“We credit our revenue growth to several factors,” said Donna Mackenzie, Chief Financial Officer, IZEA. “A strong sales pipeline, the introduction of a localized sales strategy, and investments in new and existing social media sponsorship platforms.”

Gross profit for the three months ended March 31, 2012 was $986,086, an increase of $504,843, or 104.9%, compared to the same period in 2011. The company’s gross profit margin increased to 60% in Q1, up from 52% for the same period in 2011. This increase was fueled by the optimization of existing platforms and increased demand for managed services.

IZEA’s operating expenses rose to $1.97 million, resulting in a net loss of $917,190, which was lower than expected. The increase was primarily attributable to additional payroll expenses, professional fees, costs of being a public company and investments in sales and marketing.

“I am very pleased with our Q1 results,” said Ted Murphy, Founder and Chief Executive Officer, IZEA. “As our sales team grows it is building momentum, while our operations and engineering teams simultaneously optimize our service offerings to maximize margin. We are executing on our plan and the first quarter aligns nicely with our previous guidance for 2012.”

Later this week, IZEA will formally unveil a new product deigned to monetize social photo and video sharing on Twitter and Facebook. The company will continue investing heavily in sales and marketing, with plans to hire an additional 8-10 domestic sales team members this year.

IZEA will host an investor update call on Thursday, May 17, at 8:00 a.m. ET. Interested investors and media can email ir@izea.com for details.

Prospective investors who would like to learn more about IZEA can visit http://izea.com/investors/.

About IZEA
IZEA, Inc. is the world leader in social media sponsorship, operating multiple marketplaces including, WeReward, Sponsored Tweets and SocialSpark. IZEA connects advertisers with social media influencers, helping them monetize their social media presence. The company has completed over three million social media sponsorships for customers ranging from small local businesses to Fortune 50 organizations. For more information about IZEA, visit www.izea.com.

Safe Harbor Statement
This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. These forward-looking statements are based largely on IZEA’s expectations and are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties, certain of which are beyond IZEA’s control. Actual results could differ materially from these forward-looking statements as a result of, among other factors, competitive conditions in the social media sponsorship segment in which IZEA operates, failure to popularize one or more of the marketplace platforms of IZEA and general economic conditions that are less favorable than expected.  In light of these risks and uncertainties, there can be no assurance that the forward-looking information contained in this respect will in fact occur. Please read the full statement and disclosures here: http://izea.com/safe-harbor-statement

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“Today’s news aligns with the guidance we provided for 2012 and prepares IZEA for growth well beyond this year,” said Ted Murphy, Founder and Chief Executive Officer of IZEA. “We are aggressively expanding our sales and marketing team to capture client demand and provide the best customer experience possible. In addition to the team members we are announcing today, our goal is to add an additional 8-10 sales team members domestically before the end of the year.”

Four team members have recently joined the IZEA sales and marketing organization.

Seattle-based Senior Account Director Greg Martin joined IZEA from mobile advertising company Marchex where he was a senior member of their sales organization. Prior to Marchex, he was a founding member and head of sales for Scout Media, which was acquired by Fox Interactive Media in 2005. Greg currently serves on a number of advisory boards and will lead client development initiatives for the western region.

Christian Shalay came to IZEA from Texas-based media company Belo Corporation, where he was named to the President’s Club because of his strong track record for building client relationships. Previously Christian was an account manager for Monster.com and Careerbuilder.com. He is based in Dallas and will manage client outreach for IZEA’s central region.

Ed Stepankovsky joined IZEA’s sales team with leadership and sales experience from RockYou, a social gaming company, Yahoo and Careerbuilder.com. During his time at Yahoo he was named a President’s Club Winner. Ed resides in New York City.

Lastly, Jennifer Brown joined IZEA as Director of Marketing Communications, managing public relations, event marketing, investor relations and community affairs. She joins IZEA with previous public relations and marketing communications experience working for national and international companies including General Motors, Limited Brands and Safelite AutoGlass. Jennifer earned a Bronze Quill from the International Association of Business Communicators for her work at Limited Brands. She resides in Orlando.

IZEA plans to report its quarter-ending March 31, 2012, financial results on May 15.

About IZEA
IZEA, Inc. is the world leader in social media sponsorship, operating multiple marketplaces including, WeReward, Sponsored Tweets and SocialSpark. IZEA connects advertisers with social media influencers, helping them monetize their social media presence. The company has completed over three million social media sponsorships for customers ranging from small local businesses to Fortune 50 organizations. For more information about IZEA, visit www.izea.com.

