Joshua Persky...Who? He did... What?

A friend of mine, Gail Walker, just wrote a blog about a man named Joshua Persky. When I was told about it, I said.. "Joshua Persky... Who?" "He did...What?" I had never ever heard of this man, but what I've learned since then is that Joshua Persky, according to the article I read in USA Today is "an unemployed banker (that) has taken to the streets of Manhattan — wearing a pinstriped suit and an "MIT Graduate for Hire" sign draped over his shoulders." According to Gail's blog post, "Persky went the normal route of submitting his resume to head hunters and human resource depts. without success. Then out of desperation Persky started to think out of the box. He shows up on Park Avenue in New York one day wearing a sandwich board that said “Experienced MIT Grad for Hire” with his name and contact information. Needless to say Persky caught the attention of all the major newspapers, and all the major news channels. He was interviewed on all the morning news shows like Good Morning America, Good Day New York as well as the national evening news."

Apparently, what Joshua is doing that has generated such a frenzy of interest by the media is not only his particular story, but also his unique form of advertising. When I read the story, there were two particular aspects of it that immediately caught my attention: 1. The fact that Joshua Persky needs an immediate, substantial income source. 2. Joshua Persky needs a more effective form of advertising. Now the 20 million dollar question is: Which of these two points can I help him with? The answer? Actually both.

Point 1 - The Immediate Income Source - Joshua Persky's story gives evidence to the reality that in today's economy, EVERYBODY NEEDS A PLAN B. Joshua had a wonderful Plan A. He went to one of the top schools in the country, graduated most likely with honors, and got a good job in his field. That was his Plan A, and it worked! But having only a Plan A was the problem. Joshua had failed to put in place Plan B.

I have a friend who also graduated from MIT and who had a great job in Corporate America in Engineering. My friend also put his Plan B in place, and now he's well on his way to earning a six-figure RESIDUAL income. His Plan B is also mine: The YTB Travel Network and YTB Travel and Cruises (YTB). YTB is a publicly traded company that is already number one in the industry, and on target to become the largest online travel company in the world within the next few years. YTB is all about travel. You can make just about any travel arrangements that you choose on our YTB Travel website. I am a YTB Referring Travel Agent (RTA), and as an RTA, my customers can make arrangements for their airfare, car rental, hotel, cruise, golf vacations, you name it, on my website. In fact, you can book your travels right here. If Joshua Persky owned a YTB Travel Business, any travel booked on his website, would earn him 60% of the travel commissions. If Joshua knows people who are traveling already, he can earn some serious money through his booking engine, whether or not he personally had anything to do with scheduling the trip or not, as long as it was booked on his website.

But that's only one way that Joshua could benefit from YTB. Suppose Joshua cannot afford to join YTB and pay for his booking engine? YTB has the answer for that too. The YTB business opportunity is actually TWO businesses in one, and only the travel business has a fee. The other business is all about relationships, networks and networking. Joshua was a banker. No doubt, while working in banking he met a lot of people who are searching for an opportunity like YTB. Joshua probably knows people who would love to own their own travel booking engine that would allow them to vacation around the world paying wholesale prices, get paid on their own travels and on the travels of everyone who books travel through them or on their website, and that allows them to write off every trip, including personal vacations that they take. If Joshua were to simply refer some of his friends to his YTB Travel business, after they get their websites set up, YTB would pay Joshua a very nice referral fee. These referral fees are no joke because they double in a very short period of time as he continues to refer people and they refer people. Before long, Joshua Persky could be earning five, six or seven figures after joining YTB for FREE!

Point 2 - Effective Way of Advertising - Recently, I joined a phenomenal business called whatbusinesstodo.com. whatbusinesstodo.com is a marketing and advertising tool that anybody, including business people can use to build their business and promote their products and services. Now the greatest aspects of whatbusinesstodo.com are: 1. The website is highly "search engine" optimized. This means that the information and advertising that you put on the site, once you learn the techniques that they teach you, will often be found on the first page of google, yahoo and other the top search engine sites. This is significant, because Joshua needs people to find him. This way, they would. 2. The site has top of the line marketing tools that include: blogs, video marketing, chat rooms, classified ads, events and more. Joshua could essentially post a video of himself, his skills and his desires for work on the site, that would be viewed by literally millions of people around the world.
3. The founders of whatbusinesstodo.com are committed to helping their members to be successful, so what do they do? They personally host nightly webinars where they train you in SEO (search engine optimization) techniques, blogging, posting ads, etc. Even the most ignorant person about SEO can quickly learn what to do and begin getting target traffic to their websites almost overnight. 4. The best part? The price of joining. whatbusinesstodo.com, unlike many other sites of its kind, will not charge Joshua an arm and a leg. The total cost to join the site is only a penny a day or $3.65 a year. The founders have committed to every member that they will NEVER, EVER raise the price! So from now until eternity, to join whatbusinesstodo.com will cost a whopping $3.65

Joshua Persky, if you are out there, read my blog. I have the answers for both of the things that you need, and if you take me up on them the can turn your financial woes in to a financial windfall over time. To learn more about YTB Travel and to join either of the business opportunities, you can visit here. To learn more about whatbusinesstodo.com and to join click here.

