Cesar Serna

Pay Per Click Calculator Application on iTunes

2009-06-01T18:36:02Z

I got my first application in the iTunes store! I figured I would start out simple with a Pay Per Click Calculator and called it PPC Calc. You can download it via iTunes or the App Store on your iPhone or Ipod Touch.

How Does It Work?
Using simple sliders to control your Affiliate Payout, Cost Per Click, Conversion Percentage and Total Clicks you can quickly see if your Pay Per Click campaign is headed for major profit or major loss! You will get instant information on:

Campaign Spend - How much you will be out of pocket
Break Even Units - How many conversions before you get your money back
Break Even Percentage
Converted - How many conversion with the current settings
Revenue - Gross Income
Profit - Net Income
ROI % - What is the Return on Investment?

Get PPC Calc!
If you have an iPhone or iPod Touch and access to the App Store you can download PPC Calc for only 99 cents!

The Art of Disconnecting

2009-03-20T18:47:07Z

We are living through some interesting times right now. Of course I believe people should be aware of what is going on around them. What is really easy to do is cross the very thin line between awareness and obsession. Losing your job, having no money and losing your house are all real fears that everyone has. One sure way to make them all come true is to obsess over them to the point that you fail to do your job, focus on what makes you money and keep yourself moving towards your goals.

Recently I have walked into stores where sales people are huddled together talking about who got layed off or if the store will shutdown. I must have stood waiting for them to notice me for at least five minutes until I said “I hate to interrupt but I would like to buy xyz product”. To my surprise instead of getting the usual sales service where I would get walked over to the product and got the old up sell speech to a better product they simply pointed me over to corner of the store and told me to go get it. I even had to wait again just to be able to pay for the product!

Here are very simple methods I use to avoid getting caught up in the daily barrage of negative news.

Turn off messaging and emails!
I borrowed this from the Four Hour Work Week, great book and I highly recommend it. I got the audio book version and it has made a tremendous impact on my productivity.

Set your Blackberry to phone only and if you really must stay on top of emails check them at the top of the hour. You will be amazed how much more work you get done when you don’t check your phone every two seconds due to it chirping or vibrating.

While you are at it turn off Instant Messenger, Twitter Client and anything else that will bring a distracting screen or blinking icon that requires your attention. If people need to get a hold of you they will call.

Change your browser homepage!
Seems simple right? I used to have Yahoo! and at times Google News set to my homepage. The problem is that habitually I would hit the home button on my browser and then immediately be distracted by some major news or new viral story. I would say this habit alone is responsible for hours of lost productivity.

So the answer? I changed my homepage to the project or site that required my attention right now! If I tend to fall victim to my adult attention deficit disorder and go off chasing some news story, I just hit the home button that would usually keep me in la la land and I am now immediately taken back to what I should be giving my attention to.

Do not answer your phone!
Here is the real test that most people fail as they are conditioned to answer the phone when they hear a ring. Most people out of habit will stop what they are doing and get up to answer a phone without much thought. Stop doing this! Let your answering machine pickup and screen your calls. 99.9% of all calls are from Telemarketers or people who just want to chat for while. The goal is to stop talking to telemarketers or discussing the worlds problems with your friends and family.

Some of you may have to answer the phone for specific people like your boss, significant other etc… Use caller id and have those numbers clearly marked somewhere so that you know to answer only those calls. Everyone else goes directly into the message machine for screening.

Building your empire takes focus!
Times are tuff no doubt about that and if you do not have the ability to delegate work to others then its all on you to deliver. Staying focused will keep you working while others are losing work, jobs, money and homes. Times call for going the extra mile, keeping a clear head and getting your work done. Even when it seems everything is tumbling down you need to keep moving forward.

2009 Year of the Cockroach survive and thrive!

2009-03-06T19:54:44Z

This will be a short but sweet post based on recent events and Greg Boser’s mantra for 2009. If you follow Greg Boser on twitter you may have caught a conversation that took place between Greg and Todd Mallicoat a.k.a Stuntdubl. Greg goes on to describe why his mantra for 2009 is “I’m a cockroach” I’ve included a screenshot of the conversation below.

