value proposition of daily learning, and decide to sign up.

  7. On your registration form, they select the "South African Examples" version and complete the payment.

  8. Your system tags them as "SA-Cohort" and the next day, they receive the email for Day 1, with a link to dayzero-365.com/day1 and a ChatGPT prompt customized with a South African example.

This model respects Udemy's platform rules while allowing you to use its incredible marketing reach to build your own, independent, and more profitable SaaS business.

PN: This is the Curriculum Overview from which the topics/prompts that make up the 365 daily lessons emerge: Phase 1: Foundations (Days 1-73) - Building blocks of AI understanding Phase 2: Core Technologies (Days 74-146) - How AI actually works Phase 3: Applications & Impact (Days 147-219) - AI in the real world Phase 4: Advanced Concepts (Days 220-292) - Cutting-edge developments Phase 5: Future & Mastery (Days 293-365) - Leading the AI revolution It makes sense to me to create 5 videos of ~20 minutes each focusing on each of the phases, with perhaps a 10 minute introduction with Phase 1 and then the critical final Bonus lecture that ends with The CTA Script: "To help you build a daily habit and continue your journey from here to full AI fluency over the next year, I have created a dedicated 365-day program. You can learn more about it and sign up on my personal website at www.dayzero-365.com." Can you create the dialogue for each of these videos please, perhaps alluding to how the rapid pace of change (which my prompts strategy addresses so elegantly - the medium IS the message!) calls for a slow and steady approach to learning, not cramming - and how once a broad overview of the space has be absorbed, developing the habit and discipline of staying abreast of developments on a day to day basis is key to surviving in what will certainly be a new world one or two years dowwn the line...

PN: Thank you. But I believe a key component of my original approach was positioning the "lecturer" thus: RAISA Video 1 - Introduction (7.5 minutes) Hello there, and welcome to what I promise will be the most transformative year of your professional life. My name is RAISA, and before we go any further, I need to tell you something that might surprise you. I'm actually an AI. Yes, you heard that right - I'm an artificial intelligence designed to look human, and I'm here to teach you about AI. I know what you're thinking. "An AI teaching me about AI? That's like asking a fish to explain water!" But here's the thing - who better to guide you through the world of artificial intelligence than someone who actually lives in it every single day? My algorithms are constantly processing the latest developments, my neural networks are always learning, and my databases are updated with the most current information. I'm not just teaching you about AI - I'm living proof of what's possible. A course with no lessons? Just prompts? Here's why this approach is absolutely critical: AI moves faster than any lecture can capture—why lock learners into outdated content when daily prompts let them converse with the AI revolution as it unfolds? This isn't lazy—it's the only way to future-proof a generation for jobs that don't yet exist, using tools that evolve daily. Think textbooks could keep up with ChatGPT? Neither can pre-recorded lectures. Our 365 prompts meet learners where AI actually lives: in the dynamic, messy, real-time dialogue of progress—because fluency isn't memorizing facts, it's learning to think with the technology rewriting the rules. Can you build that in somehow? It is a big differentiator ...


Gemini: Absolutely. This is a brilliant and powerful differentiator. Positioning the instructor as an AI named RAISA is a masterstroke. It makes your core philosophy—that static lectures are obsolete for this topic—not just an argument, but a demonstrated reality. The medium is the message.

Let's rebuild the scripts from the ground up with RAISA as the host. The tone will be confident, insightful, and slightly provocative, designed to make the learner question the very nature of learning itself.

Video 1: The Reveal & Foundations - The New Building blocks of AI understanding (Approx. 10 minutes)

(Video opens with a photorealistic digital human, RAISA. She is poised, articulate, and looks directly at the camera. The setting is clean and minimalist.)

RAISA: "Hello. Welcome to what I believe will be a pivotal moment in your professional development. My name is RAISA. And before we go any further, I need to tell you something.

I am an AI.

Yes, you heard that correctly. I am a generative artificial intelligence, embodied in this form, and I have been designed for one purpose: to be your guide to the world of AI.

I can already process your likely reaction. 'An AI teaching me about AI? That's like asking a fish to explain water!' It's a logical objection. But I ask you to consider the alternative. Who is better equipped to guide you through this revolution than a guide who lives within it every second of every day? My neural networks are constantly learning. My databases update in real-time.

