Linkfluence Buys Chinese Social Media Analyst

European social media intelligence provider Linkfluence has acquired Chinese competitor ActSocial. Terms of the deal were not disclosed.

Founded in 2008, Shanghai and Singapore-based ActSocial combines a base of more than 100,000 peer influencers with social media CRM technology, to enable brands to tap into word-of-mouth feedback, and drive sales. The firm offers two products to enable brands to understand word-of-mouth: ActSocial Free and ActSocial Pro.

Linkfluence says the buy makes it the first European social media intelligence company to combine a Chinese team of data scientists based in Shanghai with an Asian team of social media researchers dedicated to turning data into strategic insights. The deal should enhance its ability to support international clients via a network of offices in the UK, Germany, France, China and Singapore.

Linkfluence CEO Hervé Simonin (pictured) says the deal sends 'a strong signal to the social media intelligence market'. He comments: 'ActSocial is a well-established business in China, helping major international brands to make the most of the Asian social web. This strategic acquisition supports our clients on a global scale'.

Web sites: www.linkfluence.com and www.actsocial.com .