IZEA, Inc. (OTCQB: IZEA), operator of the premier online marketplace that connects brands with influential content creators, announced today the creation of content sales programs with newspapers across the country. Under the new initiative, IZEA is expanding its relationships with news organizations by providing content marketing and native advertising production services.
Newspapers have traditionally used IZEA’s Virtual Newsroom service for the creation of editorial content via vetted journalists in the IZEA network. The new program enables local and national newspaper sales representatives to offer their clients content programs both on and off site.
“We are working with progressive newspapers to reimagine the services they can provide advertising clients, while leveraging their unique role in the content space,” said Bill Momary, SVP of Content at IZEA. “This solution allows newspapers to offer high quality native advertising content for placement on their own property, as well as content for client-owned mini-sites, blogs or other marketing efforts.”
Under the new initiative, IZEA has recently started a pilot program with one of the nation’s top five newspapers. The newspaper has over 500 sales representatives serving both national and local advertising clients. IZEA has introduced similar initiatives at various stages of implementation with 45 different newspaper publishers ranging in size.
“The flexibility of IZEA’s offering is a key component of the value equation for news organizations,” said Rusty Coats, Executive Director of The Local Media Consortium, an organization that includes more than 1,600 newspapers, TV and radio stations, and drives millions of dollars in digital revenues. “Editorial departments are not designed or staffed to develop content for native advertising or customer owned assets. IZEA creates an opportunity for local media outlets to leverage their advertiser relationships and generate additional revenue through content marketing services.”