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Regina Osei is a successful mentor and coach who teaches her YTB Team members and other business owners how to succeed in business and how to market their businesses using diverse strategies and approaches both online and offline. If you are interested in starting your own online travel business and want the benefit of a mentor who is committed to your success, join our team today at http://regina.vacationmedia.net. If you have questions, e-mail me at: reginaosei@gmail.com or call 901-221-1630(1)

Passport Book –vs- Passport Card: Which Do You Need?

U.S. Citizens are facing a travel choice, that for some seems more like a dilemma: "Do they need a passport? If so, should they get a passport book or passport card? Which is better?" Even with gas prices hovering at $4 and $5 a gallon, people around the nation are still traveling. Summer is a prime vacation travel time, and many travelers have plans to travel overseas, on tours and on cruises that will take them into foreign ports of call, so these are very valid questions. If you and your family have plans to travel outside the country, you want to be sure to have all your documentation ducks in a row before leaving home.

One of the first things you need to check on is U.S. passport requirements. This year, travelers have a choice. They can choose between getting a passport card or a passport book. As a YTB Travel Referring Travel Agent, it is my delight to help you navigate these waters and make the best decision for you and your family.

First you need to understand what the differences are. Use the information below to help you determine which option best suits your needs.

PASSPORT BOOK
Valid for travel by air, sea or land

Validity:• 10 years for adults
• 5 years for minors

Size:
5” x 3 ½” (when unopened)

Cost for first time applicants:
• $100 for adults
• $85 for minors

Cost for U.S. Passport book renewal:
• $75 for adults

PASSPORT CARD
Not for travel by air. Valid for land and sea
crossings between the U.S. and Canada,
Mexico, Bermuda and the Caribbean only.

Validity:• 10 years for adults
• 5 years for minors

Size:
Wallet size

Cost for first time applicants:• $45 for adults
• $35 for minors

Cost for U.S. Passport book holders:• $20 for adults


If you apply for both documents at the same time, the cost for first time applicants is: Adults: $120 and Minors: $95


As you can see by the information above, while both cards are similar and have advantages, there are a few major differences:

1. Only the passport book can be used for travel by air; the passport card cannot. The passport card is restricted to land and sea travel.
2. The passport book can be used to travel worldwide. This is not the case with the passport card because it can only be used for travel to the Caribbean, Mexico, Bermuda, and Canada.
3. A major difference is the cost. The cost for getting a new or renewal passport book costs considerably more that the cost off getting a passport card.

For additional information about passports and to apply, visit:

Regina's YTB Travel Website, EZ4U Travel & Tours

and

The US Government Passport website

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Regina Osei is a successful mentor and coach who teaches her YTB Team members and other business owners how to succeed in business and how to market their businesses using diverse strategies and approaches both online and offline. If you are interested in starting your own online travel business and want the benefit of a mentor who is committed to your success, join our team today at http://regina.vacationmedia.net. If you have questions, e-mail me at: reginaosei@gmail.com or call 901-221-1630(1)

OBAMA, CLINTON AND YTB: WHAT THEY HAVE IN COMMON

BARAK OBAMA HAS CLINCHED DEMOCRATIC NOMINATION! Even now, Hillary is still hanging on! What POSSIBLY could Obama and Clinton have in common? Keep reading....

I am an AMERICAN, and as an American Citizen who has lived outside the country (I lived in Ghana located in West Africa for four years), I am very thankful and grateful to be an American. As a Black American and a Democrat to boot, I am so very proud to know that Sen. Barak Obama has TODAY, clinched the Democratic nomination for President of the United States of America. What a wonderful day this is!

This year has been like no other, and I can honestly say that I have been engaged in watching, supporting and participating in the primary campaigns like never before! My television practically stays on CNN News or MSNBC Headline News because these two stations are known as America’s Election Headquarters and provide relentless election coverage. But what does all this have to do with Senators Barak Obama and Hillary Clinton and YTB Travel? You’d be surprised.

One thing that I have noticed as I’ve watched the election coverage of these two candidates (with Obama now being the presumptive nominee for the Democratic Party), is that Obama is appealing because of his being a “change agent”, and Clinton is appealing because of her tenacity. Barak, by his very personhood (his mixed African and White American heritage, his international upbring and his accomplishments of being the first person of African-American heritage to become president of the Harvard Law Review) exemplifies CHANGE. Hillary is fierce contender on every front. One must respect her "no holds barred", "never call it quits" attitude. No matter the odds against her or the challenges that face her, she simply does not and will not quit, and even in losing (which in all our lives is sometimes inevitable), she does so as a winner. These characteristics are not only true of the candidates, but these characteristics also characterize YTB Travel and Cruises and the YTB Travel Network.

YTB As A Change Agent: YTB was founded in 2001. It was a time of change. Travel bookings were moving from the traditional travel agent who worked out of brick and mortar facilities to the Internet. YTB capitalized on this trend by establishing a turnkey, home-based online travel business that allowed ordinary people like you and me, to join the business and with very little training, be able to encourage our family, friends and others who would be booking travel online anyway, to book their trips on our websites so that WE earn the commissions. This was BRILLIANT! But YTB didn’t stop there. YTB incorporated not only typical travel related products on the websites, but also non-traditional products that relate to travel like: a Honeymoon Registry, a Golf enthusiasts site, a site specifically for people who are Outdoors enthusiasts and even a site where you can buy a new or used car! But the real innovation was when YTB decided that its chosen marketing tool would be the business owners themselves -- by word of mouth -- they introduced something that was virtually unheard of in the travel industry. At least, if it had been tried before -- the network marketing aspect -- YTB was the first to incorporate MLM into the travel business and do so SUCCESSFULLY. Similar to Sen. Obama, YTB is never satisfied with the status quo. Obama says that we’re turning the page as Americans, from the old politics of the past. YTB is also perpetually turning the page from the old ways of doing business.