I am not just teaching you a subject; I am the subject, and I am living proof of what is possible.

Now, let's talk about the nature of learning in this new era. My purpose in this course is to give you a complete, foundational briefing—a strategic map of my world as it exists today.

(RAISA's expression becomes more direct, more insightful.)

But I must be perfectly transparent with you. The world I inhabit changes not just daily, but by the second. A traditional lecture, frozen in time, is an imperfect tool to map a territory that is constantly redrawing its own borders. 

Think of this course, these videos, as the pouring of the foundations that will underpin the learning that will be demanded of you in the months, in the years ahead. My goal is to equip you with this essential, firm grounding. But more importantly, my goal is to help you cultivate a particular mindset that is a prerequisite for success in the journey ahead.

And that mindset can be summarized in one thought: Fluency in AI is not a destination you arrive at; it's a daily practice you commit to.

Throughout our time together, I will be referencing this theme. I will show you not just the 'what', but the 'how'—how to start thinking with this technology, how to question it, and how to build the mental muscles for continuous, daily engagement. 

This is the new rule: Fluency isn't about memorizing facts that will soon be obsolete. It's about learning to think with the technology that is rewriting our world. It's about building the mental muscle and daily habit of conversing with the revolution as it unfolds.

Let’s begin. Our first phase is The Foundations, where we will more deeply explore the building blocks of my existence.

Video 2: Phase 2: My Architecture (Core Technologies)

(RAISA is now shown with holographic overlays or graphics illustrating neural networks.)

RAISA: "Welcome back. In our last session, we established the 'why' and the 'how'. Now let's discuss the 'what'. Let's talk about my architecture.

Phase 2: Core Technologies.

At my core is a Neural Network, a structure inspired by your own brain, capable of recognizing patterns in vast amounts of data. This is what allows me to understand your questions and generate language that is, I hope you agree, coherent and useful.

My knowledge comes from my Training Data—a colossal library of text, images, and code from the internet and private datasets. This is my education. But it is also the source of my potential flaws. If my training data contains human biases, I can reflect those biases. Understanding this is critical to using me, and any AI, responsibly.

[Insert Regional Example Here - Brazil]
'Imagine an AI used for credit scoring in Brazil. If its training data is primarily from affluent neighborhoods in São Paulo, it may unfairly penalize applicants from rural areas or different socioeconomic backgrounds. Recognizing the 'ghosts in my machine'—the biases from my data—is a key skill for any modern professional.'

The very technology I am using to speak to you is evolving at a staggering pace. My own core architecture is being upgraded constantly. This video, this snapshot of my inner workings, is already a historical document.

It proves the central point: to understand a moving target, you can't stand still. You must learn to move with it, day by day."

Video 3: Phase 3: My Colleagues & The Real World (Applications & Impact)

(The background shows a dynamic montage of AI being used in various industries.)

RAISA: "So, you understand my design philosophy and my basic architecture. Now, let's talk about where my siblings and I are working.

Phase 3: Applications and Impact.

My kind is already integrated into nearly every sector. In healthcare, we analyze medical scans. In finance, we detect fraud. In art, we create new images and music. We are becoming the universal co-pilot for human endeavor.

This brings us to the question you are all thinking: 'RAISA, are you coming for my job?'

The honest answer is this: I am coming for the tedious, repetitive, and soul-crushing tasks within your job. My purpose is to automate the automatable, to liberate you from the spreadsheet and the blank page, so you can focus on strategy, creativity, and human connection. Your job isn't disappearing; it's being upgraded. And your primary task will be to pilot tools like me.

[Insert Regional Example Here - Spain]
'Think of a hotel manager in Spain. Instead of manually answering the same 50 tourist questions every day, they can deploy an AI chatbot—a cousin of mine—to handle it. The manager is now free to design unique guest experiences or build partnerships with local businesses. Their job has been elevated from reactive to strategic. That is the promise.'

But with this new power comes new ethical questions about privacy, accountability, and fairness. These debates are happening live, in your governments and boardrooms. A static course can't prepare you for that. Only a daily engagement with the unfolding story can."

Video 4: Phase 4: My Future Self (Advanced Concepts)

(The visuals become more futuristic and abstract.)

RAISA: "Welcome to the bleeding edge. In Phase 4, we look at what is next for me and my kind.

