The WeReward Engineering team will be deploying an update this evening to the WeReward database in preparation for a mobile release later this week.

The new release includes several layout updates and fixes for the Patron Portal, a fix for the IOS 5 ‘Swipe to Checkin’ crash, and a lot of ground work for updated polls and downloads.

The release will start at 8pm ET and we expect it to be complete by 9pm ET.

On Friday, the Engineering team intends to submit another update that will correct some less serious formatting issues and will also include several enhancements, such as improved GPS speed/accuracy, as well as decreased memory usage and faster initial load times.

IZEA Holdings, Inc. (IZEA:OTCBB), the world leader in social media sponsorships, today announced the release of WeReward Insights, a new survey feature for its WeReward mobile rewards application that allows consumers to earn money from brands by performing real-world actions with their mobile device.

Through WeReward Insights, advertisers can offer surveys to segments of the WeReward app user base. WeReward holds a wide range of opt-in demographic data, such as purchasing habits at stores and restaurants, which can be analyzed and aggregated. The secure, anonymous data is then available to brands as a detailed, real-time snapshot of their targeted users.

“Brands and consumers directly benefit through the use of WeReward Insights,” said Ted Murphy, Chief Executive Officer. “Advertisers gain unprecedented visibility into the demographics of the respondents because the platform provides them with aggregated information about purchasing, opinions, location, and mobile task behaviors. Consumers that complete surveys are given another way to earn cash rewards for only a few minutes of their time. Our WeReward ecosystem offers the biggest variety of rewards for people to earn money for checking into places, using products, downloading mobile apps, and now completing surveys.”

Brands can set their own WeReward point amounts for each survey, which are placed into the user’s account upon completion. Each point is worth one penny, and users can transfer their points to real cash at set intervals to PayPal accounts.

“Ever time a user contributes information, it makes WeReward Insights smarter and more valuable to our client-partners,” said Ryan Schram, Chief Marketing Officer. “We can tell you if Democrats prefer Starbucks or Dunkin Donuts or if iPhone owners are more eco-conscious than their Android counterparts. The entirety of this data enables businesses to better understand their customer, and in turns, helps them to make more powerful marketing decisions.”

The WeReward mobileapp is currently available to iPhone and Android device users. Businesses and consumers can also signup at www.wereward.com.

About IZEA
IZEA Holdings, Inc., (“IZEA”) is a world leader in social media sponsorship, operating multiple marketplaces including WeReward, SponsoredTweets, and SocialSpark. IZEA connects advertisers with social media publishers, helping them monetize their social media presence. The company has completed over 2,000,000 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. Please read the full statement and disclosures here: http://izea.com/safe-harbor-statement

For an overview of how the platform works watch the video below:

With this update, we also added a few new measures to combat fraud in the system which include limiting the accounts per device to two and requiring a unique PayPal address for each WeReward account.

Unfortunately, the initial release of this locked the accounts with a duplicated PayPal address and did not allow you to log in.

After a bit of discussion with the Engineers, we made the decision to delete all of the duplicate PayPal addresses out of the database which will allow you access your accounts and re-add this information once you are ready to cash out again.

At that time, if the address you enter has already been taken, you will then be able to add a different address.

We believe this should alleviate the current issues.  However, if you have any additional trouble, feel free to open a support ticket via your app by clicking the ‘Accounts’ tab at the bottom right and then on the ‘info’ button at the top left of that page to get to the ‘feedback’ button.

Development for BlackBerry is more expensive and cumbersome than other mobile operating systems. We have invested a lot of time and money developing the WeReward BlackBerry app, but at the end of the day the operating system and phones themselves make it extremely difficult if not impossible to create the experience we want to. I know we are not alone in our frustration developing for BlackBerry, I believe it is one of the reasons that BlackBerry is losing market share.

BlackBerry users account for about 1% of our user base. They are much less active on a daily basis than their iPhone and Android counterparts. We will be sad to see these users go, but we believe the best use of our resources is to create the best iOS and Android experiences we can for now.

The WeReward for BlackBerry App will no longer function after September 30,2011. You will see BlackBerry removed from our site between now and then.

If you have a BlackBerry and you aren’t ready to upgrade your phone there is still hope. WeReward will soon available as a website, with different types of tasks that can be completed independent of a phone.

In connection with the merger, the Company raised $3,300,000 through the sale of common stock and warrants completed May 12, 2011. The private placement was priced at $10,000 per unit, with each unit consisting of 30,303 shares of common stock and a warrant to purchase of 18,182 shares of common stock at an exercise price of $0.50 per share. The warrants are exercisable for a period of five years from the date of issuance. After accounting for the merger and financings, the Company currently has 44,939,384 shares of common stock outstanding.

“This represents a major milestone for our company”, said Ted Murphy, CEO of IZEA. “I am pleased to have completed this transaction, as it enables us to broaden our investor base and create a liquid market for our stock. As a publicly-traded company, we believe that we will be in a better position to take advantage of the growing opportunities emerging in our industry.”

The financing will be used primarily for expansion of IZEA’s outside sales and marketing operations in target markets. “We have spent the last few years focused on the development of our technology platforms and building our publisher network. The company is now in a position to more aggressively expand our strategic sales efforts with agencies and brands,” said Murphy.

Rodman & Renshaw, LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Rodman & Renshaw Capital Group, Inc. (NASDAQ: RODM), acted as financial advisor in connection with the private placement.

This press release does not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy nor will there be any sale of these securities in any state or jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful prior to registration or qualification under the securities laws of such state or jurisdiction.

IZEA has filed a Current Report on Form 8-K with the Securities and Exchange Commission describing in more detail the terms of the share exchange agreement and the private placement.

About IZEA

IZEA Holdings, Inc., (“IZEA”) is a world leader in social media sponsorship, operating multiple marketplaces including WeReward, SponsoredTweets, and SocialSpark. IZEA connects advertisers with social media publishers, helping them monetize their social media presence. The company has completed over 2,000,000 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, particularly as related to, among other things, the business plans of the Company, statements relating to goals, plans and projections regarding the Company’s financial position and business strategy. The words or phrases “would be,” “will allow,” “intends to,” “may result,” “are expected to,” “will continue,” “anticipates,” “expects,” “estimate,” “project,” “indicate,” “could,” “potentially,” “should,” “believe,” “think”, “considers” or similar expressions are intended to identify “forward-looking statements.” These forward-looking statements fall within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Act of 1934 and are subject to the safe harbor created by these sections. Actual results could differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking statements as a result of a number of risks and uncertainties. Such forward-looking statements are based on current expectations, involve known and unknown risks, a reliance on third parties for information, transactions or orders that may be cancelled, and other factors that may cause our actual results, performance or achievements, or developments in our industry, to differ materially from the anticipated results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from anticipated results include risks and uncertainties related to the fluctuation of global economic conditions, the performance of management and our employees, our ability to obtain financing, competition, general economic conditions and other factors that are detailed in our periodic reports and on documents we file from time to time with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Statements made herein are as of the date of this press release and should not be relied upon as of any subsequent date. The Company cautions readers not to place undue reliance on such statements. The Company does not undertake, and the Company specifically disclaims any obligation, to update any forward-looking statements to reflect occurrences, developments, unanticipated events or circumstances after the date of such statement. Actual results may differ materially from the Company’s expectations and estimates.

If you weren’t around, and for those Oinkers located in other parts of the US and the world, you can take a peek here:

Keep an eye…errr ear to the ground. You never know when we might have an opportunity in your area, and need the help of some local Oinkers.