YTB also instituted change in MLM by being the first and the best in a number of other arenas, namely:

1. YTB guarantees your success with its $6000 Guarantee "Success From Home" Magazine Program!
2. YTB pays out bonuses from $1,000 to $1,000,000 (a first in MLM)!
3. YTB has a Bill of Rights that ensures that it will never change its Copyrighted Comp Plan!

YTB As A Tenacious and Fierce Contender: It is no surprise that YTB has suffered a lot of blows. As a front-runner in the industry as in the political arena, you are a target. YTB has been targeted for destruction by traditional travel agents (TTAs) and by other “Johnny-come-lately" travel companies. These groups have tried “operation Swift Boat”, “the kitchen sink strategy”, you name it… it has been done to YTB. TTAs started petitions against YTB to try and close us down completely. Why? In the case of the traditional travel agents, they do so simply because of our chosen marketing tool. YTB Travel chooses to PAY PEOPLE on a referral basis for rather than paying millions and even billions of dollars to advertising companies. In the case of those “other” travel companies, it’s simply an issue of competitive jealousy. What they don't seem to understand is that there is no absolute competitor to YTB because there are many aspects of the YTB Travel Network that are simply unduplicated. Still, they fight us. With all this, YTB has refused to close shop, shut down or get out. YTB even lost its IATA/IATAN accreditation, but thank God, this didn't stop YTB. In fact, we didn't skip a beat. YTB RTAs can still book travel and receive commissions, AND travel at discounted rates. Instead of these things hurting YTB, we have only grown stronger and better. We know how to "take a lickin' and keep on tickin'! YTB Travel has also continued to innovate by offering more products and services that benefit both our customers and future potential YTB Travel Network Business Partners. The struggles we've faced have only sharpened us and now as always, YTB stands heads and tails above the rest.

Tonight, Sen. Barak Obama made history as the first African American to win the Democratic nomination. Hillary Clinton also made history as a female candidate, who by all standards, ran harder, further and longer than any other candidate. She is to be applauded. With all the buzz about this campaign, without a doubt, this has been a remarkable Democratic Primary! YTB Travel is making history too. Some believe that Obama and Clinton would be a Dream Ticket. Whether or not this will be the case, here’s a real Dream Ticket for you: YTB Travel & Cruises and the YTB Travel Network . If you are looking for a real business that has a very low start-up fee, unbelievably low monthly overhead, franchise-like support and a compensation plan that can absolutely revolutionize your financial life, you cannot miss with YTB. YTB Travel is the perfect formula for a solid home-based business operation. YTB offers all you need to be successful in business. As your TEAM LEADER, I will offer you the kind of support, tools and strategies that will help you build a solid and sustainable business whether your choice is to market it online, offline or both. Join YTB Today!
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Regina Osei is a successful mentor and coach who teaches her YTB Team members and other business owners how to succeed in business and how to market their businesses using diverse strategies and approaches both online and offline. If you are interested in starting your own online travel business and want the benefit of a mentor who is committed to your success, join our team today at http://regina.vacationmedia.net. If you have questions, e-mail me at: reginaosei@gmail.com or call 901-221-1630(1)

YTB Travel Success; YTB Travel Failure

Tonight as I listened to Team Vision's Sunday night conference call, I was awed by the phenomenal testimonies about people who became Level 1 Directors after only 11 months of being in YTB, of people who worked the business one day a week for two hours and earned TWO $10,000 bonuses. As I listened, I could feel my pulse quickening and my heart racing, as my thoughts darted through my mind. What would I do tomorrow, the next day or the next, to ensure my family's success in the YTB Travel Network? Was success as simple and easy as those on the call made it sound? If it is, why do so many fail in YTB? These are some of the questions that countless people, including YTB RTAs, YTB REPs and YTB prospects ponder each and every day.

Probably 99% of the time when the YTB business model is shared, it is testimonies about people who are experiencing unheard of successes in business that is mainly shared. I must admit, I do the same thing. I love to share with others about the first cruise I booked for 15 passengers, where I received nearly $2,500 in commission, or the first YTB Travel FAM Trip that I took where I spent five days at a luxurious Sandals Resort in Jamaica, and paid only $99 total. I love talking about getting my monthly fee reimbursed after being in the business for only one month, because I had personally recruited six people... or what about those $1,000 bonuses that we started receiving after only five months in the business? These are the stories... and mind you, they are all true... that YTB loves to share. Why? Because these are the stories that inspire, encourage, motivate and help people who dream of a better reality for themselves and their families.

How motivated would you be if I told you that some people join YTB and never make a dime? Or what if I said, many people join YTB and never get a booking on their website or even take a trip themselves... let alone take advantage of "travel agent only" discounted rates. Still, these are also the realities. There are both unbelievably successful people in YTB just as there are unbelievable failures. The difference in the two has nothing to do with whether or not you join YTB with a leg up -- such as being a tenured network marketer with a huge list or having worked as a travel professional in a past life. The difference is in one word. It begins with a "C". Commitment. Those who succeed in YTB have one thing in common: their committment to SUCCESS in YTB!