Safe Harbor Statement
This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. These forward-looking statements are based largely on IZEA’s expectations and are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties, certain of which are beyond IZEA’s control. Actual results could differ materially from these forward-looking statements as a result of, among other factors, competitive conditions in the social media sponsorship segment in which IZEA operates, failure to popularize one or more of the marketplace platforms of IZEA and general economic conditions that are less favorable than expected.  In light of these risks and uncertainties, there can be no assurance that the forward-looking information contained in this respect will in fact occur. Please read the full statement and disclosures here: http://izea.com/safe-harbor-statement.

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One walker is Pamela Runsick, Director of Advertising Operations.

“I’m walking in the Relay for Life  to give people hope and a chance to live a normal life with cancer.

My grandmother was a breast cancer survivor and today, my grandpa has stage 4, terminal melanoma. This is his third battle with cancer and we know it will be last. His life expectancy is three to six months, but he was accepted into a new drug trial and we’re hopeful it’s longer!

Cancer touches the lives of so many people and Relay for Life is one way I can do something… Get involved. The money we raise means more money to research and maybe someday we’ll eradicate cancer, if not for me than for my kids or their kids.

And that’s what I walk…”

You can support The American Cancer Society and Team IZEA here.

The American Business Awards are the nation’s premier business awards program. All organizations operating in the U.S.A. are eligible to submit nominations – public and private, for-profit and non-profit, large and small. More than 3,000 nominations from organizations of all sizes and in virtually every industry were submitted this year for consideration.

Ted founded IZEA in 2006 to much controversy and criticism for his desire to monetize the blogosphere. He is widely considered the leading pioneer in social media sponsorship. Ted was the first to openly pay bloggers to create content on behalf of brands, the first to pay celebrities for tweets and the first to pay people for social media check-ins. He also worked directly with the FTC to help define the guidelines for endorsements in social media and with the Word of Mouth Marketing Association to gain acceptance for paid social media sponsorships.

His efforts have created a new industry, with the many of the world’s top blogs, tweeters and social users now using social media sponsorships to generate income by driving brand awareness for clients. Under his leadership, IZEA became a public company in May 2011 and today boasts a network of 700,000 registered influencers in 147 countries and 50,000 brand partners.

IZEA recently announced their guidance for 2012. Annual revenue for the company is projected to double and annual profit margin is expected to increase to 56-60% by year-end. IZEA plans to report its quarter-ending March 31, 2012, financial results on May 15.

“Ted’s dynamic leadership continues to drive IZEA and its employees,” said Ryan Schram, Chief Marketing Officer, IZEA. “His creative influence can be seen in the company’s daily work and its successes, which have enabled our continued leadership in the space he created. We are thrilled that he’s being recognized.”

Details about The American Business Awards and the list of Finalists in all categories are available at www.stevieawards.com/aba.

About IZEA
IZEA, Inc. is the world leader in social media sponsorship, operating multiple marketplaces including, WeReward, Sponsored Tweets and SocialSpark. IZEA connects advertisers with social media influencers, helping them monetize their social media presence. The company has completed over three million social media sponsorships for customers ranging from small local businesses to Fortune 50 organizations. For more information about IZEA, visit www.izea.com.

Safe Harbor Statement
This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. These forward-looking statements are based largely on IZEA’s expectations and are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties, certain of which are beyond IZEA’s control. Actual results could differ materially from these forward-looking statements as a result of, among other factors, competitive conditions in the social media sponsorship segment in which IZEA operates, failure to popularize one or more of the marketplace platforms of IZEA and general economic conditions that are less favorable than expected.  In light of these risks and uncertainties, there can be no assurance that the forward-looking information contained in this respect will in fact occur. Please read the full statement and disclosures here: http://izea.com/safe-harbor-statement

About the Stevie Awards
Stevie Awards are conferred in four programs: The American Business Awards, The International Business Awards, the Stevie Awards for Women in Business, and the Stevie Awards for Sales & Customer Service.  Honoring organizations of all types and sizes and the people behind them, the Stevies recognize outstanding performances in the workplace worldwide.  Learn more about The Stevie Awards at www.stevieawards.com.

