At the end of yesterday’s post I asked the following question.

What do the following companies have in common?

• Carlson Wagonlit Travel
• Choice Hotels
• CruiseOne, Inc.
• Discovery Map International
• Hotel Indigo
• Microtel Inn
• Passport Health Communications
• Thetravelacademy
• Uniglobe Travel International
• Your Travel Biz

They’re not all host agencies, but they are all travel related in some form or fashion. No big deal, until you go pick up a copy of the November issue of Inc. Magazine and take a gander at the middle of page 138. There you will find “Candee’s Picks” for Leading Travel Franchise Opportunities.

“Ask Candee” is a column written by Candee Wilde specifically written about the franchise business and you can find some of her former columns on the internet where she has featured other franchise opportunities.

Q.  In these rocky financial times, is it wise to purchase a franchise in the travel industry?

A. There are few barriers to entry, in terms of cost or past experience, and even when people are tightening their belts, they continue to take vacations.

Travel is a solid industry, and the cruise business in particular just continues to grow. An investment in travel can be lucrative and, not to be underestimated, fun.

It’s important to note here that the actual article is written around CruiseOne, Inc. and the opportunity it has to offer. I could note here what some of the similarities and differences are for you here concerning CruiseOne and Your Travel Biz, however, I’ll let you pick up a copy on your own to decide for yourself.

What I would like to highlight and find interesting to say the least is that Candee noted Your Travel Biz with these other companies. To be listed among and associated with names on this list is a nice feather in the cap, especially when you consider the credibility of a magazine like Inc.. In addition, you can’t consider this listing one of those “paid endorsements” that YTB is accused of all too often. Nope, this one was even a surprise to Home Office.

Speaking of accusations, I have to wonder how critics will take this listing now that it’s been made public. I can just hear the ranting now.

Don’t they know what’s going on in California?

Have they not looked at the Financial Statements?

Have they not seen the stock price?

They’re not a “franchise”.

What does “Inc. Magazine” know about travel?

About all I can say about the excuses that are bound to come up, is this.

Not everyone has to agree with the negative perceptions and obsession about Network Marketing the way the critics do. Inc. Magazine is written for the entrepreneur, the business owner, the capitalist in this country. What a couple of broke critics who do nothing but post all day long on message boards, forums, and blogs with the intent to malign and slander a company they have never been associated with, nor never will have any involvement in, isn’t something the editors of Inc. are all that concerned with.

Furthermore, if in fact Candee was not fully aware of all the trappings some critics are concerned with, they might not doing a very good job in getting the word out. (Remember our Underground Shopper yesterday?) While I agree that Your Travel Biz is something critics seem to be up to their eyeballs in, very few people take it to the emotional extremes they do.

I can (and will) contend that the excuses brought up to minimize this association with other Leading Franchise Opportunities are just that, excuses. I’ve written about Pre-Paid Legal before, and it’s 31 lawsuits totaling $745 million back in 2002. I’ve also written about USANA and Herbalife in more recent issues and while our critics simply ignore how these companies not only overcame the obstacles set before them, they’re all thriving today.

While some would like to point out that profits from Your Travel Biz are not common place with the company, digging into the financials does show substantial purchases in land, support systems, technology, training, expansion into International markets, and a very large home office where they will reside when my kids have kids.

I have serious doubts that a publication like Inc. Magazine would even consider reading comments on some of the boards and forums out there to collect data for its publication. Although entertaining, smart business people don’t associate, nor do they care about this type of information. There’s no substance, it lacks verification, and it reeks of spinning.

It’s good to see a publication like Inc., and a writer like Candee picking Your Travel Biz as a leading opportunity.

Hummmmm, wonder what they know that the critics don’t?

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I read somewhere that someone was a little frustrated over the hiring of James Tackett as YTB’s Chief Marketing Officer. The premise as it’s always been with the analyst who always has an opinion on just about…sorry, make that every move YTB makes is none other than “lack of experience”.