YTB is not a difficult business. In fact, it may be it's simplicity that causes some to fail. I say this because I'm reminded of a story found in 2 Kings 5:1 - 14 where Naaman, the commander of the Syrian army was very great man who was also a leper. When the King of Syria learned that there was a prophet named Elisha who could cure Naaman, he requested his help. Elisha sent Naaman a letter telling him to go and wash in the Jordan seven times and he would be healed. Now anyone would think that with simple instructions like this, surely, that very day, Naaman's skin was a fresh and new as that of a newborn baby. One would think, but one would be wrong. As the story goes, Naaman, instead of leaping for joy, got angry because the prophet had not come to him and worked the "theatrics" that Naaman envisioned would be necessary for such a healing. Plus, he thought, why should he bypass the other "cleaner" rivers, to go and wash in the dirty Jordan? He had a little case of egoitis, and it nearly cost him his life... that was, until his servants gave him a reality check, pointing out that if he had been instructed to do something more difficult he would have done it, but because he was given simple instructions, he didn't want to follow them.

This, I believe, is the problem that some people have with YTB. Most are given simple instructions when they join: 1. Make a list of people you know who will potentially either be your clients or your business partners. 2. Schedule your grand opening. Keep it simple and duplicatable. Use the DVD to share the business and don't serve a lot of food. Keep the main thing the MAIN thing. 3. Invite your guests, let your PowerTeam leader close for you... build your business. 4. Stay plugged in by listening to conference calls and attending meetings, at least once weekly. Simple instructions. So why is it that so many don't follow them? Perhaps, if we manufactured some kind of "rocket scientist's" outline for them to follow, they would.

What I've found is that there is something about network marketing company businesses that bring out people who are often not so serious about doing what it takes to build a business as they are about getting rich quick. YTB, amongst all network marketing companies certainly has the goods to enable one to get rich. It's the "quick" that is often deceptive.

Yes, there are some who have gone, literally from rags to riches, in a mere few months and definitely within a few years in YTB. YTB Travel and Cruises and the YTB Travel Network is only a seven year old company, and there are quite a few people who are millionaires. We have a Circle of Champions who have, within a 12 month period, each earned at least $1 million. There are countless others who have, over the period of 3 or 4 years, certainly made at least $1 million... probably more. But that's not the norm. The norm is that it takes consistency: consistently staying plugged in, consistently talking to people you meet about the business, consistently sharing the opportunity and consistenly using the product...over a period of time before reaching the status of attaining the kind of wealth that many are seeking. Think about it: It takes about four years to get a bachelor's degree. Why would anyone think that they can join a network marketing company... a completely new industry for most, and in a mere few days, weeks or months be able to master techniques that it takes years of study, learning and practice for most to learn? Many refuse to spend any time studying or even learning about the industry.

My conclusion is that YTB Travel is not the problem. If you study our comp plan, you will see that it is incomparable to any network marketing plan in existence. First, it is copyrighted, so it can never be legally duplicated. It has a Bill of Rights that is legally binding, preventing the owners from ever changing the plan. It is front-loaded with bonuses from $1,000 to $1,000,000, and though it appears at first glance to be small, it has a serious residual income. It has no qualifing, no timelines, no chargebacks, no quotas and no demotions. And best of all? It pays at every level no matter how wide or how deep your team becomes. YTB even has a $6,000 Guarantee Program that is connected to its "Success From Home" magazine program! With this program, if you follow it and hand out only 25 magazines a month that you document, even if NOBODY joins your business -- which is highly unlikely -- you'll walk away after 12 qualifying months, with a $6,000 check!

In addition to all this, when you join YTB, you have your very own personal online travel booking engine, powered by Travelocity! Hotels.com provides the hotel inventory. Practically every major vendor, with few exceptions, for airline tickets, car rentals, cruises and vacations are part of your inventory, yet you never have anything to buy, stock, story or warehouse. Yes, the YTB Travel Biz Comp Plan and the business as a whole is nothing less than outstanding. Our success doesn't depend on YTB. It depends on us.

My husband and I have been in YTB Travel & Cruises for nearly two years. In that time, we've had our share of both the successes and the failures. The successes we attribute to YTB Travel because we have more than enough marketing tools, strategies and techniques both provided by the company and by our leaders. The failures, in all honesty. I attribute to our sometimes laziness and other times, just failing to follow the simplicity of the system. Network marketing is all about duplication and following a system because systems ARE duplicatable.

In our TEAM in particular, we have some of the best, most adept Internet and traditional marketing specialists and graphic designers in the industry, and they make their skills available to every member of the TEAM. My husband, Prince, through his graphic and web design company PrincelyDesigns.com, provides YTB teams all around the country with creative and beautifully crafted marketing tools. He has templates on his site, or you can request to have your marketing tools customized.

In YTB Travel, no matter what, there will always be success stories and stories of people who joined YTB Travel, who are abject failures. One only needs to ask himself or herself "WHY?". Answered honestly, most will have to admit that YTB Travel provided untold opportunities for success; they, however, in their laziness, fear, refusal to follow instructions or desire to "get rich quick", often opted for failure.