It’s a tough time out there for sure and despite all the bleak news I’m reading and hearing on the radio one thing one constant seems true “you have to be really really good at what you do to survive in these times.”

Coming from a coder’s perspective I have always said you are only as good as what you can create. It is not enough to just be good at code anymore you have to be GREAT! And you have to be great at customer service, marketing and everything else that comes with having a solid business model. As in Greg’s mantra being a cockroach you have to find a way to not only survive but to thrive. It is obviously not the same way for everyone, it may mean learning new skills or spammin and jammin at 3am (ahem), what ever it is… You do what you have to in order to stay alive.

Another blog posts I caught goes on to talk about how some of the greatest innovations came from times just like these. To quote the blog post

Recessions are opportunities for real innovators. Those who are motivated, inspired and committed to thinking out of the box will rise to the occasion and achieve success that grows exponentially as the economy cycles.

Blog Post: Hey Chicken Little! The Sky is NOT Falling!

So this brings me to my next question. Knowing that in a few hours the President of the United States will be meeting with General Motors to discuss plans for its future, I’m still asking myself what I posted on twitter.

What if instead of bailing out General Motors we (and I mean We because it’s taxpayer money) gave money to new innovative car companies instead? What if instead of feeding the same old formula we push for companies to survive and thrive rewarding innovation.

Not to pick on General Motors specifically but I’m sure research marketing was well aware that competitive companies likely Toyota and Honda where pushing for alternative fuel and hybrid technologies while they were still cranking out SUV’s. Earlier this year at the Auto Show American car companies where still pushing SUV’s with base a price of 40-50k while competitors where showcasing hybrid and electric technologies.

My question to you is are you caught up in the current media hype or are you strategizing to survive and thrive?

Secondly knowing that there is going to be several bailouts do you feel this is a time to break free from the old and invest in new innovative companies who could move faster to market with new and proven technologies?

MP3 Player Widget Plugin

2009-01-21T00:07:09Z

The new WordPress Forum is going great and new members are asking good questions as well as requesting plugins.

WPBulletin member StalkerB asked for an extension to an existing mp3 player plugin that would allow for an mp3 player in the sidebar. The request was pretty simple so I posted a complete plugin extension in the forum and you can download it here:

WPBulletin WordPress Forum - MP3 Player Sidebar Widget

I also went ahead and posted a cut and paste code snippet for those who want to create there own sidebar widgets or extend existing plugins. You can find the code snippets here:

WPBulletin WordPress Forum - Sidebar Widget Code

Also if you have any plugin request you can post them here:

WPBulletin WordPress Forum - Plugin Request #1

Come over and join WPBulletin and ask your WordPress related questions, answer a few posts and network with other WordPress users!

WPBulletin.com WordPress Forum

2009-01-14T04:50:17Z

A while back I was thinking how cool it would be to have a great place for WordPress plugin developers, theme designers and WordPress users to ask questions, get work and buy or sell their products or services. After searching for a while and most if not all other sites only providing a small section for WordPress, I decided to take action.

I just launched WPBulletin.com a new WordPress Forum for developers, designers, bloggers and everyone else who is either using or interested in using WordPress.

Its very new in fact to quote FeedBurner “Its still has the bubble wrap on it!” Head on over and register to secure your username before it is taken and take a moment to introduce yourself.

Got questions about WordPress Plugin or Theme development, or want to Buy, Sell or Trade a plugin or theme? Maybe you are looking for a full-time or part-time developer? Post your questions at WPBulletin.com and help build the next premier WordPress Community!

WPBulletin.com will be my new hangout and I will be checking in regularly, especially in the Plugin Discussion area. Hope to see you all in the new forum and look forward to reading your posts!

Visit: http://www.wpbulletin.com/

P.S. If you got a blog, newsletter, forum, twitter or megaphone I would greatly appreciate a quick mention about the new forum! Thanks!

First Post in 2009

2009-01-08T07:51:33Z

It’s been a while since my last post and a ton has happened since then. Here are a few great highlights for me over the last month or so. First and foremost though I would like to wish everyone the very best in 2009, I know I know… a bit late… but better late than never right?

