Everyone is complaining about the Personal Plan (PP), but no one is taking any proactive action.

If instructors are unhappy with the PP program, they can actually choose to opt out. This is especially true for those who believe their courses are high-quality. If they did, students in the PP would find that all they see are junk courses, which would in turn push them to purchase the high-quality courses individually through the retail model.

However, Udemy is well aware that this isn't an issue with the PP itself, but a matter of crowd psychology. They know that only a few individuals will choose to opt out, while the vast majority of instructors will simply complain without taking any effective action

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Comments

ChrisBankes120

it’s difficult to identify ‘junk’ courses without doing them

Boris035

@BenjaminV - Why do you think we only complain, or the only alternative is to "opt out from the PP" right now? You've got hints all over the posts about what people do off the platform…

TonyAlicea

No longer releasing new courses on Udemy is absolutely effective action, and the one many instructors are now taking. Losing good instructors due to revenue reduction was brought up during Udemy’s Q3 meeting.

Salman Alhiary

How to opt out of the PP? As far as I know, it is tied with UFB.

LawrenceMMiller

One reason I have not opted out is that the data is not clear. If the PP attracts a large number of new students over time that will increase minutes watched of our courses and that will increase our revenue. But that will take time. The negativity is because the immediate, short term, effect is that someone goes to buy my course and they sign up for the PP instead. I lose revenue. But if a large number of people enroll in PP that total traffic and minutes watched will increase and some of that will come to my courses thereby increasing my revenue. I am not saying that is what will happen. I am saying it is an experiment with that intent. We don't know the outcome.

BenjaminV

Some instructors mention that they find it absurd to only earn $3-4 per course from retail sales. This is ridiculous unless the sales volume is massive, but obviously, not everyone achieves high sales numbers. For shorter or less in-depth courses, $3-4 might be acceptable. However, for professional courses that are dozens of hours long—especially those that help students earn certifications—an income of $3-4 is truly laughable.

At this point, we all have a choice. For instance, we can opt out of Udemy's promotional deals to sell at our own price and instead turn to personal promotion, like releasing previews on YouTube. As long as you genuinely believe your course quality is superior to others in the same category, this is a perfectly good option. If you can't determine whether your course quality is higher than your peers, then that in itself is telling. (In this world, there are only predators and prey; if you don't know which one you are, you need to be careful.) In this situation, the course's presentation on Udemy might differ across various language regions, but it will remain visible on Udemy and searchable by students. If you feel your course is on the same level as others, then participating in Udemy's promotional program or the Personal Plan might be your only choice.

Sometimes, these things aren't that complicated. The process is simple: dissatisfaction -> voicing an opinion -> making a choice -> requirements still not met -> leaving. If you haven't left, it implies that you still accept the current situation on a personal level.

ThomasMitchell

This was the same logic for cutting our rev share. They played the whole “It’s a good thing we are taking 85% of your revenue because it will drive minutes and you’ll make more money!”

We didn’t. And we won’t.

LawrenceMMiller

You may be right. But, there is that possibility… and, we have no real choice. Are you pulling out of PP?

ThomasMitchell

I haven’t pulled out of PP, but I’ve stopped publishing anything new on the platform. Instead, since Sept 1st, I’ve been spending 8-10 hours most days redesigning my own website and off-platform offerings / YouTube. I’ve also redirected all links to my Udemy stuff to my own site.

I’m one of those who has “quietly quit”. At least for now.

I’m doing the bare minimum while I watch to see what happens with Udemy between now and the end of the year. If things change, maybe I start back up.

My goal today is to get to half my average Udemy earnings on my own platforms. If I get there, I’ll pull the plug completely on Udemy.

Mehul82

Hey Guys, I am relatively new here but closely following the discussions over PP.

Udemy selected only 2 of my courses even if other courses performing well on marketplace so firstly its not clear how they select courses. Those 2 courses generate less than 1% of marketplace revenue.

In long run, suppose a student purchase a course from marketplace, we get only 1 time revenue (37% / 97%) but if the student watches the course while on PP, we get 20% share of watch time, which looks less.
But in my view, the PP will be a win-win situation if the instructor is paid for recurring watch time i.e. it considers repeat watch time as well, not only the first time a lecture is watched. Not sure how they calculate watch time.

Also, another thing is about the course length. If a course is of good quality and the length is more (> 10 hours), its most likely that it leads to more watch time. Isn't it?

If anyone knows more about the course selection in PP and calculation of watch time, please throw some light on it so that we can take more informed decision whether to opt-in or out of PP.

Overall, as of now it looks more beneficial to Udemy only since they retain 80% of revenue and there is no scope of instructor promotion (similar to 97% in marketplace).

ThomasMitchell

All of this sounds good on paper, but the reality is that none of it actually happens.

Mik365

Can you opt out of the personal plan? If so how can I do that? Also are they not going full subscription soon?

BrianJackson

So, are you saying that to opt out of the PP program I also have to opt out of the Deals Program (Udemy sales)?