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And you know what? Participating in community sports has helped us out a lot!  What does a sporty lifestyle get you?  Glad you asked.  Trophies, abs, the ladies, the gentlemen, a sweet beverage endorsement…all of things can be yours, should you be on a winning team!  Alas, our sportiness has not bled over into multi-million dollar deals, dates with models (male or female) or even medals.  Don’t be sad, though- here are a few things we have learned:

It’s all in the stretch!

That’s right, proper stretching is key to a game well-played, even if you lose.  Personal victories on the field can still make you feel like a million bucks and nothing starts you down the right path like a good old fashioned streeettcchhhh.  Stretching is like practice, it preps your body, gets your mind in the game, and reminds you of all the parts you need to play a good game: arms, legs, ankles, etc.  A good stretch is akin to practicing your elevator pitch, in the corporate world.  The more you stretch er- practice your pitch, the more natural you become, the more you flow, the more personal victories you’ll win.

Aim high and follow through!

In kickball, it’s all about the aim.  You find the void and you kick the bejesus out of that ball!  Then, you run like the dickens.  I mean, ok, there is no ‘i’ in ‘team,’ but there’s one in ‘victory,’ and ‘win,’ and ‘Dairy Queen,’ which is where I go to console all my game losses.  Knowing what kind of aim you need is crucial, too- too high and the other team can easily catch it, too low and you might get it close to a base, for an easy out.  In life, as in kickball, know your aim and go for it!

Kick!

The great thing about kickball in general is that, no matter what, you have a chance to shine because you will always have a chance at bat (..at kick?).  There’s another ‘i,’ word: shine.  And shine you will if you find your target, set up your kick, and follow through.  The same thing can be said for life in the office and in general.  Find your goals, aim, kick and run.

So there you have it, lessons learned through being sporty (with a focus on kickball).  And now, time for some eye candy: photos!

 1. Julius gets his award-winning groin stretch on! 2. Gearing to kick! 3. Juan’s turn at bat! 4. Kate and Stephanie take a break. 5. A high-five threesome, it’s possible! 6. Alex is super nice! 7. IZEA Team loves kickball (and beer).

Orlando, Fla. (May 9, 2012) – IZEA, Inc. (IZEA:OTCBQ), the world leader in Social Media Sponsorship, today provided high-level guidance for its 2012 fiscal year. Revenue for the company is expected to double over fiscal year 2011 to $8.6 million, fueled by its May 2012 sales pipeline of $9.1 million that has increased by 50% since January 2012 and doubled since May last year.

“Our client base is expanding across multiple industry verticals,” said Ted Murphy, Founder and Chief Executive Officer of IZEA. “Our pipeline is growing at an average of eight percent month-over-month and we continue to see an increase in our conversion rate from pipeline to signed client. In the first quarter of this year we conducted campaigns for national and international brands such as S.C. Johnson & Son, Kraft, Walmart, Kia, Lenovo, Revlon and The Scotts MiracleGro Company.”

Factors fueling IZEA’s outlook include the success of its localized client development strategy through the addition of team members in New York City, Seattle and Dallas. Revenue from IZEA’s display advertising solution, IZEA Media, doubled from December 2011 to March 2012 and today has over 70 million monthly impressions. Further, IZEA continues to expand its celebrity network, with stars from the big screen to athletes on the field.

The company’s annual gross profit margin is expected to increase to 56-60%, up from 55% in 2011 and 52% in 2010. The company attributes the margin growth over the past three years to the unique value it provides to clients, optimization of existing platforms and increased demand for managed services.

“As an industry, social marketing continues to grow exponentially. With recent valuations assigned to high-profile acquisitions and upcoming IPOs, there is significant up-side still emerging,” said Ryan Schram, Chief Marketing Officer, IZEA. “This indicates marketers will continue to raise budgets for social and digital media in search of ways to create richer connections with their consumers. IZEA is at the center of this, connecting brands with top influencers who engage those target audiences.”

In the coming week, IZEA will formally unveil a new product designed to monetize sponsored photo and video posts to Twitter and Facebook. For the remainder of the 2012 fiscal year, IZEA will continue investing heavily in sales and marketing, with expected net losses ahead of investment through the year. The company expects to reach profitability in early 2013. IZEA plans to report Q1 2012 financial results on May 15.

Prospective investors who would like to learn more about IZEA can visit http://izea.com/investors/.

About IZEA

IZEA, Inc. is the world leader in social media sponsorship, operating multiple marketplaces including, WeReward, Sponsored Tweets and SocialSpark. IZEA connects advertisers with social media influencers, helping them monetize their social media presence. The company has completed over three million social media sponsorships for customers ranging from small local businesses to Fortune 50 organizations. For more information about IZEA, visit www.izea.com.

