Cision buys ShareIQ visual recognition tech

The acquisition will allow Cision’s clients to track, analyse and attribute the value of visual content such as images posted to sites like Instagram.

The technology recognises brand images and logos, those either uploaded by brands or users, across all social and digital channels. It can also be used to create custom segments of audiences who have viewed, liked or shared specific types of images.

The financial terms of the deal were not disclosed. The move follows Cision’s acquisition of media measurement and analysis firm Prime Research at the beginning of the year.

Kevin Akeroyd, chief executive at Cision, said: "With more than three billion images uploaded to the web each day and more than 95 million images added to channels like Instagram daily, earned media is becoming increasingly visual."

Adding visual recognition technology to Cision’s offer will help marketers to "harness the business impact of the visual content market", Akeroyd added.