There’s a new twist huh?

Being highly visual and auditory in my kinesthetic learning I’ve always enjoyed quality production work. Being introduced to James work during the 2007 National Convention, I knew instantly that our company would have been wise to cultivate its relationship with what was then Video Plus. All the big dogs in the industry use them and they certainly add a level of professionalism in the Direct Sales Industry you don’t find anywhere else. To attract talent from the Video Plus pool to work full time with our company speaks volumes about what he thinks about the direction of our company.

After seeing what James has just rolled out, maybe the self proclaimed analyst should have held off just a bit to see what our Marketing Officer could produce for our company before he lodged yet another foot the increasingly overweening mouth of his. (It never ceases to amaze me how he does this, poor guy!)

YTB has two new PowerPoint presentations to market; one for our Travel Company selling travel, and a second for those who would like to market the Travel Company. DVD’s of this presentation can be acquired by the end of the week. The look and feel of these two presentations are dead on mark both visually and in content. When I saw them, I had to e-mail James that I wanted to kiss him.

Although he declined the kiss, he was very appreciative of my gratitude.

What’s most impressive about all this is how he actually took the time to listen to those of us out in the field, industry leaders, and key studies to implemented stats and experiences that were “must haves” due to the current conditions of YTB and the industry as a whole. You may notice a key phrase “If you had more time and more money”, and you may also notice key industry stats from a group called PhoCusWright during the presentation.

And yes, the current state of our critics.

While the PowerPoint and DVD doesn’t really drive this home the way our flash presentation does, I find it fitting that we are telling it like it is on the very medium they are, over the internet.

Ours message however, happens to have a lot more class.

You can now enjoy a brand new flash presentation on your own Marketing site. (Found under the blue “View the Company Presentation” button.) Pay particular attention at around the 1:30 mark and again around the 5:00 mark and enjoy.

PS - If you're involved with YTB, sign up for our FREE Newsletter. As a Website Owner or Website Seller, we'll keep you up to date with all the latest news, acquisitions, and developments with YTB.

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Have you noticed how everyone appears to be an expert concerning what’s going on with YTB these days? The fear mongering out on the internet and the doom and gloom paints a picture that nobody is giving YTB a shot. Not only does this include vendors and suppliers, but Trade Associations have turned their back and threatening to kick YTB to the curb.

We find that…well…interesting…

On Wednesday’s Monthly Newsletter, we reported that these same Suppliers and Trade Associations are actually working with and helping YTB and as we wipe away all the spaghetti and sauce being thrown at YTB, we begin to see the real story. (Critics like to call this “the truth”)

When one of our Newsletter Subscribers saw that we pointed to the DSA (Direct Selling Association) as someone who is supporting YTB in the perceived adversity from the other side, they sent the following link.

Amy Robinson is VP of Communications at the Direct Selling Association and has done an exceptional job in helping everyone understand what DSA membership really means. She goes into detail what went into becoming a member of the DSA, which YTB became a member of more than a year ago. Based on the DSA’s review of applicable laws at the time of application, company policies were consistent with the law and YTB was approved. Further clarification states that the DSA DOES make inquiries to law enforcement, the Attorney General in the state where the company is located, the Better Business Bureau, and on a case-by-case basis any other entity that may have relevant information to share.

Bottom line is that according to the DSA’s findings, YTB met the standards of both the Code of Ethics and laws applicable to direct selling.

It is also important to note that the mere existence of a complaint with any of these bodies does not preclude membership, but instead what is considered is the way any issues were resolved.

Until information is presented that runs contrary to the information the DSA evaluated as part of the application process, there are no grounds to revoke YTB’s membership.

We realize that our critics have tried and convicted YTB already. Fortunately, it’s not up to them; that’s what the legal process is for. If you do a Google search on “lawsuit” you will find 89,600 links for Amway, 147,000 links for Mary Kay, and 59,600 links for Nu Skin, all still in business, and in good standing with the DSA.

