Our team achieved monthly revenue of 50 million KRW in just 9 months after launch using this <4-Stage Framework> we'll explain in this article.
Using our exact methodology, the "Suinsubunhae" channel (teaching SAT math) achieved 2,000 subscribers in one week, 500 open chatroom members, and 8 million KRW in first-month revenue.
The "Daemosan Development Team" channel (teaching coding) saw monthly revenue jump from 1 million KRW to 33 million KRW. Their YouTube subscribers also grew dramatically, more than doubling from 2,000 to 5,000 in just one month, rapidly building recognition.
The "Pitch Titan" channel (teaching AI) reached 2,000 subscribers within one month of launch, had 400 people sign up for their AI education webinar, and achieved monthly revenue of 6.5 million KRW.
We're currently applying this <4-Stage Framework> to all creators working with us, and I, as the CEO, have experience building a sustainable revenue-generating education brand using this framework.
I'm about to share this <4-Stage Framework> that you can apply immediately. But first, let me explain specifically what this <4-Stage Framework> is for.
This framework is designed to become a "Small but Strong Creator" (SBS).
Small but Strong Creators are people who build powerful fan loyalty with a small number of subscribers and generate sustainable revenue based on solid branding.
It doesn't matter if you have few subscribers. Our team makes corporate-level monthly salaries even with channels that have just 1,000 subscribers.
Stage 1: Channel Planning
Stage 1 is "Channel Planning." This channel planning must include a clear "A but B reversal structure."
Let me explain more specifically.
A reversal is an element that creates a plot twist in a story with the structure "A, but B."
Steve Jobs: Dropped out of college, but founded Apple. That's exactly the "A but B" structure, right?
Harry Potter: Was an orphan living in a cupboard, but saved the world from evil. Same "A but B" structure.
It's like the saying "humble beginnings, great endings."
Let me reveal the reversal structures of our team's creators:
Nodaji AI: Was a non-tech major who dropped out of Naval Academy, but is now a no-code/AI expert
Byeolnam Teacher: Has ADHD with only a 5-minute attention span, but is now a patent attorney
Suinsubunhae: Had a Grade 5 in math, but is now a dental student
Pitch Titan: Was a 50-year-old who never used AI at work, but is now a ChatGPT expert
Does this resonate with you?
Here's something important to note: Never emphasize the "B" part. That's not value delivery—it's bragging. That's the mistake of viewing YouTube from an influencer's perspective rather than a business owner's perspective. It's enough for B to be subtly revealed.
Instead, you should emphasize the "A" part to create empathy by showing that your past self experienced the same problems your customers are facing now, or emphasize the "→" part by dedicating most of your content to presenting your unique personal solutions used to get from A to B.
Stage 2: Launch Free Products and Collect Customer Database
Stage 2 is about launching free products and collecting customer data. This is called the Value Ladder theory.
Let's imagine a situation: How would you feel if someone suddenly came up to you and said, "I want to be friends"? You'd probably feel awkward, right?
But if it was someone from the neighboring department who you often see at the company and occasionally exchange greetings with in the elevator, and they came to you saying "I want to be friends," you'd feel more comfortable, wouldn't you?
The Value Ladder theory means getting psychologically closer to customers by providing something of lower value first. Customers who have had some psychological barriers broken down are ready to accept the next proposal, whether it's a paid product or high-priced product.
The key point here is that even when providing something of lower value, this simply means lower price—the actual content itself shouldn't be poor quality or the service unfriendly. Customers think that if the lower level of the value ladder is sloppy, the upper levels will be sloppy too. Anyone would think that way, right?
Our team uses three favorite methods for the lower level of the value ladder:
First, we conduct free webinars. We get closer to customers through 60-90 minute webinars.
Second, we provide free VODs. We create VODs packed with our knowledge, beyond typical YouTube content.
Third, we offer low-cost consulting. We deliver over 3 million KRW worth of value through 1:1 consulting under 100,000 KRW and provide contact information so customers can reach us anytime with questions.
When we give our all generously and transparently like this, trust with customers begins to form gradually. This is where the impact of Stage 1 begins to shine. People who come looking for Stage 2's free products already know me from Stage 1. Therefore, they're more familiar with me and our team compared to people who just saw an advertisement without knowing anything.
If you've built a solid channel foundation with the "A but B" structure in Stage 1, customers will move to Stage 2 knowing that 'this person has already experienced the problem A that I'm currently facing.' This allows for more sincere conversations and builds even stronger trust.
Stage 3: Business Development
Stage 3 is the business development stage. It's time to create specific products and reveal them to customers. If you've built sufficient trust with customers in Stages 1 and 2, you can reveal products to them first. It's much more effective to propose purchases to people who have built trust in you rather than selling products to people who know nothing about you.
Our D.T.G team uses three main business models in Stage 3, the business development stage:
First, Cohort Education Curriculum A cohort means a homogeneous demographic group. In other words, we create a high school class 3-1. We assign weekly homework, have homeroom teachers nag, and provide quality education.
According to our team's analysis, cohort education had completion rates over 10 times higher than general education and significantly higher satisfaction.
Second, Software + Coaching Since I've personally done outsourced development before, I directly participate in developing software for our creators. However, with AI so advanced these days, anyone can easily create software. Creating GPTs or Dify containing your know-how is also a good option. The key point here is that launching just software alone isn't very effective. Cases where software-only launches succeeded in Korea are extremely rare, and even the occasional successes are mostly B2B software companies targeting large corporations.
Therefore, you must include "coaching." While supplying software to customers, share your intellectual capital through high-priced "coaching" services. You can not only increase unit prices significantly but also provide real value to customers.
Third, Inner Circle This involves building an inner circle with strong trust networks by accepting only a small number of carefully selected people who are a good fit. You could see this as community business.
The key is gathering only a small number of people who are a good fit. If someone who doesn't fit well gets in, it could lower the value of the inner circle itself. And charge high prices to that small number of people. Just provide 10 times more value than that.
Inner circles mainly provide two types of value: exclusive content and tight-knit networks.
The inner circle should offer high-quality content that can't be seen anywhere else, and members should be connected with deep bonds.
In fact, our D.T.G creator group is such an inner circle. We share strong trust centered around the management team and endlessly share insights and data that are hard to see anywhere else.
Stage 4: Automation
Finally, Stage 4 is the automation stage. Now that the business has somewhat settled, it's time to automate both human resources and technology. However, there's something important to note: 100% automation doesn't exist in the world.
Many YouTubers spout nonsense like "monthly income of XX million KRW without doing anything" or "financial freedom," but there's no such thing in the world.
Even after building an automation system, a certain level of effort is naturally required. Anyone who says they'll make money for you without any effort is a scammer.
The automation stage consists of two main areas. First is human automation. We build systems to minimize my labor through employees, part-timers, and teaching assistants.
Second is technical automation. We escape simple labor by utilizing automation tools like Make and n8n.
I'd like to explain Stage 4 in detail, but unfortunately, it's difficult to do so. Because by the time you reach Stage 4, each business has its own unique form, and the areas requiring automation vary greatly. In fact, D.T.G hasn't yet reached complete automation either. We're currently conducting various experiments in Stage 4, so we'll continue sharing data as it becomes available.
Working with D.T.G
When you work with D.T.G, you'll follow this process:
Build a 4-Stage Framework strategy perfectly tailored to you together with D.T.G team members
Execute all 4 stages together with D.T.G team members, with weekly coaching for detailed adjustments
We'll support your challenges as a creator from the front lines.
Thank you.
