AI Practice Knowledge BaseAI Self-Growth System
Monetization Stack
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Monetization Stack: Squeeze Every Drop of Traffic
"Traffic is crude oil, monetization is refining. Without a stack, it just burns in place."
What you will get in this chapter
- A minimum viable monetization stack (MVS)
- Monetization SOP and layered strategy
- Core metrics and acceptance checklist
One-sentence definition
Monetization stack = different willingness to pay gets different paths.
You do not need everyone to pay, but everyone should contribute value.
Minimum viable monetization stack (MVS)
| Layer | You need | Acceptance result |
|---|---|---|
| Free layer | Ads/affiliate/lead forms | Revenue even for free users |
| Intent layer | Soft pay or leads | Conversion is measurable |
| Core layer | Subscription or one-time pay | Stable cash flow |
| High ticket | Enterprise/custom/consulting | Higher ARPU |
Qualified signal: at least 2 layers contribute stable revenue.
Monetization SOP (standard process)
- Segment users: free, intent, paid, high ticket
- Design price ladder: low barrier -> high value
- Build free-layer monetization: ads/affiliate/leads
- Create upgrade paths: clear CTA and value comparison
- Optimize checkout: fewer steps and less friction
- Review revenue mix: avoid single-channel dependency
Core metrics (must track)
Definition (default):
- Time window: unless stated otherwise, use the last 7 days rolling.
- Data source: use one trusted source (GA4/GSC/platform console/logs) and keep it consistent.
- Scope: only the current product/channel, exclude self-tests and bots.
| Metric | Meaning | Pass line |
|---|---|---|
| Free-to-Paid | Free-to-paid conversion | >= 2% |
| Checkout CR | Checkout conversion rate | >= 60% |
| ARPU | Average revenue per user | Rising over time |
| Revenue Mix | Non-subscription revenue share | >= 20% |
| LTV/CAC | Return-to-cost ratio | >= 3 |
Acceptance checklist
There is monetization on the free layer (ads/affiliate/leads)
Tiered pricing and a clear upgrade path exist
Checkout flow is low friction and trackable
Common mistakes
- Only subscription -> thin revenue structure
- Free layer wasted -> traffic leaks out
- Pricing chaos -> users cannot decide
Community case addendum (from developer communities)
The following are public community shares. Metrics are self-reported or taken from public pages and are not independently verified:
- HN Show HN: Notifia author says they bundled multiple marketing plugins into one platform with two full-time engineers and a profitable business; the inspiration was Hotjar integrating 6 tools and reaching around $10m ARR (author claim). Link: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=19366571
- Product Hunt: Rupt Launch page titled "10% ARR growth by preventing password sharing on your SaaS", showing 98 upvotes and 22 comments (2024-05-29); this highlights revenue gain from anti-account-sharing. Link: https://www.producthunt.com/products/rupt/launches/rupt-3
Summary
Key takeaways
1. The goal is to cover different willingness to pay.
2. The free layer is not a cost, it is a low-barrier funnel.
3. Diversify revenue to avoid single-point collapse.
Next chapter, we will cover Build to Sell -- polish products into sellable assets.