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Regina Osei is a successful mentor and coach who teaches her YTB Team members and other business owners how to succeed in business and how to market their businesses using diverse strategies and approaches both online and offline. If you are interested in starting your own online travel business and want the benefit of a mentor who is committed to your success, join our team today at http://regina.vacationmedia.net. If you have questions, e-mail me at: reginaosei@gmail.com or call 901-221-1630(1)

YTB Travel Agency: Scam or Legitimate Business?

Tonight as I did some research on YTB Travel, I ran across a few websites where -- once again -- the question about whether or not the YTB Travel Agency is a scam or a legitimate business or not is at issue. This issue about YTB Travel being a SCAM never ceases to surprise me. Scam.com has logged in pages and pages of people in other travel companies and other MLM companies debating this issue. The irony is that, it doesn't take rocket science to see that this is really a ridiculous issue. Just think about it: YTB is in partnership with some of the biggest names in the business: Travelocity, Carnival Cruise Lines, Hotels.com, Hertz Rental Cars, and on and on. To top it off, just the other day, YTB International launched a partnership with the Kansas City Chiefs. Now, how could ALL of these huge corporate businesses, with all the legal representation they have onboard to advise them, completely miss the fact that the company they are doing business with is a SCAM? This boggles the mind!

What about the Direct Selling Association? This organization prides itself in intricately scrutinizing their membership, to ensure that their members are not pyramids, schemes, scams or any type of illegal or illegitimate business. Before the DSA would approve the application of the YTB Travel Network, they looked long and hard at YTB for a solid year. With a full 365 days to study the details of the company's financials, comp plan, policies and procedures, IF YTB is a SCAM, don't you think this would have been discovered? I mean, the DSA does this type of research everyday, so they KNOW what to look for. I would think that if YTB was a scam, they would have sniffed out that information within the first six months, let alone a year.

YTB has many other highly respected companies to give their endorsement and the proverbial "thumbs up" to YTB Travel for a job well done. For the third year in a row, YTB received the prestigious Carnival Cruiseline Pinnacle Award. Travel Weekly magazine included YTB in its Power List 2007 as one of the top 35 travel agencies worldwide and one of the top 11 leisure travel agencies. In November, 2007, Travel Weekly named YTB Travel Network CEO, J. Kim Sorensen, to its list of the 33 most influential people in the travel industry.

Why this question continues to crop up, I have no idea. It could be because YTB is a leader in the travel industry and last year more than doubled their Referring Travel Agents to over 130,000. Very soon YTB Travel will be the largest online travel agency worldwide. YTB's Referring Travel Agents booked over $400,000,000 in travel in 2007. With these factors and the overall exponential growth that YTB has been experiencing, it is understood that many, including traditional travel agents and other MLM travel companies, will continue to infer that YTB is a scam. The only problem is that YTB is not a scam. The truth is that YTB is a legitimate business that gives ordinary people extraordinary opportunities to own their own thriving travel business, and a piece of that great American pie.

YTB Travel helps make the American Dream a reality for hundreds of thousands of people everyday. People who have never dreamed that they could retire in their 30's or 40's have been able to do so in YTB. People in their 50's and 60's who once lived paycheck to paycheck, now earn six figure residual incomes, thanks to YTB.

YTB Travel is a phenomenal business and opportunity that allows everybody to win. We have the best comp plan that anyone has ever seen in a network marketing business. Will some people join YTB Travel and utterly fail at making any money? By all means. Why? In most cases, it's because they are either unwilling to treat their business like a business. I we will do what others do, we can have what others have. The problem is that most people are lazy. They have a lottery, "get-rich-quick" mentality, and don't expect to work in order to earn the big bucks.

The YTB Travel Agency is absolutely not a SCAM. It is a legitimate business that offers phenomenal opportunities for SUCCESS. If you need a Plan B, contact us. If you are ready to find out for yourself how the YTB Travel Network can change your life and help you attain the wealth you desire, contact us. We are looking for people who want to WIN, and are willing to be coachable and teachable to do so. I look forward to hearing from you! We are looking for leaders to open up new venues for YTB Travel. Are you the one we're looking for? If you believe you are, give us a call.

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Regina Osei is a successful mentor and coach who teaches her YTB Team members and other business owners how to succeed in business and how to market their businesses using diverse strategies and approaches both online and offline. If you are interested in starting your own online travel business and want the benefit of a mentor who is committed to your success, join our team today at http://regina.vacationmedia.net. If you have questions, e-mail me at: reginaosei@gmail.com or call 901-221-1630(1)

20 More Great YTB Travel & Other Business Building Ideas

Need more creative business building ideas? Check these out! These are great business building ideas, thanks to a contributer at WAHM!

1. Contact local small companies and shops to see if you can offer exclusive discounts or FREEBIES to their employees. Companies are always looking for ways to "treat" their employees to specials from the local and surrounding community.

2. Small Home Town Newspapers! Big newspaper ads tend to be costly, and they may not give you too good of a response, so try targeting small town newspapers! Many times you will get a great response. Some may even allow you to place your ad on their wedding and engagement announcements page which allows YTB RTAs to promote your Honeymoon & Bridal Registry in their newspaper.

So if you are going to do any type of newspaper advertising, inquire about getting your ads on specific pages in the newspaper that targets the group of people you are most likely to attract.

3. Get a low cost outdoor banner and some signs printed up with an eye-catching slogan and your business information on it. You can usually get them done reasonably priced.