Searchengineland.com launched a new WordPress design along with a new Premium Members section. I am very proud to have helped with the development efforts. I got to write several custom WordPress plugins and enjoyed working with Michelle Robbins, Danny Sullivan and the Third Door Media staff. They are truly a great group to work with.

CoppyBlogger.com featured a landing page review for WPBayAds a money making eBay WordPress plugin offered at Soxialize.com. It was brutal but well worth it as Roberta Rosenberg really got into the details of how to improve the landing page for WPBayAds. Roberta was great to work with and a true professional.

For a small donation to a great cause Roberta provided a super detailed 10 point review that gave me tons of great ideas. Needless to say WPBayAds 2.0 is in the works and will be released soon. If you have a WordPress blog(s) and are interested in an AdSense alternative make sure to join the early bird interest list at http://www.soxialize.com/wpbayads/.

Lastly I took my first real vacation in 11+ years! Wow does the time fly… I really enjoyed the time off as it gave me an opportunity to disconnect from the online world and visit some great places in California. Now its time to get back to work and tackle all the emails!

I really want to thank everyone for supporting my efforts in launching my company Serna Media Inc. and Soxialize.com in 2008. It was great to be part of so many projects and have the opportunity to work with talented individuals. I have several more projects that will be launching this year that I am truly excited about and will keep you all posted. I wish everyone the very best in 2009!

Men of the Year!

2008-12-05T19:52:55Z

I usually do not make posts like this but I received this email today and figured I would repost it here. Its meant to be funny but I am sure someone out there will not like it… oh well…

With the holiday season upon us and money being a little tight its time to remember and appreciate the little things in life.

Like the camping trip where you got to spend quality time with the one you love most!

How about spending time out on the lake fishing in that new boat?

Then there was the drinking beers from around the world gift you got! Couldnt wait to try that first one! Smooooooooooth!

How about finally getting that landscaping done around the house?

Hope you found that funny and remember to appreciate those who put you before themselves.

Happy Holidays!

Vanessa Fox launches Nine by Blue

2008-12-03T18:15:03Z

Make sure to visit Vanessa Fox’s new site Nine by Blue! I had the privilege of being a part of the development effort and got a humbling view into the inner workings of Vanessa Fox.

Without a doubt Vanessa places an immense amount of focus and effort behind everything she does and motivates those who work with her to rise to the occasion.

Nine by Blue is a huge resource for everyone who is interested and involved in the Internet Search and Marketing industry. It’s an awesome site by an equally awesome person. Go visit and check out Nine by Blue!

Tuff Times: Make Money Online in 2009

2008-12-01T18:23:18Z

Back in the days when I started out coding on a prompt using PICO to edit live site files directly and overusing the blink tag to grab users attention (oh yes… the blink tag!) things where not as simple as they are now to capture and retain an audience, most importantly market to them directly through so many affiliate programs.

Anyone still remember having to shell out $100 per domain? How about having to pay for rack space and pay premiums for bandwidth where pulling gigs of traffic meant you weren’t selling scarves and socks online!

No AdSense, No PPC or Paid Inclusion. Back then getting hold of an email from someone inside of Yahoo and sending them a TV was the only paid inclusion! Having someone full time submitting to Alta Vista to keep you ranking in order to pull in subscriptions and affiliate sales for the day. Sometimes I miss those days when it was all new and people where creative and competitive.

I think now we have come full circle and once again primed for growth on the net. Never has the time been set so perfectly for those who have been preparing to generate revenue online than it will be in 2009.

Domain names can be purchased at super low rates, hosting on reseller accounts is as easy as point and click and the best website frameworks are available absolutely free in open source form.

You can now signup with as many affiliate programs as you have time in a day for with products that are all over the map. Advice on SEO, PPC and Social Media Marketing is posted daily on blogs. Membership sites are springing up left and right like ShoeMoney Tools, SEO Book and PPC Coach to give you the extra help you need to make money.

Forums are everywhere on all subjects with user communities who can give great information and ideas. Easy to use money making scripts are available like the eBay WordPress Plugin WPBayAds as an AdSense alternative that pays out 50% of eBay’s commission!

