You Are Invited To A Top Secret Party (Shh Don't Tell Anyone)

Again, more questionable business practices. This one is how to invite people to your Grand Opening found on the Team Unity website:

Hello (their name), this is (your name) and I’m calling to invite you (and your wife/husband) to my new business Grand Opening Reception this (day) evening at (scheduled time) at my home -- (your address).

NOTE: It is important to invite both the husband and wife. Tell them to attend together because one will usually not make a decision without the other.

I am limiting this to (number of people) people and have arranged a special guest speaker -- so come a few minutes early so you won’t miss anything. Do you think you'll be able to make it?

If they ask what it's about, say It's a surprise and I don't want to ruin the surprise, that is why we are having the reception. If you can't come, I will call you afterwards and fill you in. (DO NOT get into a discussion of what the business is all about that is the purpose of the Reception.)

If they can come, ask them to bring something -- like a bag of ice, paper cups, or a bottle of Coke (something simple and inexpensive). This gives them even more of a reason to make sure they come.

OK, so let me get this straight, invite them. Tell them there is a "special" speaker. Remember, do not tell them what the business is under any circumstance. Make them support the party by bringing something (get them used to supporting your lifestyle). Don't worry, the special guest will be there to serve the Kool Aid and close the deal.

Earth To CLIA. Hello, Is Terry There?

I found an interesting column on another blog this morning and I think Peter has some outstanding points. I think that CLIA really needs to take a stand here. I personally know of many traditional agents that are not renewing their membership because of the stance they have NOT made. Some have received some very carefully crafted responses, and many others have not receive ANY response. Personally, I would think that an Association owes it to its members to respond to concerns. Read the entire column at Peter Stilphen's Homebased Travel Agents Blog.

This plan of attack could also apply to the other rodents or critters we refer to as MLMs/card mills. The food supply in the case of the MLM/card mill operations is CLIA. At one time the card mills used their own agency photo ID cards many times appearing similar to the IATAN card in order to try and fool suppliers who accepted these cards into thinking the holder of one of these cards was a real travel agent. As more and more hotels, car rentals, etc. began to see through this charade the card mills were forced to seek other means for touting cheap travel to consumers. They also needed something that would give them more credibility at the same time. The answer was CLIA.

So, what do you think?

Headquarters To RTAs--Can You Hear Me Now? (They Must Have Sprint Cellular)

It has been said that if you talk the talk you need to walk the walk. Well, YTB has been talking a lot about reigning in the rogue RTAs but there has not been a lot of progress on that front. While some would want me to believe that there is only one rogue RTA; I know better than that. I can name three off the top of my head--Earl Boek, Metre Wisham, and Ryan Stallings.

This is another brand new Craig's List ad talking about how with YTB you can sell travel, assist your clients, and make a reasonable living (wink wink). ...

Nah--this talks about free upgrades, free cruises and wholesale travel. Not once is it mentioned about actually selling travel. They toss in a line about the "great income" and some misdirection about a "bonded" compensation plan. And imagine a whole 130 pages devoted to YTB in "Success From Home"--who could ever have imagined?

The emphasis in the quote is mine, but you can read it here on Craig's List too!

Check out www.AllAboutTravelandEntertainment.com We offer the same great values as the highly advertised sites and your confirmations come from the same travel vendors such as Holiday Inns and American Airlines. It is one of the best travel and vacation websites on the internet today. Plus we offer so much more... you can book golf tee times, purchase event tickets, order flowers, even purchase new and pre-owned cars!

Would you like to travel better for less? You can travel like a pro plus earn great income in the largest industry in the world. As a travel agent yourself, you can travel at wholesale prices, receive free upgrades, free cruises, vacations & much more, backed by a stable, ethical, well-managed, 7 year old, debt free, publicly traded company. YourTravelBiz has been in "The Wall Street Journal, ENTREPRENEUR MAGAZINE, all 130 pages of the January 2007 issue of "SUCCESS FROM HOME MAGAZINE" !! YTB offers a bonded, copyrighted compensation plan, life/health insurance, dental plan, 401K, & more. You can earn great income marketing all travel & other services with your own personal booking engines, marketing sites, back offices, agent photo ID card, live conference training calls & full support from myself as well as from corporate headquarters. Save $$$ in taxes as an entrepreneur with a REAL BUSINESS.

By the way, you can have access to some of the conference calls that are recorded each week. Check out www.sharplesscall.com and you will hear Jeannie Sharpless and others from YTB give an overview of the YTB business opportunity.

I hope to help you get started & see you on the beaches of the world soon!!