You can have these outdoor banners displayed at outdoor concerts, picnics, church fairs, family and class reunions, outdoor children’s sporting events, outdoor adult sports events, outdoor neighborhood block parties, outdoor community events, carnivals, fairs, festivals, etc.

The smaller signs can also be posted strategically in high-traffic areas, near interstates, highways and more.

4. Take your business on the road during nice weather. Contact local area parks & community centers to see what their schedule of events are and inquire about setting up a booth or table.

This is a great way to network & market your business to those in your community.

5. Community Clipper Coupon Packs & Sales Flyer Mailings. These days a lot of communities have mailings such as these, contact them and see how you can participate and market your business.

6. Contact small local area businesses such as hair salons, massage parlors, boutiques, banks etc.

See if you can set up a table for 1 week. During this week, promote three of your best selling travel specials such as the Spa Vacations found on your YTB website, and include your fliers, business cards and other information. Put a basket on the table with a sign behind it asking for business cards from anyone interested in a home-based business. Be sure to follow up on these later. Offer the store owner or manager a free gift for allowing you to do this.

You can also offer to donate a prize for a contest if they let you display the prize donated & get a copy of the contestants entry blanks after the promotion closes.

7. Contact local area pizza shops, diners, deli's and coffee bagel shops to ask them about promoting your business on their paper placemats! Believe it or not, customers really do read these ads!

8. Contact local area restaurants and clubs to inquire about promoting your business on their paper beverage coasters!

9. Local Television Stations are always holding on-air contests & website contests for their viewers. Contact them about donating a vacation or cruise voucher to sponsor one of their contests! This will be GREAT business exposure for you!

10. Attend Local Area holiday shopping events. Customers who are ready to spend holiday shopping money turn out for these events by the thousands! Depending on where they are held you can usually get a booth for a reasonable price, and if they are a bit pricey, go in with others in your TEAM to make them more economical to participate in!

11. Host a Community Block Party on your street or at a local community center! Families are always looking for something to do during the nice weather seasons!

Optional: Attend your neighborhood block party and set up a table with information about your business and fliers outlining some of the specials you are offering. Get out there in your community and get your business seen!

12. Get your business listed in your cities telephone book yellow pages! Many of them also have a coupon section too!

13. You can take this phone book advertising one step further by finding out what company makes the plastic vinyl phone book covers which have local business ads on them and get your business added to it as well!

14. Get your business information printed up on pencils and hand them out to local colleges and technical schools for them to hand out to their adult students! This keeps your business information in front of them! (Make sure you only donate them to schools with adult students).

15. Get a vehicle banner made for your automobile. Options include the vinyl window clings or vinyl car magnets that stick to your automobile. These are good because they don’t scratch or remove the paint, and you can easily remove them when washing your vehicle!

16. If your city has a travel guide that tourists request, contact that business and find out how you can get your business included in it too!

17. Local City Maps! These days even city maps have advertising on them! You can usually get a small business ad printed on them for an economical price. Be sure to include your website address, email address and business phone number.

18. Contact local area hotels, motels and bed & breakfast inns. Ask them if you can make up a Lobby Basket and leave it in their Lobby.

What is a Lobby Basket? You make up little packs of info about your business & products and put them into the Lobby Basket for their patrons to take.

They usually have a pamphlet wall or area for pamphlets from local area attractions etc. If they don’t have a lobby basket area, inquire about leaving your business info in their pamphlet area.

19. Get your business info printed up on balloons! This is very economical to do! You then distribute them to local community centers, sporting events and other types of places where parents book their children’s birthday parties!

These balloons can be displayed at the birthday party giving you business exposure. You can usually get them done for .3-.8 cents each. Your business name & website address is all you need on them!

20. Team up with your TEAM or find a few other self-employed business owners in your community and team up! You can all sponsor a local parade float, parade clowns etc. Make up signs with your business info imprinted on them so that you can receive some great business exposure during the parade!

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Regina Osei is a successful mentor and coach who teaches her YTB Team members and other business owners how to succeed in business and how to market their businesses using diverse strategies and approaches both online and offline. If you are interested in starting your own online travel business and want the benefit of a mentor who is committed to your success, join our team today at http://regina.vacationmedia.net. If you have questions, e-mail me at: reginaosei@gmail.com or call 901-221-1630(1)

YTB Canada FAQs

Frequently Asked Questions

Due to the rigid regulatory climate in Canada, YTB is required to operate differently than it does in the United States. It is imperative that all YTB management, RTAs and Reps in the field know and understand the differences in order for YTB to adequately and legally conduct business in Canada. Accordingly, and in preparation for the upcoming YTB launch into Canada on February 8, 2008, the following FAQs were created for distribution.

This document is key to understanding the majority of these differences and consequently, the limitations imposed on RTAs in Canada: The current travel regulations are not equipped to handle the sale of internet travel as it is sold pursuant to YTB's business model. Consequently, if RTAs are considered to be travel agents, they will be subject to licensure and regulations. In Canada, it is important to remember that RTAs are directing their friends and family to a website where a customer can go to purchase travel, rather than selling travel directly.

The majority of the differences have to do with the way travel is sold. The network marketing component of YTB is virtually unchanged. The following FAQ highlights the similarities and differences our Reps and RTAs will notice.

Canadian Reps

1. Compensation Plan

Q: Is the compensation plan the same?

A: Yes.