2009 is going to be huge for those who have prepared and continue to be competitive and creative despite what the news is broadcasting for the day. Are you prepared? Have you set your goals for 2009? Or have you allowed yourself to be sucked in to the negative main stream media?

Black Board Friday: Internet Micro Economy

2008-11-07T18:16:50Z

While the US economy is nose diving and taking much of the world along with it, its time to start paying attention to the internet where a micro economy has not only been doing well all along but exploding recently.

I wish I could take credit for this saying as it holds true especially now “Some people wake up in the morning and make things happen, others watch things happen and some wonder what just happened?”. Its time to snap free for a moment from all the news and realize that if you have skills its time to put them to work and make some money online!

So how exactly do you make money? In a nutshell take inventory of your skills, a true hard look at what you can do and start getting creative with your online marketing of those skills. For example I am always in need of new content, so finding writers who can generate fresh new content is something I scour the internet for on a daily basis. In my experience with hiring content writers I have been privileged to work with and hire some of the most credentialed Ivy League graduates to hard working stay at home moms who need to make ends meet. Some of the writers already have day jobs that may not be their ideal job but they are not sitting around holding out for that corner office. Instead they take on side work to make up the difference and sometimes make more than they expected.

So what is the catch? I completely expect you to wonder what the catch is, here it is. Think MICRO! For example content writers may charge anywhere from $10 to $40 per article for the type of content I am looking for. Now this may be well below what you hoped you could charge for a well researched non-plagiarized article but do not get caught up in the price just yet. In my experience when ordering articles it usually an order of 3 to 5 articles at a time every week or every other week. So let’s do the math:

3 articles per week x $25 per article = $75 in your pocket or $300 per month

Now I know you can’t live off of $75 or roughly $300 per month, so let’s start scaling this out because you are one of those people that make things happen!

3 Clients
9 articles per week x $25 per article = $225 in your pocket or $900 per month

5 Clients
15 articles per week x $25 per article = $375 in your pocket or $1500 per month

Now the great thing about this Internet Micro Economy is the un-written rules that apply to it in a street smart way that provides a quick checks and balance system. Basically if you burn somebody, you’re done! Let’s take a look at a few:

- All work requires a deposit of minimum 50% unless you have a great reputation and require full payment up front.

- All work requires that you provide a guaranteed turn around time.

- If you mess up or fail to deliver and can’t work it out with your client, your client will in most cases let everyone know how you messed up and not recommend you. Basically you are toast.

- Be flexible with your pricing as in most cases you will be undercutting someone else so expect to be undercut.

- Go the extra mile! Do not just deliver what is expected; go above and beyond so that you stand out from the crowd. This usually leads to good recommendations and more work!

If you are not a writer, don’t worry there are so many opportunities to work. Writing is just one small part of what is in demand. Here are a few other examples of work:

- Landing page designers

- PSD to HTML

- PHP scripts

- WordPress Plugins

- Social Media

- Link Builders

Ready to get started? Where can you post your skills and start getting work you ask? I like your attitude, the rule of thumb is go to the watering hole or virtual water cooler like forums. Here are few great places to get started:

WickedFire Forum (Not for easily offended)
http://www.wickedfire.com/sell-buy-trade/

Digital Point
http://forums.digitalpoint.com/forumdisplay.php?f=24

SitePoint
http://marketplace.sitepoint.com/categories/looking-to-hire

ProBlogger Job Board
http://jobs.problogger.net/

StuntDubl Job Board
http://www.stuntdubl.com/jobs

Its time to shake off the gloom and doom attitude! Go out there and market your skills and although you will not be getting the big money that you are used to making you will in some cases be able to make more collectively.

THE MOST IMPORTANT PART! You need to give back! What makes the Internet Micro Economy work is people who recognize that they do not need to do everything themselves and realize they make more money by hiring out work as they can move towards completing goals faster. Do not hoard up all your work and do it all yourself! If you need a PSD converted to HTML and it’s not your thing hire someone from the same place you get work. If you need a design for you new site don’t waste time trying to figure out Photoshop and hire someone who can crank out a great design for you.

The economy is not great right now, that’s a fact. If you have skills you can survive and thrive despite what is going on around you. Be conscious of what is on in the world but do not let it keep you from putting food on the table and paying your bills!