Would you stop using your computer because there are 432,000 links for Microsoft? Stop shopping because there are 3,640,000 links for WalMart? Stop eating because there are 1,160,000 links for McDonalds?

Maybe we should stop cruising because you found 185,000 links for Royal Caribbean? Stop using online booking engines because there are 216,000 links for Expedia? Or stop using traditional agencies with 286,000 links for American Express Travel?

Want to take a stab at how many links there are for YTB? Try 23,700 links which are all lower than any of the above mentioned companies.

I realize there seems to be a tremendous amount of focus on YTB in past months. Being publically traded can be both a blessing and a curse for MLM companies. The blessing is that it’s a way to legitimize our model when we report to someone like the SEC and makes this notion of “illegal pyramid scheme” harder to promote. The curse is that it brings out the nut cases who want to ignore the Government is aware of who we are and what we do, but still try to push the issue of MLM being “illegal”.

I caught an interesting development on Monday that I wanted to pass on concerning a number of other publically traded MLM’s that are also getting some heat from some very deranged and shady characters. (“Shady” meaning he’s already a Convicted Felon.) What’s even more amusing to me is that two of the better known Anti-MLM Zealots, Robert FitzPatrick and Jon Taylor appear to have been caught in their own lies and MLM myths. Court probing may find that Robert Fitzpatrick and Jon Taylor were also involved in some way for shorting MLM company stocks.

In June of last year, Judd Bagley of “Deep Capture” (a hunter of illegal short sellers) concludes that convicted stock manipulator Sam Antar and securities class action litigator Howard Sirota were working in concert with convicted stock manipulator Barry Minkow’s Fraud Discovery Institute (FDI) to manipulate the share price of USANA, a public company. You may or may not know about several law suites filed last year concerning USANA, but it got so bad that even the SEC and Distributors themselves got in on the act in California. The SEC never found any wrong doing and closed its case nor did the Distributor suite go anywhere after cleaning off the mud that Minkow attempted to throw out in the press via his bogus report.

Now these same idiots seem to be after both Pre-Paid Legal and Herbalife. The Herbalife story has gotten so much attention in recent weeks that it even made CNBC’s Mad Money in which CEO Michael Johnson came on the show to assure investors that there is no lead found in their products.

There was never any health or safety issue with Herbalife products. Inaccurate and misleading information released to sensational media and online news coverage is nothing new to any of us in YTB. There is always an ulterior motive and it’s been found that FDI (Federal Discovery Institute) founder Barry Minkow admitted profiting from “puts” on Herbalife stock.

All these attacks on publically traded MLM companies have gotten so bad that USANA has already decided to take the company private after being public since 1996, and it was also suggested by Jim Cramer of Mad Money for CEO Michael Johnson to take Herbalife private. (My take is that Johnson doesn’t like the idea according to the video I watched.)

While it’s yet to be determined if FitzPatrick and Taylor will be convicted in all this mess, this investor would love to see these two idiots have “Convicted Felon” on their resume for all the lies and myths they promote about MLM. Having these two busted for illegal activity would certainly help those of us who know from experience that MLM is a viable business model and an excellent entry level for anyone looking to get into a business of their own.

While I can’t say the YTB has remained under the radar by any stretch of the imagination, at least our company stock has remained fairly clean compared to USANA, Pre-Paid, and Herbalife. Let’s just hope these nut cases are actually convicted for doing what they have done to these other MLM’s before they decide to set their sites on YTB.

It does make me wonder however just who was doing any “Pump and Dumping” with our stock. “Rumor” has it that Directors were doing all this “Pump and Dump” in an attempt to hurt the “little guys”, but after all the positive press released after our Annual Report back in April, me thinks the Pump and Dump was nothing more that Day Traders who knew how to take advantage of such positive press in a small stock like YTBLA.

