WSI Ranks #1 Internet Business Franchise Eighth Year in a Row

Top Honors in Entrepreneur Magazine's Franchise 500 Listing for 2008

TORONTO, ONTARIO--(Marketwire - Jan. 7, 2008) - Maintaining its long-standing top rankings, WSI, the world's largest Internet consulting firm ranks for the 8th consecutive year as the #1 Internet Business in Entrepreneur Magazine's 2008 Franchise 500 listing. The coveted position in Entrepreneur's "Best-of-the-Best" features WSI at the top in the Technology category. Additional honors in this year's listing rank WSI amongst the "Top Ten Home Based", "Top 30 Global" and "Top 50 Overall" franchise businesses.

With a network of over 1500 WSI franchisees (Internet Marketing Consultants) in 87 countries and growing steadily, it is no surprise that the company is also mentioned as one of the "Fastest-Growing Franchises" in the Entrepreneur listing. Ron McArthur, president WSI says, "In today's high-tech economy, we offer one of the few 'white collar' franchises available anywhere today. We are delighted with the latest Entrepreneur listing which is testimony to our leadership position and our efforts to constantly enhance the same." WSI franchisees benefit from one of the most complete and comprehensive training and certification programs available anywhere today. A dynamic on-going support program is tailored to meet the unique and individual needs of each new franchisee. "This, coupled with a highly effective mentoring system has allowed our franchisees the greatest success in the shortest amount of time," Ron emphasizes.

WSI's international franchisees are at the forefront of the opportunities the Internet offers to business owners, which changes the way the world does business. WSI delivers thousands of Internet marketing solutions to small and medium sized businesses annually. WSI Consultants are trained to deliver a results oriented Internet Marketing System driving targeted traffic to their client's websites and creating greater customer conversion for them. McArthur says, "Our message to the SME market is that whether or not you use diverse Internet marketing methods like pay-per-click advertising, landing pages, viral marketing campaigns, etc., you can always think of your website as your primary marketing vehicle. The job of each WSI franchisee is to assess their clients' business needs using WSI's patent-pending Internet Solutions Lifecycle(TM) system. Each client's Internet Marketing Solution is then customized to both reduce business overheads and increase revenues."

WSI is committed to the profitability of its franchise network and the SME business world. Its ongoing corporate initiatives towards this goal contribute to the company's long-standing and continuing excellence in the industry's most well recognized franchise listing. Recognized by entrepreneurs and franchisors as the most comprehensive listing available, Entrepreneur Magazine's Franchise 500 in its January 2008 issue reveals for the 29th straight year the latest top-ranking franchise companies in North America and WSI is proud to achieve the rankings that it did in this latest listing.

About WSI - we simplify the Internet: With a network of over 1500 offices in 87 countries, WSI is the leading provider of Internet solutions to small and medium sized businesses the world over. Headquartered in Toronto, Canada, WSI provides affordable Internet related services and technologies that deliver maximum return on investment for businesses. With the support and cooperation of its customers, franchise network, employees, suppliers and charitable organizations, WSI aims to help make child poverty history through its global outreach program.