Safe Harbor Statement

This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. These forward-looking statements are based largely on IZEA’s expectations and are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties, certain of which are beyond IZEA’s control. Actual results could differ materially from these forward-looking statements as a result of, among other factors, competitive conditions in the social media sponsorship segment in which IZEA operates, failure to popularize one or more of the marketplace platforms of IZEA and general economic conditions that are less favorable than expected. In light of these risks and uncertainties, there can be no assurance that the forward-looking information contained in this respect will in fact occur. Please read the full statement and disclosures here: http://izea.com/safe-harbor-statement

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Remember, you don’t have to be a fancy Oscar-winning (or nominated) celeb to use Staree! Head over to Staree now and apply through your Facebook or Twitter account!

Boy, what a change from Sundance!  Thankfully, there was no need to pack boots, hats, scarves, pocket hand warmers or a case of cold meds.  We were excited to land in LA and head over to the world class W Hotel, right across the street from iconic Hollywood & Vine!  After setting up (did you know you can’t iron or steam a vinyl backdrop?), getting lost in the maze that is the W Hotel and discovering that our keyboard was ghetto to the max, we headed out for a night on the town- sort of.

1. First taste of famous LA traffic! 2. Kate sets up the backdrop 3. Dinner at Mel’s Drive-in 4. Our janky keyboard! 5. Kate and I outside the W Hotel 6. Goodies being delivered to the W Hotel before the event!

Our first day in LA was awesome- there were 7 shootings the night before, and the next day’s news was abuzz with the details of all of them (including one that happened BLOCKS from where Kate and I were wandering)!  We weren’t able to check-out the legendary Chinese Theater, as it was being decked-out for the Oscars!

We did walk Hollywood Boulevard and celebrate the stars of our favorite films and tv shows, which was amazing.

Day 1 of the event was a whirlwind of sign-ups, hand shaking and picture taking!  We got Staree in the hands of some wonderful people- from actors to producers, musicians and reality stars- we definitely made a splash! We caught up with some old friends (Hi Frankie Muniz!) and made some new ones (Hi Josh Sussman!).  Day 1? We killed it.  Unfortunately, it kind of killed us, too.  Note to self: invest in flats.

1. Kate and I with our wonderful photographer, Carrell 2. Keeping an eye on our iPods during the big pep talk! 3. Gavin of GBK 4. Work doesn’t stop- answering some questions for Larry, our Chicago seller! 5. The customized iPod Touch 6. We’re on the red carpet! 7. Ok, fine- it’s ALL red carpet at the W! Getting our pep talk on!

Staree is definitely making a splash in social media, and remains the only tool and service that actively helps a celeb monetize their online influence.  From up-and-comers to A-listers, Staree has a place for you- apply for an account here!

Stay tuned for Part 2 and the Celeb Recap!!

Each year, we gather data from brand marketers and social media influencers to gain insights into the changing SMS industry and provide guidance to better connect these two groups. Last year’s results showed us that there is:

• A general lack of awareness and understanding for disclosure requirements.
• Significant discrepancy between what a marketer and influencer believe is fair compensation for a tweet or blog post.

The survey is anonymous and only takes a few minutes!

We look forward to your feedback!

“Several months before I was born my Aunt Patty died of breast cancer – she was 29 years old. To honor her, my mother named me Jennifer Patricia.

Three years ago several family members gathered as my grandmother was dying of lung cancer. Watching someone you love fade away and saying prayers by her bedside has a profound impact on how you view death. Then two years ago, my mentor, close friend and former college professor died of cancer two days prior to my 30th birthday. Even now there are emails in my in-box from her that I can’t bring myself to delete, because another one will never take its place.

I walk for them.”

You can support The American Cancer Society and Team IZEA here.

More than 15 people will walk with Team IZEA in the May 18 Downtown Orlando Relay for Life, in a partnership with the American Cancer Society to sponsor more birthdays!

I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.

While our reasons for walking are many, we have a single purpose: Sponsor more birthdays with The American Cancer Society!

This year’s walking theme is all about heroes and we chose Jem and the Holograms as ours. Children of the 1980’s will remember her transformation from everyday girl to rock star, ready confidence and willingness to help. She is truly, truly outrageous and as you can see from our team members below, so are we!

You can support The American Cancer Society and Team IZEA here.