If you don’t know Rod Cook’s MLM Watchdog site, you should. He’s one of the good guys in MLM. (Even if he has come out against YTB at times.) If you’re an investor like I am in YTBLA, you should keep an eye on this developing story, it could prove to be huge for us and put a stop to Zealots who promote nothing but myths and lies about MLM.

PS - If you're involved with YTB, sign up for our FREE Newsletter. As a Website Owner or Website Seller, we'll keep you up to date with all the latest news, acquisitions, and developments with YTB.

PPS - Subscribe to the Just Picture It Now RSS feed, (including e-mail) for all the latest posts and updates found right here!

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There’s been a lot of talk all over the internet about what was going on last week at the Directors Meeting in Dallas. It’s so funny to me how things are just thrown out there as speculation without any regard to being accurate or even remotely realistic. While I know that we in YTB have been accused of making unsubstantiated claims in the past, most of what I’m seeing these days comes from the other side.

What’s good for the goose must be good for the gander right?

Some are so hard up that they will throw out anything just to keep people busy talking about YTB. What’s so amusing to me is that people post on message boards and forums asking “What’s going on?” like any of these people who frequent there have any clue as to what’s going on. I’ve actually grown numb to just about anything I read on the Internet these days on such forms and message boards.

One of the funniest comments I read was that there are plans for YTB to purchase Sabre. For those who don’t recognize that name, you may recognize the funny little Roaming Gnome who advertises for one of their brands. It’s amazing to me how something like this is just thrown out there like fish food and to watch the schools of starving fish feed on in the frenzy they do is hysterical.

So I figured I’d help those of you who are having problems finding out what’s true and what’s not at about the only place you truly count on these days for accurate information.

• Slowed Growth – Current economic uncertainty, and rising fuel costs have contributed to recruiting sales slowing industry wide. According to the DSA Data Tracker Survey released on May 19th, sales industry wide are down 13% overall, while YTB only experienced a drop of 7%, Q1 of 2008. If you look at the industry trends over the last several years, you will see that this slowing is nothing to be overly concerned about, and we certainly can’t be concerned about any trends being set from one quarter of date. I do believe it’s important to note that while the entire industry is slowed, YTB’s growth is stronger than other markets and companies associated with the DSA.

• $50 Bonus – I’ve seen the “wording” changed several times over the years concerning the $49.95 web site fees and having six personally sponsored people on your team. The FTC has issued a revised Notice of Proposed Rulemaking on the Business Opportunity Rule. To ensure that there is no confusion about the $49.95 fee that RTAs pay for website hosting and maintenance, after an RTA personally sponsors six other RTAs, as long as those RTAs remain active, the sponsoring RTA will receive a monthly $50 bonus.

Now, what’s the difference? The primary difference is in the language used. We no longer say that “the $49.95 monthly fee will be reimbursed” because YTB needs to make it clear that the monthly maintenance fee will still need to be paid monthly and that everyone is paying this fee. (If everyone is paying the fee then there nothing “multi-level” about it.)

• 10% Override – YTB Travel RTAs no longer need to become Certified by attending a YTB CRTA class before being able to receive the 10% override in their Power Teams. Now the 10% override will be paid automatically based on travel booked by the people in their Power Teams. Again, this comes directly from the “Business Opportunity Rules”, so YTB needed to change.

• 50% Match – YTB REPS now qualify the same as YTB Travel RTAs for the 50% match. In the past, before a person who was a YTB REP could qualify for the 50% match, they would have to personally sponsor four RTAs instead of three because they (themselves), were not an RTA. Now, YTB Travel REPS will qualify for the 50% match simply by sponsoring three RTAs. (Again, Business Opportunity Law.)