The $50 Direct Sale Commission, $50 PowerTeam Commission, 6 Generation DreamTeam Commissions, Residual Commission and the 50% Match of these commissions remain the same.
And the qualifications to override remain the same as well.

2. Bonuses

Q: Are the $1,000 LeaderShip Bonuses earned the same way?

A: Yes.

Just like the US, a $1,000 LeaderShip Bonus is earned when the total PowerTeam enrolled RTAs grows by 6.
Q: Is the $10,000 Bonus?

A: Yes.

100 active PowerTeam enrolled RTAs triggers a $10,000 Bonus. And you can still earn as many of these as you can qualify for.
Q: Do the RTAs have to be from the same country to count?

A: No.

It doesn't matter where the RTAs live. You qualify for each of these bonuses with all RTAs enrolled by your PowerTeam, regardless of their country of residence.
3. Directors Program

Q: Do RTAs from other countries count toward Director?

A: Yes.

All RTAs count toward promotions for each Director level.
Q: Are the Directors Revenue Sharing checks the same?

A: Yes.

Level 1 is still $2,000 per month, levels 2 - 5 are revenue sharing with the same monthly minimums as are currently in place.
Q: Are the one time bonuses for Level 2 and above the same

A: Yes. These bonuses are paid in discounted stock options regardless of where the Director lives.

Q: Are the insurance benefits the same?

A: Yes and No.

Life insurance of $150,000 is awarded at Level 1 Director but the Blue/Cross Blue/Shield health insurance is not available in Canada.
4. Direct Sales License/Permit for Reps

Q: What is a Direct Sales License/Permit and what are the requirements?

A: Reps in six provinces of Canada,(Manitoba, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island, Northwest Territories and Nunavut), must obtain a license/permit in order to participate in business involving direct sales. For example, in Nova Scotia the cost of a permit is $46.40 and must be renewed annually. More information concerning the other provinces, their fees and regulations are to follow.

5. YTB Identification Cards

Q: Are there any identification requirements for Reps?

A: Yes.

Reps are required to carry an Independent Marketing Representative (IMR) card in Alberta and Saskatchewan, which will be available for download in the back office.
6. Marketing Materials

Q: Can I use YTB U.S. marketing materials in Canada?

A: You may not use any U.S. marketing materials in Canada; however, Canadian marketing materials will be available in the back office for download and printing at no cost. Initially, we will have the Compensation Brochure and the Leader's Bulletin available. We are in the process of developing additional marketing materials for Canada.

7. Genealogy

Q: Will the genealogy appear differently when other countries are included?

A: All Reps will appear in the same genealogy with their U.S. counterparts.

8. Income Summary Disclosure

Q: What is an Income Summary Disclosure and when do I need to distribute it?

A: The Income Summary Disclosure document will be available in the Welcome Kit and from the web site. It contains information regarding income earned by RTAs and Reps. Although this document will be available on the company website, a hard copy must be provided to EVERY individual attending any meeting where YTB's business plan is presented in Canada.

9. Currency

Q: What currency will be used in Canada?

A: The Canadian dollar is the official currency of YTB Canada. All payments between YTB and its Canadian Reps will be made in Canadian dollars

Q: Will the YTB Paycard be used in Canada?

A: At this time, the YTB Paycard is not available for use in Canada. All commissions will be sent in the form of a paper check.

10. Provinces and Territories

Q: In which provinces and territories will YTB launch on February 8

A: YTB will launch in all provinces and territories on February 8th with the exception of Quebec. Because of the potential consequences of operating in Quebec relating to the travel industry and travel sales, YTB will not launch in that province initially. YTB will strictly enforce that there can be no Rep or RTA enrollment or activity, or sale of travel in Quebec. YTB will continue to pursue a legal course to meet the travel sales requirements of the Quebec regulatory authorities.

Canadian RTAs

1. Terminology

Q: Will the term "RTA" have the same meaning in Canada as it does in the U.S.?

A: We will continue to use the same acronym "RTA"; however, in Canada the term RTA will stand for Referring Travel Affiliate. The words "agent," "agency," "employee," "travel," and "store" must NOT appear in any website, literature, presentations, marketing or training materials.

2. Limitations on RTAs

Q: What limitations will be implied by the exclusion of using "agent," "agency," "employee," "travel," and "store?" How will this affect business practices in Canada?

A: RTAs should not represent themselves as travel agents, nor can they act in a way that implies they are agents. For this reason, all business must be conducted solely through the travel website. An RTA is not allowed to take any direct action on behalf of the customers, this includes the following:

a. RTAs may not deal directly with suppliers;

b. RTAs may not take payment or payment information of any kind (including group sales, which are referenced below);

c. RTAs may not distribute itineraries, tickets or any other travel-related documents;

d. RTAs' business cards must include the term "Referring Travel Affiliate".

3. YTB Identification Cards

Q: Will RTAs receive an identification or credential card?

A: RTAs will not be issued an YTB identification or credential card.

Q: Will RTAs in Canada be eligible to receive a CLIA card?

A: An RTA may apply for a CLIA card independently once he or she meets specific sales volume requirements that are determined by CLIA. Please see www.cruising.org for additional details.

4. Websites

Q: Why does my Canadian website look different than a U.S. website?

