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Press Release

liveBooks secures $5 million in funding from strategic and private investors

Company introduces subscription-based pricing and predesigned websites delivered through SaaS.
Aligns strategic partners to expand into the graphic design, interior design and other new markets

San Francisco – Nov 2, 2009 - liveBooks, Inc.,

(www.livebooks.com) the leading provider of award-winning websites that allow creative professionals to promote and manage their businesses online, today announced that it has secured $5 million in funding from strategic and private investors to allow the company to expand into new markets and create more flexible and affordable payment and design options for its customers.

liveBooks has a history of creating beautifully designed and easy-to-manage Web sites for the world’s top photographers, such as Chris Rainier, National Geographic Photographic Fellow, Nature photographer, and host of PBS’s “Adventures to the Edge”, Art Wolfe and celebrity Photographer Harry Benson. As well as more than 7000 other photographers and creative professionals.

With this funding, liveBooks is expanding its offering in three significant ways;

1. lowering the cost of entry to the liveBooks suite, so removing the barrier of upfront commitment
2. entering new creative professional markets such as graphic design and interior design, so that many more professionals can benefit
3. extending the functionality of the offers to go beyond simple portfolio sites to sites designed to manage the business of the creative professional

“While liveBooks has developed a sterling reputation in the photography industry, it is clear that anybody who is selling something visual in nature and who wants to ensure that their unique brand is manifested on the internet can benefit immensely from a liveBooks site,” said Laura Shore, Senior Vice President of Communications at Mohawk Fine Papers. “Our partnership with liveBooks is an important component of our own stated direction; to expand our sphere of influence beyond paper products to incorporate a 360 degree focus on related products and services to the graphics industry. We are delighted to be working with liveBooks and look forward to a mutually beneficial partnership.”

The cash infusion further allows liveBooks to offer more flexible payment and design options to its customers through the introduction of predesigned sites and subscription pricing. For customers who want the benefits of liveBooks’ proven design expertise and intuitive site administration in a more affordable package, the company is now offering an unrivaled array of predesigned themes and layout options with subscriptions priced at $39 a month. liveBooks is also extending this pricing flexibility to its customized design customers who want completely unique sites that are both visually stunning and true manifestations of their brands. Single customized sites will require a one-time design fee plus subscription charge.

“liveBooks’ website platform empowers professional photographers with the tools they need to easily and successfully leverage the power of the internet to run their businesses. At a time where many creative professionals in all disciplines are facing job cuts and finding making a sustainable living increasingly difficult, the new liveBooks offering, which is at a price that even a student can afford, will be a saving grace. It gives me optimistic hope for the future of the independent creative as a profession.” said Chris Rainier, Photographic Fellow for National Geographic.

“We’re extremely proud that our work has helped professional photographers grow their businesses over the past five years and we remain committed to delivering exceptional designs and customer service to the photographic community,” said Andy Patrick, CEO and president of liveBooks. “This financing allows us to take advantage of the significant growth opportunity in other creative markets who have similar business needs to photographers. This, together with the implementation of the more scalable, SaaS and subscription-based business model, presents our customers with more affordable options in these difficult economic times.”

liveBooks, incorporated in 2005, quickly became well known for developing and delivering customized websites that allow professional photographers to easily manage their online presence with an intuitive drag-and-drop interface and advanced search marketing tools. The 70-person company currently has key offices in Romania and San Francisco, California, with satellites on the East Coast and London.

For information about liveBooks, visit www.livebooks.com or call (888) 833-4605.

About liveBooks

liveBooks, Inc. provides award-winning websites that serve as a business hub to help professionals in creative industries like photography, graphic design, interior design, save time, promote their businesses and make more money. The company works with an extensive ecosystem of advisors, partners and consultants to deliver unrivalled products, services, partner applications and customer experiences through the powerful combination of small-business acumen, award-winning designs, a scalable platform, and extensible architecture. liveBooks has a commitment to customer success through design leadership, business integrity, and its belief in the power of image and creativity to enable social change.

Media contact:

Marci J. Hait
Matter Communications
978-499-9250 Ext. 238
livebooks@matternow.com

liveBooks secures $5 million in funding from strategic and private investors is a post from My Stock Photography that suggests Dreamstime - Several thousands free images added to our free stock photos collection

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