• Absolutely No Solicitation – Fam Trips or any other trips that are taken as part of YTB Travel is to learn about your product NOT for solicitation to join YTB. To do so is strongly frowned on in YTB Travel and in the travel industry as a whole. In other words, YTB Travel RTAs are admonished to never use FAM Trips, Cruises or any trip where they received travel insider benefits, to advertise or recruit their business. If it is discovered that a YTB Travel RTA or REP is guilty of this behavior, they will be in jeopardy of losing and being permanently barred from the YTB Travel business.

And you if I catch you doing so, I’ll personally take you out back and shoot you.

No exceptions.

That’s about all I’m at liberty to release to you publically at this point in time. I know that everyone was expecting “major announcements” last week. Honestly, after reading all the “hype” out there, I was too.

I was looking forward to owning Sabre, but I guess it was all a bunch of hype. Who knew?

I will speculate this for you if you really want something. YTB does have something in the works and its driving Coach nuts. You may have seen or heard some of his calls recently and he’s chomping at the bit to let the cat out of the bag. It’s my understanding that our Legal Department and our Board of Directors has either a long hook or one hand on the electrical cord in preparation to pull the plug just in case Coach begins to spill the beans before we have all our T’s crossed and I’s dotted.

With so much focus on our company right now and people digging for information and reporting every step, every move we make I’m actually kind of pleased that the company has been so tight lipped and holding their cards very close to the vest lately. Of course, not having anything doesn’t seem to matter to some people. They’ll say just about anything these days just to throw something out there to talk about. I guess that’s what happens when you have nothing better to do with your time. (Like ohhh, selling travel to all those devoted customers they claim to have.)

If you’d like to keep up to date with all the latest news, acquisitions, and developments with YTB feel free to sign up for my FREE Newsletter. Just like here, it’s loaded with links and documentation for you to share with clients and prospects alike.

Doug & Ronda Bauknight
AKA: TravelPro
Travel Agent / Networker

Phone: 678.458.5812

Learn How To Become A Travel Agent

Book Your Travel & Vacations With

Travel Reservations: 1.800.243.4450
RTA #24635

YTB International has announced a new “Fast Start Program”. I am looking for just 3 to 5 players for something unlike anything else I’ve (or you) have ever seen in Network Marketing. This new program makes it possible for anyone to make $10,000 in their first month and over $2,000,000 their first 15 months.

MARCH MADNESS AND THE FAST START PROGRAM

30/30 PROGRAM: Make Coach’s Corner in your 1st 30 days: Or within 30 days from March 6th if you are already and RTA but have never received a $1,000 bonus. Reach this goal and you will receive a $3,000 additional cash Bonus.

(This will make a new RTA $10,000 their very first month in YTB.)

Level 1 Director 1st 3 months: $10,000 Cash Bonus

Level 2 Director 1st 5 months: $100,000 Cash Bonus

Level 3 Director 1st 10 months: $200,000 Cash Bonus

Level 4 Director 1st 15 months: $1,000,000 Cash Bonus

* Bonuses are over and above the regular bonuses already in place with the YTB compensation program.

YTB is growing. There are individuals in YTB whose teams are larger now than the entire YTB organization was just two years ago. YTB has multiple Directors making over $1,000,000 annually! If it was one, it’s a fluke, but when you have this many people making MILLIONS, YTB has proven it has all the tools and incentives YOU need to succeed. Top Producers earned on average $3,507,316 in 2007.

If you are a Marketer, here are just a few of the highlights:

– Brand new Markets just opened in Canada, Bermuda, Bahamas, Guam, American Soma, Virgin Islands.

– Increasing total revenue for the nine months ended September 30, 2007 by 207.6% to $95.9 million, compared to $31.2 million for the same period last year;

– Being named in Travel Weekly as one of the top eleven leisure travel agencies and one of the 35 largest travel agencies overall for 2006;

– Having YTB International President, J. Kim Sorensen, named by Travel Weekly as one of the 33 most influential people in the travel industry;

– Rolling out ‘YTB E-Campus,’ designed by Dr. Marc Mancini, one of the travel industry’s most highly respected speakers, educators named by Travel Weekly and consultants;

– Adding 93 new YTB Sales Directors between January 1, 2007 and December 17, 2007; and,

– Exceeding $225 million in travel sales for 2006 and already more than doubling that figure for 2007.

