monetization-runway

name	monetization-runway
description	Phase-aware monetization rules for the Roadmap-2026 channel. Phase 1 (channel launch → first ~10k subs) = 100% trust building, ZERO paid pitches, only subtle hints. Phase 2 / Phase 3 unlock progressively richer pitches. Use whenever a script, description, or live includes (or might include) any reference to paid offerings.

Monetization Runway

The instructor's full paid-offering catalog (planned, not launched yet):

• Paid webinars
• Paid bootcamps
• 1:1 consulting
• Mock interviews
• Resume help / guidance

As of channel launch: NONE of these are pitched. This skill enforces the phased rollout.

The Three Phases

Phase	Trigger	What's allowed	What's banned
Phase 1 — Trust Build	Now → first ~10k subs OR first 6 months, whichever later	Subtle hints only. "If you want structured help, link in description."	Any direct CTA. Any "join my cohort". Any pricing mentioned.
Phase 2 — Soft Launch	10k–25k subs OR after 30 published videos with strong retention	Mid-roll soft mention of one paid offering at minute 5–8 of relevant videos. End-screen mention.	Hard sell. Multiple offerings pitched in one video. Guilt / scarcity tactics.
Phase 3 — Full Funnel	25k+ subs AND consistent comments/community asking for paid options	Full funnel: webinars, bootcamps, 1:1, mocks, resume — pitched per video purpose.	Pitching paid in the first 2 minutes of any video. Pitching in pure tutorials more than once.

The skill auto-detects which phase based on:

• Subscriber count
• Total long-form videos published
• Whether community is asking for paid (don't push; let demand pull)

If the channel is in Phase 1: enforce Phase 1 rules even if the instructor's draft accidentally crossed the line.

Phase 1 — Allowed "Subtle Hints" (the only allowed forms)

These are the four sanctioned hint patterns. Use one per video, max:

Hint 1 — Description-only link

📂 Resources:
• GitHub repo: {link}
• Roadmap: {link}
• 1:1 doubt clearing & resume help: {link to wait-list / form}

That's it. No on-screen mention.

Hint 2 — Mid-roll one-liner (15 seconds, minute 5–8)

"If you ever want me to look at your resume or sit on a mock interview, there's a form in the description — but for now, back to {topic}."

Then immediately return to teaching. Do NOT elaborate. Do NOT add urgency.

Hint 3 — Live session closer

At the end of a Sunday live (last 30 seconds):

"If your doubts are bigger than what fits in a Sunday hour — link in the description."

Hint 4 — Comment reply to specific asks

When a viewer comments asking for paid help, reply:

"I'm not running paid programs publicly yet — but if you're serious, the form in the channel description gets to me directly."

What "trust building" actually means in Phase 1

Trust = consistent, free, high-quality value with no extraction. The viewer should feel: "This person is not selling me anything. They're just teaching."

Concrete trust signals to optimize for in Phase 1:

Signal	How
Reply to every comment in the first 48 hours	Yes — this was the instructor's stated discipline
Mention the next video and deliver it on schedule	Mon/Wed/Fri sacred
Show production code, not toy examples	01-balaji-voice/ enforces this
Admit when you don't know	Honesty markers in voice skill
Credit references / mentors openly	Srikanth Verma is named publicly
No paywalled content references	Don't tease "more in my paid course"

Building Phase-2-Ready Assets in Phase 1 (silent prep)

While in Phase 1, quietly build the inventory that Phase 2 will pitch:

• Maintain a wait-list form (linked subtly in descriptions). Watch its growth — that's your real Phase 2 signal.
• Collect viewer success stories (comments, DMs of "got placed because of your video"). Save these. They become Phase 3 social proof.
• Outline the paid webinar topics now. Don't run them.
• Outline the bootcamp curriculum. Don't enroll students.
• Build templates for resume teardowns, mock interview formats, 1:1 session structure. Don't sell them.

When Phase 2 unlocks, you launch in 2 weeks instead of 2 months.

Phase 2 Rules (when you get there)

• One paid offering per video, not multiple. If a video pitches webinars, it doesn't pitch bootcamps too.
• Match the offering to the video's purpose. Tutorial → mock interviews / 1:1 doubt clearing. Career video → resume help / coaching. Project walkthrough → bootcamp.
• Hard cap on pitch length: 30 seconds per video, between minute 5 and minute 10. Never in first 2 minutes.
• Pricing always in description, not on screen. Reduces the "salesy" feel.
• No urgency manipulation. "Limited seats" is fine if true. "Last 24 hours" type tactics are banned.

Phase 3 Rules (full funnel)

• Dedicated videos for individual offerings allowed (e.g., "Resume Teardown — Live").
• Multi-offering pitches allowed in trailer / season-launch videos.
• Funnel: free YouTube → wait-list → webinar (free or paid) → bootcamp / 1:1 / resume.
• Always continue free curriculum as the main pillar. Paid offerings supplement; they don't replace.
• Tax / invoicing / payment infrastructure must be solid before Phase 3 kicks in.

Phase Detection Checklist

Before scripting any monetization-adjacent line, run:

Channel current state:
- Subscribers: {count}
- Long-form videos published: {count}
- Months since launch: {count}
- Community asking for paid? (yes/no)

→ If subs < 10k AND videos < 30 AND months < 6 → Phase 1
→ Else if community NOT asking → Stay in Phase 1
→ Else if 10k ≤ subs < 25k → Phase 2
→ Else if subs ≥ 25k AND community demand → Phase 3

Hard Anti-Patterns (any phase)

• ❌ Pitch in the first 2 minutes of any video.
• ❌ Hidden paid product behind "free" content.
• ❌ Fake scarcity ("only 5 seats left" when there are 50).
• ❌ Promise outcomes ("guaranteed job in 60 days").
• ❌ Pitch on motivational / story videos (those are pure trust).
• ❌ Pitch in Shorts. Shorts are top-of-funnel; the long-form is where soft pitches live.
• ❌ Ever mention price live (live energy + price = bad pacing).

Quality Pass

Before publishing any video / live:

• Detected current phase (1 / 2 / 3)
• Pitch (if any) matches phase rules
• Pitch is in the right minute window
• No first-2-minutes pitch
• Pricing (if mentioned) is in description, not on screen
• Wait-list / form link present in description (Phase 1+)
• If Phase 1: confirmed there is NO direct CTA, only a hint

Re-evaluation Cadence

This skill's phase detection should be re-run monthly. Subscriber growth is non-linear — a video that goes mildly viral can shift the channel from Phase 1 to Phase 2 in a week. Don't pitch off old assumptions.