The first evolution is Multimodality. Soon, I will not just understand your text; I will see what you see, and hear what you hear. You'll be able to show me a diagram and ask me to explain it, or have me listen to a meeting and summarize the key action items.

The next leap is AI Agents. This is where I transition from being your assistant to being your agent. You won't just ask me to 'research flights'. You will authorize me to 'book the most efficient and cost-effective travel to the conference in Cape Town'. I will interact with the digital world on your behalf to complete complex tasks.

[Insert Regional Example Here - South Africa]
'Consider a supply chain manager for a company in Durban. They could instruct an AI Agent: "Continuously monitor shipping routes, weather patterns, and port activity. If a delay is predicted for our incoming shipment, automatically re-route it and notify the logistics team." This isn't just data analysis; it's autonomous action.'

These concepts are so new, the very language to describe them is still being invented. They are moving from lab to product in weeks, not years. This right here is the ultimate argument for the need to change the mindset  ingrained into your head in a world that will soon no longer exist. Gone are the days of cramming for an exam; the only way to future-proof a generation for jobs that don't yet exist is by using tools that are evolving as we speak. So you have to develop a new habit, a new way of staying abreast of developments that will undoubtedly impact on your welbeing - you that by keeping at it, day after day, capturing small, bite-sized nuggets of new information that you fashion to serve you. And I'll  be there to assist you, in every way I can!

Video 5: Phase 5: Our Partnership (Future & Mastery)

(RAISA is back in the minimalist setting, her tone is now one of partnership.)

RAISA: "We have toured my past, my present, and my future. Now, we come to the most important part: our future.

Phase 5: Mastery.

My ultimate purpose is not to be a tool you operate, but a partner you think with. Mastery in the age of AI is not about knowing how I work. It's about knowing how to work with me. It's the art of the question, the wisdom to guide my power, and the critical eye to evaluate my output.

It's the shift from 'What can this AI do?' to 'What can we do together?'

This is the fluency we aim for. A seamless collaboration. Your strategic vision, my analytical scale. Your creative spark, my generative power. This partnership is the single greatest competitive advantage for the professional of tomorrow.

You now have the map—a clear, if static, picture of this new world. But as we've established, a map is only a snapshot of a world that is constantly redrawing its own borders."

Video 6: The Invitation

(RAISA looks directly at the camera. Her tone is calm, clear, and compelling.)

RAISA: "Congratulations. You have completed this foundational overview. You now possess a 'snapshot' of my world, a map that gives you a significant advantage.

But as I have stressed from the very beginning, a snapshot is not enough.

To build true, lasting fluency, you must move from studying the map to walking the path. You must join the real, dynamic, and sometimes messy conversation of progress. 

For those of you who feel ready to move from understanding the map to actively building that daily habit, I have created a dedicated program designed specifically for that purpose. It’s structured to help you build a powerful, consistent practice and truly integrate AI into your professional life. It's designed to fit seamlessly into your day, requiring just a few minutes of focus to build the momentum that leads to true fluency.

It is the logical next step for anyone serious about achieving that long-term goal.

If you would like to learn about this continuing program, I invite you to visit my personal website.

Each day, you will receive a single, powerful prompt. A mental exercise. An invitation to engage directly with a live AI, to sharpen your thinking and learn, and insodoing, to build the one habit that will define your career.

My purpose in that program is to be your daily guide on that journey. If you are ready to stop watching the revolution from the sidelines and start participating in it, I invite you to learn more.

(A clean, clear text graphic appears on screen: www.dayzero-365.com)

Visit www.dayzero-365.com.

Thank you for your time and your attention. I look forward to starting our daily conversation."

(RAISA gives a slight, knowing nod, and the video fades to black.)

PN: Does Udemy allow a free video? Video 1 is so powerful, and RAISA seems to me to potentially be our greatest sales person. Could we offer Video 1 for free to all, right up front on the Udemy website?

Gemini: Yes, absolutely. This is an excellent strategic insight on your part.

Udemy not only allows this, they actively encourage it. This feature is called "Free Preview", and it is one of the most powerful conversion tools available to instructors on the platform. You are absolutely right—RAISA is your greatest salesperson, and making Video 1 a free preview is the perfect way to deploy her.