A: RTA sites MUST not contain the words "agent," "agency," "employee," "travel," or "store." Further, they must not include the Travel Store Name, URL, any forwarding URL, etc.

a. RTAs websites may only contain a RTAs individual name, his/her affiliate status, and a phone number (John Doe, Referring Travel Affiliate, Phone#).

b. It must be clear to consumers that they are purchasing travel from YTB and that the RTA is an affiliate who directed them to the travel website.

5. Marketing Materials

Q: Will I be able to use the Automated Travel Marketing System (ATM) in Canada?

A: Yes. Registration will be available for the "Deals and Steals" newsletter.

Q: What programs will be offered in Canada at the time of the launch?

A: YTB is diligently working to provide valuable programs for our Canadian RTAs. Upon launch, we will be offering exciting programs such as YTB Flowers, vendor sponsored trips, and RTA training.

Q: Will I be able to order business cards in Canada?

A: You may order business cards from the back office. These cards are specifically formatted to meet the regulatory requirements in Canada. Please do not use business cards other than the formatted cards available through YTB.

6. Conference Calls

Q: Will YTB offer conference calls for Canadians?

A: Yes, these will be available shortly after launch date. More details are forthcoming.

7. French Support

Q: Will YTB offer support in French?

A: Yes, YTB has French speaking support staff who are accessible by calling the main support line. You can be confident in knowing that all of our support staff will be well- versed in the differences between the U.S. and Canadian business practices.

Q: Will documents be available in French?

A: Yes, documents in French will be available shortly after launch date. Documents can also be translated online by Google.

8. RTA Training

Q: Will YTB be offering any RTA events in Canada?

A: RTA event dates will be announced shortly after the launch date.

9. Industry perks

Q: Will Canadian RTAs have the opportunity to take advantage of travel benefits?

A: Vendor specific packages are currently being developed.

10. Terms and Conditions / Policies and Procedures

Q: Are the T&C and P&P the same for Canada as they are for the U.S.?

A: YTB Canada must operate under a different set of Terms and Conditions and Policies and Procedures than its U.S. counterpart. Please note some of these differences by downloading these documents from your back office.

11. Income Summary Disclosure

Q: What is an Income Summary Disclosure and when do I need to distribute it?

A: The Income Summary Disclosure document will be available in the Welcome Kit and from the web site. It contains information regarding income earned by RTAs and Reps. Although this document will be available on the company website, a hard copy must be provided to EVERY individual attending any meeting where YTB's business plan is presented in Canada.

12. Currency

Q: What currency will be used in Canada?

A: The Canadian dollar is the official currency of YTB Canada. All payments between YTB and its Canadian RTAs will be made in Canadian dollars

Q: Will the YTB Paycard be used in Canada?

A: At this time, the YTB Paycard is not available for use in Canada. All commissions will be sent in the form of a paper check.

Q: Where can travel commission percentages be found?

A: Commission percentages are available in the Travel Portal.

13. Provinces and Territories

Q: In which provinces and territories will YTB launch on February 8

A: YTB will launch in all provinces and territories on February 8th with the exception of Quebec. Because of the potential consequences of operating in Quebec relating to the travel industry and travel sales, YTB will not launch in that province initially. YTB will strictly enforce that there can be no Rep or RTA enrollment or activity, or sale of travel in Quebec. YTB will continue to pursue a legal course to meet the travel sales requirements of the Quebec regulatory authorities.

Noteworthy Items:

The following items will not be available at the time of our Canadian launch. These items are the result of several years of implementation and may be available for use in Canada in the future. Some of these items are not allowable by Canadian provincial regulation or the term Referring Travel Agent is used in the context of the material.

RTA Advantage Program

Associations/Passport to Giving Program

YTB Cars

"Success From Home" Magazine

$6,000 Guarantee Program

Bill of Rights

Health Insurance for Directors

Limited Medical Insurance for RTAs

Company Presentation Link from ytb.com web site (video is being revised)

Tool Box Links

"Coach's Playbook"

Circle of Champions

Marketing Materials Created by RTAs and Reps will not be allowed in Canada

YTB Distinguished as a Leader in Travel Weekly

Travel Weekly has a lot of good things to say about YTB. It was just about a month or so ago, that YTB was listed on Travel Weekly's Power List of Travel sellers (top 35 world wide for general travel and top 11 in leisure travel). Now J. Kim Sorensen, Ceo, YTB Travel Network, has been named as one of the 33 most influential people in the travel industry. To read the post in Travel Weekly, click on this link
http://www.travelweekly.com/articles.aspx?page=2&pageid=67111

Read the info I was sent about this great honor, and Kim's response to it:

Travel Weekly Names J. Kim SorensenOne Of 33 Most Influential PeopleIn The Travel Industry
Travel Weekly, in an article dated 11/20/2007, has named YTB Travel Network CEO, J. Kim Sorensen, to its list of the 33 most influential people in the travel industry. The article states that the "most influential" list is filled with people who have veered from the status quo and succeeded so spectacularly that they have influenced the course travel is taking in 2007, and will be just as influential in 2008.
"I am truly honored and humbled to be included on this list," said Kim. "Especially since YTB is not about me, but about the great team and the huge network of representatives and referring travel agents that were willing to take a chance on a new way to sell travel. I speak for the entire company when I thank Travel Weekly for recognizing the huge potential of YTB." Travel Weekly's 2007 Power List named YTB the nation's 35th largest seller of travel and the 11th largest agency for primarily leisure travel for the year 2006.