IZEA Worldwide, Inc. - IZEA STOCK NEWS

IZEA Flex, the flagship influencer marketing platform of IZEA Worldwide (NASDAQ: IZEA), has been named the Best Influencer Marketing Platform in the 2024 MarTech Breakthrough Awards. This prestigious recognition highlights IZEA's commitment to providing cutting-edge solutions for the Creator Economy.

IZEA Flex offers an all-in-one solution for managing influencer marketing campaigns, including features such as influencer discovery, contract management, negotiation tools, payment handling, and performance tracking. The platform stands out with its AI-powered tools, Dynamic Content Requests, and the innovative Flex Budget Suite for real-time campaign expenditure visibility.

This award underscores IZEA's role in revolutionizing brand engagement and driving growth across the creator ecosystem, especially as research shows that social media influencers reach at least 83% of respondents aged 18-60. New users can experience IZEA Flex with a 10-day free trial at izea.com/flex.

IZEA Worldwide, Inc. (NASDAQ: IZEA), a leading provider in the Creator Economy, has appointed Justin Teo as its new Country Manager for China operations. Based in Shanghai, Teo brings over 20 years of marketing leadership experience, previously serving as Chief Digital Officer at Edelman and VMLY&R Commerce. His expertise in retail and MarTech, along with a proven track record in executing go-to-market strategies in China, positions him as a valuable asset to IZEA's team.

Ross Yellowlees, IZEA's General Manager of Emerging Markets, expressed enthusiasm about Teo's appointment, highlighting the potential for growth and innovation in IZEA's local operations, which have shown strong year-over-year growth. Ryan Schram, IZEA President and COO, emphasized Teo's important role in elevating IZEA's current operations in China to the next level.

IZEA Worldwide, Inc. (NASDAQ: IZEA) reported Q2 2024 financial results with total revenue decreasing 14.9% to $9.1 million compared to Q2 2023. Managed Services revenue declined 16.6% to $8.9 million, while SaaS Services revenue grew 244.3% to $0.2 million. The company reported a net loss of $2.2 million and Adjusted EBITDA of $(1.6) million.

Despite the overall revenue decrease, IZEA saw record Managed Services bookings of $10.3 million, up from $7.3 million in Q2 2023. Excluding a non-recurring customer, Managed Services revenue grew 21.7% year-over-year. The company ended Q2 with a record number of active SaaS customers and expects year-over-year growth in coming quarters. IZEA's cash and investments totaled $56.5 million with no long-term debt.

IZEA Worldwide, a leader in the Creator Economy, has been honored with three Stevie® Awards for Great Employers in 2024. The company received a Gold award for Achievement in Managing a Remote Workplace, while CEO Ted Murphy and Senior Director of People Operations Kaila Kowalski were recognized individually. This marks the second consecutive year IZEA has won these accolades, highlighting their consistent excellence in remote work management and leadership.

Murphy emphasized the awards as a testament to IZEA's positive work culture and effective remote workplace management. Kowalski expressed pride in the team's dedication to creating an environment where everyone can excel. The Stevie® Awards, globally recognized for celebrating organizational and professional achievements, will host an awards ceremony in New York City in September.

IZEA Worldwide, Inc. (NASDAQ: IZEA), a leading provider of technology, data, and services for the Creator Economy, has announced its Q2 2024 earnings results conference call. The call is scheduled for August 14, 2024, at 5:00 p.m. Eastern Daylight Time. Key executives, including CEO Ted Murphy, President and COO Ryan Schram, and CFO Peter Biere, will host the call, which will be followed by a Q&A session.

Investors can join the call using the toll-free number 1-877-407-4018 or the international number 1-201-689-8471. A replay of the call will be available for approximately one week, ending on August 21, 2024, at 11:59 p.m. EDT. The replay can be accessed using the toll-free number 1-844-512-2921 or the international number 1-412-317-6671, with the replay pin 13747862.

IZEA Worldwide and its Australian subsidiary Hoozu have released the 2024 Australia edition of the 'Trust in Influencer Marketing' report. Key findings include:

- 46% of Australians have purchased products promoted by influencers
- 59% trust influencers' sponsored posts more than celebrities'
- 53% prefer influencer-created content over professional marketing
- 70% of 18-29 year-olds have bought products used by influencers
- 54% of 18-29 year-olds have purchased directly from social media apps

The report highlights the growing impact of influencer marketing in Australia, especially among younger demographics. It also reveals insights on social media usage, platform preferences, and the effectiveness of influencer marketing compared to traditional advertising methods.

IZEA Worldwide, Inc. (NASDAQ: IZEA), a leading influencer marketing technology provider, has announced the granting of 169,357 time-based restricted stock units (RSUs) under its 2023 Inducement Plan. This grant is connected to IZEA's recent acquisition of The Reiman Agency, which closed on July 24, 2024. The RSUs were awarded to Alden Reiman, Managing Director of The Reiman Agency, as part of his employment agreement with IZEA.

The RSU grant will vest over a three-year period, with one-third vesting after 12 months and the remaining two-thirds vesting in quarterly increments thereafter, contingent on Mr. Reiman's continued service. This grant was approved by IZEA's Compensation Committee and Board of Directors on July 22, 2024, and is compliant with NASDAQ Listing Rule 5635(c)(4) as an inducement for Mr. Reiman's employment with IZEA.

IZEA Worldwide, Inc. (NASDAQ: IZEA), a global leader in creator marketing, has acquired The Reiman Agency, an innovative sports and celebrity marketing firm. Alden Reiman, Founder and CEO of The Reiman Agency, has been appointed Managing Director at IZEA. Reiman brings extensive experience from his roles at Creative Artists Agency (CAA) and the National Football League (NFL).

The acquisition aims to expand IZEA's capabilities in sports and celebrity-based influencer marketing, particularly in light of the evolving NIL (Name, Image, and Likeness) landscape. IZEA CEO Ted Murphy emphasized the strategic importance of this move in capturing new opportunities across the Creator Economy. The financial terms of the transaction were not disclosed.

IZEA Worldwide, Inc. (NASDAQ: IZEA) has released its 'Influencer Aspirations' research report, revealing significant insights into the creator economy. 54% of consumers aged 18-60 would quit their jobs to become full-time influencers, while 26% of social media users already consider themselves influencers. The study, based on 1,217 U.S. social media users, found that 64% would accept payment from brands for product promotion on their social channels.

Key findings include: 44% of self-identified influencers have over 10,000 followers; those spending 5+ hours daily on social media are 4.4 times more likely to be compensated by brands; and influencers are 2.5 times more likely to post live video content than regular users. The report also highlights that 59% of influencers have full-time jobs, and they're 1.5 times more likely to be self-employed than general social media users.