IZEA Inc. (IZEA)

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PRESS RELEASE
May 9, 2013, 6:00 a.m. EDT
IZEA and Handpicked Media Announce Strategic Partnership
U.S.-Based Influencer Marketing Firm Joins Forces to Extend U.K. Reach

ORLANDO, FL, May 09, 2013 (Marketwired via COMTEX) -- IZEA, Inc. (otcqb:IZEA), the pioneer of Social Media Sponsorship, announced a strategic partnership in the United Kingdom with Handpicked Media, a leading female-focused network of social influencers.

Handpicked Media is built-upon founder Krista Madden's vision of accumulating websites and blogs written by passionate Brits attracting a mass-engaged audience. Leveraging her 20+ years of experience working with beauty and fashion clients and 13 years of being an independent publisher, Krista began 'hand-picking' sites that went well together and formed Handpicked Media in 2009.

With over 650 registered influencers focusing on categories ranging from lifestyle and beauty to parenting and travel, Handpicked Media offers a diverse array of opportunities for advertisers to leverage in their Social Media Sponsorship campaigns.

As a strategic partner, brands will be able to access both IZEA's family of over 750,000 influencers around the world along with Handpicked Media's publisher-base in England, Scotland, Wales, and North Ireland for added scale and localization.

"Influencer marketing is not just an American or British trend, but a global phenomenon that has changed the way brands connect with consumers. It has and will continue to alter the entire advertising ecosystem," said Ryan Schram, Chief Operating Officer at IZEA. "By combining forces with partners in key geographies around the world, IZEA is able to extend unprecedented access to our clients to work with passionate, social influencers. We are thrilled to be working alongside Handpicked Media in the U.K. and look forward to announcing additional partners throughout 2013."

"The power of independent publishers and bloggers on social platforms is stronger than ever. We have established a network of key influencers in the U.K. at Handpicked Media who brands want to connect with," said Krista Madden, Founder and Managing Director at Handpicked Media. "Working with IZEA opens up the opportunity of expanding our reach globally and promoting our local talent on a much larger scale. We are very excited to be working with such a reputable company with the same passions as us. Thinking globally but acting locally is how online media works best."

Brands and agencies looking for more information on sponsorship opportunities in the U.K. can contact Jenni Sandells, Account Director/United Kingdom at [e-mail] or visit the company online at www.izea.co.uk.

About IZEA IZEA, Inc. is the pioneer of social media sponsorship, operating key influencer marketing platforms Staree, Sponsored Tweets and SocialSpark. IZEA connects brands with social media influencers, helping them monetize their online and offline 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 http://izea.co.uk.

About Handpicked Media Handpicked Media (@HandpickedMedia) is an established