Yatterbox originally started tracking 600 UK-based politicians, but now has over 4,000 influencers and Cicero plans to rapidly expand the platform to 25,000 people, to include every UK-based journalist, politician and important influencer, by the end of the year.

Yatterbox founder Matt Freckelton and CTO Mark Hudghton have joined Cicero as part of the deal and Cicero group chief executive Jeremy Swan (pictured) said the intelligence that could be gained through social media, whether for a FTSE-100 company or a week-old start-up, was only just being realised.

“There is no limit to where Yatterbox can go. Building on the hard work of the team since it launched nearly three years ago, I want the platform to become the number one social media tool for PR, communications and public affairs professionals,” he added.