YTB is making considerable waves in the Travel Industry. Well known and established companies like A.L. Williams, Amway, and Nu-Skin went through the same “growing pains” when they broke ground into traditional markets in their day. Those Networkers who got involved with the right company and the right time are worth Millions today.

Now is your opportunity with the right company at just the right time to make a financial windfall with an incentive program like no one has seen in this industry.

Contact me via my approved Marketing Site and while you there take a look at some of the Leaders I work with and watch this presentation from my Level 6 Director who earned over $4,000,000 in 2007.

Serious inquiries will have a chance to visit the Home Office, and will also get a copy of both Success From Home and Network Marketing Business Journal.

There has never been a better time to break the bank than right now with YTB.

Subscribe to Just Picture It Now for additional announcements and details!

Doug & Ronda Bauknight
AKA: TravelPro
Travel Agent / Networker
Phone: 678.458.5812

Learn How To Become A Travel Agent

Book Your Travel & Vacations With

Travel Reservations: 1.800.243.4450
RTA #24635

The Direct Selling Association has just approved the application for YTB as a member of it’s prestigious organization.

DSA is the national trade association representing companies that manufacture and sell products and services sold directly to consumers, primarily through an independent contractor sales force. It is estimated that 14.1 Million Americans participate in a Direct Sales Organization of some type and the numbers are increasing rapidly each year. Currently, membership has been limited to only 216 organizations out of the thousands of companies who participate in Direct Sales.

The mission of the DSA is ‘to protect, serve and promote the effectiveness of member companies and the independent business people they represent. To ensure that the marketing by member companies of products and/or the direct sales opportunity is conducted with the highest level of business ethics and service to consumers.’ Each DSA member company pledges to abide by the Code of Ethics’ standards and procedures as a condition of admission and continuing membership in DSA. This Code of Ethics speaks to both the consumer and the seller, and ensures that member companies will make no statements or promises that might mislead either consumers or prospective sales people.

The DSA Code of Ethics expressly prohibits pyramid schemes, deceptive or unlawful consumer or recruiting practices, misrepresentation of earning or sales potential, inventory loading and unreasonable entrance fees.

All applications take well over a year to complete, and during this time, the marketing and business plans of YTB were reviewed to ensure compliance with all provisions of DSA’s Code of Ethics.

Other companies who were recognized as part of the DSA and are new members with YTB Travel Networkinclude:

• Agel Enterprises, LLC (Nutritional Supplements)
• B’s Purses & Accessories (Fashion Accessories)
• Big Ear, Inc. (Custom Ear Products)
• Blessings Unlimited (Giftware, Religious Books/Gifts)
• CyberWize (Nutritional Supplements, Health/Wellness/Fitness)
• Family and Friends Financial (Financial Services)
• Genesis Secret (Nutritional Supplements)
• Jeunique International, Inc. (Nutritional Supplements, Cosmetics, Jewelry, Lingerie/Sleepwear, Skincare)
• Livinity, Inc. (Health/Fitness/Wellness, Personal Care)
• Traci Lynn Fashion Jewelry, LLC (Fashion Accessories, Jewelry)
• YTB, Inc. (Travel)

If you are part of this list feel free to give a shout!

Whooo Hoooo!

Congratulations to all who have joined the DSA!

PS - If you're involved with YTB, sign up for our FREE Newsletter. As a Website Owner or Website Seller, we'll keep you up to date with all the latest news, acquisitions, and developments with YTB.

PPS - Subscribe to the Just Picture It Now RSS feed, (including e-mail) for all the latest posts and updates found right here!

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