The Digital Systems Operator

Let's Talk About Kajabi's Price Hike (And Why I'm Recommending Wix Now)

Kajabi just raised their prices, and it's forcing many pre-revenue coaches to make tough decisions. In this episode, I share why I'm now recommending Wix as a more affordable alternative for course creators just starting out, plus strategies for existing Kajabi users who are deeply invested in the platform. If you're feeling the pinch from the latest price hike, this episode is for you. Episode Overview 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. What We Cover: 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 Key Takeaways: ✅ 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 Resources Mentioned: * 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 About the Host: 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. Connect: 🌐 Website: www.wethrivebydeisgn.com 📧 For help with lifecycle marketing, funnels, and course launches

Content Repurposing for Coaches and Educators: Turn One Video Into a Week of Content

This is my first live episode of 2026! 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.

The Digital Systems Operator — The New Era Begins

This is the official debut of The Digital Systems Operator Podcast — a rebrand that reflects the real work happening behind the scenes. In this episode, Raya shares why the shift was necessary, what the new direction represents, and what founders can expect moving forward. 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

The Beginner-Friendly Funnel Blueprint You Wish Someone Explained Sooner

In today’s episode, I break down funnels in the simplest, most human way possible — no jargon, no pressure, no sleazy strategies. 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: 🌴 What a funnel actually is — in normal human words No tech overwhelm. No fancy diagrams. Just: How people find you → how you build trust → how they eventually buy. 🌊 Why opt-ins matter And why the goal isn’t to “collect emails”… but to build a relationship inside someone’s inbox. ✉️ What really happens after someone joins your list 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. 🔥 Behavior-based automations (explained simply) 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 💛 The rule I swear by: Provide value first 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. 📣 Bonus tip: How to run high-volume campaigns (like Black Friday or launches) without annoying your entire email list — using “exclude me from this promo” logic.

Testing, Tweaking, Thriving: My Latest Platform Experiments (Wix or Kajabi)

In this episode, I share what I’m testing behind the scenes as I audit my digital ecosystem. With Kajabi sunsetting the Experts directory, I’m using this moment to explore alternatives and refine my setup: Wix for creative control and merch, WordPress + Elementor for design flexibility (with caveats), and ActiveCampaign for advanced automation and lead scoring. Timestamps * 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 Mentioned * Wix [https://www.wix.com] — creative control, built-in automations, native merch * Kajabi [https://www.kajabi.com] — all-in-one platform for courses and sites * ActiveCampaign [https://www.activecampaign.com] — advanced automations & lead scoring * We Thrive by Design [https://www.wethrivebydesign.com] — 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.” Work with me Want to future-proof your digital ecosystem? Visit www.wethrivebydesign.com [https://www.wethrivebydesign.com] and I’ll map your next, smarter stack.