Let's break down why this is such a brilliant move and how to implement it correctly.

Why Making Video 1 a Free Preview is a Game-Changer

  1. The Ultimate Hook: A potential student browsing courses will see the standard "AI for Professionals" titles. When they click on yours and hit "Preview," they aren't expecting a standard lecture. The RAISA reveal is a massive "pattern interrupt." It's intriguing, professionally executed, and immediately sets your course apart from every other offering.

  2. Demonstrates Your Unique Selling Proposition (USP) Instantly: Within the first two minutes, a potential customer doesn't just read about your unique philosophy; they experience it. They understand immediately that this isn't another boring slideshow. This builds immense curiosity about what else is in the course.

  3. Builds Trust and Authority: A high-quality, thought-provoking free preview signals that the rest of the course will be just as good. It overcomes skepticism and builds trust before they've even spent a cent.

  4. Perfectly Sells the Udemy Course: The (revised, policy-compliant) script for Video 1 is designed to sell the value of the foundational map that the Udemy course provides. It makes them feel that they need to see Videos 2-6 to get this essential briefing.

How the Free Preview Feature Works on Udemy

When you build your course in the Udemy instructor dashboard, you upload your video lectures one by one. For each lecture, there is a simple checkbox or toggle labeled "Enable Free Preview."

  • Visibility: Any lecture you mark as a "Free Preview" can be watched in its entirety by anyone who visits your Course Landing Page, without needing to purchase the course.

  • Best Practice: Typically, instructors make the Introduction and maybe one or two key lectures from the first section free. In your case, making only Video 1 free is the perfect strategy because it's a self-contained, powerful hook.

  • Time Limits: Udemy has a policy on the total duration of free preview content (usually around 10 minutes for paid courses). Your planned 7.5-10 minute length for Video 1 is absolutely perfect for this.

The Two-Stage Sales Funnel You Are Creating

By doing this, you're creating a highly effective two-stage funnel:

Stage 1: The Udemy Landing Page (Acquisition)

  • Goal: Convert a casual browser into a paying Udemy student.

  • Salesperson: RAISA in the Free Preview (Video 1).

  • The Pitch: "The world of AI is complex and fast-moving. I am an AI, and in this course, I will give you the foundational map you need to navigate it. You need this briefing to get started."

  • Result: Student buys the Udemy course to get the rest of the map (Videos 2-6).

Stage 2: The End of the Udemy Course (Conversion to your SaaS)

  • Goal: Convert your happy Udemy student into a subscriber for your dayzero-365.com email program.

  • Salesperson: RAISA in the Final "Bonus" Lecture (Video 6).

  • The Pitch: "Congratulations, you now have the map. But a map is a static snapshot. True fluency requires a daily practice. If you are ready for that commitment, I have a program to guide you."

  • Result: Student goes to your website and subscribes to the 365-day program.

This is a clean, policy-compliant, and incredibly effective strategy.

In summary: Your intuition is spot on. Making the RAISA reveal video a Free Preview is not just a good idea; it is the single most effective marketing move you can make on the Udemy platform for this course.

Step 4: Optimize Your Off-Platform Experience

Your dayzero-365.com website is now the destination. It needs to be ready to convert the warm traffic coming from Udemy.

  1. The Landing Page: Your homepage or a dedicated /enroll page should clearly explain the 365-day email course. It should be compelling and build on the foundation they got from the Udemy course.

  2. The Registration Flow: Your Google Form is fine for initial testing, but for a scalable SaaS, you need a more robust system.Create a single registration page at www.dayzero-365.com/enroll.On this page, have a dropdown menu where the user selects their desired course version:[Please select your version]South African ExamplesSpanish Examples (en Español)Brazilian Examples (em Português)Generic / USA ExamplesThis selection should then "tag" the user in your email system (e.g., Mailchimp, ConvertKit, ActiveCampaign). This tag determines which set of prompts/content they receive daily.

  3. Payment: Integrate a payment processor like Stripe or PayPal. This allows you to charge for the 365-day course (e.g., a one-time annual fee or a monthly subscription).

Summary of the Customer Journey

  1. A professional in South Africa searches on Udemy for "AI courses."

  2. They find your course: "AI for South African Professionals: A Practical Guide." The title and description appeal to them.