More Missed Messages

This was posted within the past week and apparently, the message is not getting out. This man tells about the 2 credentials that you receive and can "give to whomever you want" so they can travel as an insider as well. Very little was mentioned about selling travel---all about saving money on personal travel. To his credit, he did not promise riches and said that the focus of YTB is to save you money on your personal travel and "make a little money on the backside"--not exactly the same message we hear from other sources.

Ah So--Olympics Anyone?

This is interesting on many fronts. $899 for a trip to China. There is a suggestion that it is for the Olympics, but upon further reading, not so much. To get the rate, you need to sign up as an RTA and pay those fees and sign (I assume) a yearly contract. But quite ingenious--bring a friend for $1349--the cost of the trip plus the RTA fee. As to the last name of this RTA--well, let's just say the irony is intact. Here is the source.

NOTE: Doug B brought it to my attention that the Olympic package and this package are separate. However, over on Travel Weekly, it was posted that the packages for the Olympics would begin at $899 including air from LAX and admission to the events. Conveniently, the price point has been edited out of the original post on Travel Weekly. I guess it is just another piece of misinformation from someone who has the "inside" scoop! (added 9:01am 1/2/08)

YTB Exclusive
China Tour Offer
For only $899
When Signing up as an RTA Today
Join YTB TODAY as a Referring Travel Agent (RTA), and for an additional $899 YTB will send you on an all inclusive 9 day 8 night China vacation of a lifetime, departing from LAX to Beijing, Shanghai, Suzhou, Hangzhou, Xitang. Today, this is the world’s most unbeatable priced, quality tour to China! (See Itinerary, does not include airport taxes) For an additional $899 you can bring along your travel companion and together enjoy the Great Wall of China, world famous Tiananmen Square, the Forbidden City, and the Emperor’s Summer Palace in Beijing. Then off to Shanghai, Suzhou, and Hangzhou for many more catered fun sites and events, while staying in four and five star hotels eating like Kings and Queens. When departing from Shanghai, one of the most fascinating cities in the world, you will board the Meglev, the fastest train in the world, for your 200 mph ride to the airport.
Invite your friends to come along at only $1,349 per person, plus airport taxes,
and YTB will pay you as an RTA a travel commission of $204 for each person you bring. Or you have the option to sign up your friends under the same offer above and start building your own personal team immediately!
Next tour leaves LAX on Tuesday, January 15th, 2008 and every Tuesday thereafter! You must travel on this Tour on or before March 15, 2008 to qualify for this discount. You’re Cleared for Takeoff with YTB!!!
Take a Vacation of a Lifetime While Joining a Travel Company for a LifetimeBecause Spring is the largest Tour provider in China they know exactly whats going on with the government and who gets what with releases of rooms, events, etc from the Chinese Government.

With a statement Jane the President of Spring, made last night, if YTB sells 3000 to 5000 tours to the Olympics by May 1, 2008, YTB/SPRING, WITHOUT QUESTION, WILL BE THE LARGEST TOUR PROVIDER TO THE OLYMPICS IN THE WORLD!!!
What a marketing tool that will be for YTB as a competitive worldwide travel company. I don’t see any reason why we can’t do it if we jump on this promotion starting right away !

YTB Tour Packages for the Olympics will range from $3,600 to $4,700 plus taxes for 7 to 11 days staying in 4 and 5 Star Hotels with meals, tours, all inclusive with a 25% commission paid to YTB.
Each tour package has 2 to 3 events built in and if a person wants to buy extra
events they will be able to at $40.00 per ticket, which includes 25% commission
to YTB. THAT MEANS A $550-$750 COMMISSION PER PERSON TO YOU!

It’s VERY easy to join YTB. Go to my company presentation and follow the instructions. If you’d like me to walk you through the process, or if you’d like me to discuss my experience with YTB and some of the Benefits, please contact me at 702-683-2169, leave a comment, or email me at Felipe@felipecrook.com.

A Great YTB Video

I saw this and thought it was great! The enthusiasm is there, the fun is there, and he is does a better job representing YTB than many I have seen. Not sure what the motive on the video is since there is no recruitment pitch or details on the program, but I think it is great.

Will The Real "Coach" Please Stand Up

So, is "Coach" sort of like "Smith" or "Jones" in the Network Marketing world?

Now, for the first time, the complete story of A.L. Williams,
told by the Coach himself!

Art Williams shares the inspirational story of what it took to build a tiny "peanut" of a company into an industry giant. Full of heroes and villains, amazing victories and dashing defeats, this book is a must-read for anyone who's ever dreamed of building a team, of winning big, of doing what others said couldn't be done.