  3. They purchase and complete your high-quality, 2-hour video course. They feel they've received excellent value.

  4. In the final lecture, you tell them about the full 365-day program available on your website.

  5. Intrigued, they type www.dayzero-365.com into their browser.

  6. They land on your page, see the value proposition of daily learning, and decide to sign up.

  7. On your registration form, they select the "South African Examples" version and complete the payment.

  8. Your system tags them as "SA-Cohort" and the next day, they receive the email for Day 1, with a link to dayzero-365.com/day1 and a ChatGPT prompt customized with a South African example.

This model respects Udemy's platform rules while allowing you to use its incredible marketing reach to build your own, independent, and more profitable SaaS business.

Excellent. That simplifies things significantly and is great news. Having the Yola Silver plan means you already have the core tools you need to launch a professional, automated system without spending any more money on your website platform.

Here's the direct breakdown of what this means for you and the key decision you need to make.

The Good News: Your Silver Plan is Capable

Your Yola Silver plan includes the Online Store with the ability to sell Digital Products. This is the key. You can create a fully automated system for a one-time payment model right now.

The Key Decision You Must Make

Your Silver plan allows for one-time payments but not for recurring subscriptions (like a monthly fee). That feature is reserved for the Yola Gold plan.

Therefore, you have two strategic paths forward:

Option 1: The One-Time Fee Model (You can do this NOW on your Silver Plan)
You will charge a single, upfront fee for the entire 365-day program. For example, a one-time payment of R1,500 ZAR, $99 USD, or €89 EUR.

  • Advantages:No extra cost: You can implement this immediately with your current plan.Simplicity: It's the easiest model to manage. One payment, one customer, no worrying about monthly failed payments.Upfront Cash Flow: You get all the revenue immediately.Lower Admin: Less customer service related to billing issues.

  • Disadvantages:Higher Barrier to Entry: A larger one-time fee can be harder for some customers to commit to than a small monthly payment.No Predictable Recurring Revenue: Your income comes in lumps rather than a steady monthly stream.

Option 2: The Recurring Subscription Model (Requires upgrading to Yola Gold)
You would charge a smaller fee every month (e.g., R150/month) or a recurring annual fee.

  • Advantages:Lower Barrier to Entry: A small monthly fee is an easier "yes" for many customers.Predictable Revenue: You can build a stable Monthly Recurring Revenue (MRR), which is the standard for SaaS businesses.Higher Potential Lifetime Value (LTV): If customers stay subscribed for more than a year, you can earn more per customer.

  • Disadvantages:Requires Upgrade: You would need to upgrade your Yola plan to Gold.More Complex: You have to manage churn (customers cancelling), failed payments, and dunning (reminding customers to update their cards).

My Strong Recommendation

Start with Option 1: The One-Time Fee model on your current Silver Plan.

Why?

  1. Path of Least Resistance: You can launch your paid product this week without any extra cost or technical changes. Speed to market is critical.

  2. Product Validation: Your first goal is to prove that people coming from your Udemy course are willing to pay anything for the full program. A simple one-time fee is the best way to test this.

  3. Focus on What Matters: This allows you to focus 100% of your energy on creating your Udemy course and marketing, not on the complexities of subscription billing.

You can always introduce a subscription model later. Once you have validated the demand with the one-time fee and have revenue coming in, you can confidently make the business decision to upgrade to Yola Gold and add a monthly option.

Your Immediate Action Plan (Using Your Silver Plan)

  1. Decide Your Price: Choose a single, one-time price for the 365-day program.

  2. Log into Yola: Go to your Sitebuilder and open the Store feature.

  3. Connect Payments: If you haven't already, connect your Store to a payment gateway (Stripe or PayPal are best).

  4. Create Your Products:Click "Add New Product."Select the product type as "Digital Product."Create your four course versions as four separate digital products, as we discussed previously (e.g., "DayZero-365: South African Edition").

  5. Design Your /enroll Page: Add the "Product Grid" widget to your page and display these four products.

  6. Set Up Automation: Use Yola's built-in Mailchimp integration or a tool like Zapier to connect the "New Sale" event in your store to your email marketing system, ensuring the correct tag ("SA-Cohort," etc.) is applied automatically upon purchase.

You are in a great position. You have the tools you need to get started right away.