Vocus reported a $3.7M loss for the fourth quarter of 2012 after heavy investment in its sales force, while revenue jumped 54% to $47.1M for the period over 2011.

For the full year, the PR and marketing software provider, which plunked down $169M last year to acquire email marketer iContact, said its net loss widen to $23.6M, up from $14.6M a year earlier, while revenue was up 49% to $170.8M.

Vocus, which plans to raise prices during the first quarter, said it added more than 200 sales reps during 2012 for a total of 489. Sales and marketing costs jumped from $57.5M in 2011 to nearly $98M in 2012.

The company said it ended 2012 with 16,494 active annual subscription customers.

CEO Rick Rudman called Q4 a "strong quarter," pointing to gains in customer numbers -- 1,363 net new subscribers, compared with 1,052 a year earlier -- and demand for its marketing suite.

Vocus expects 2013 revenue from $200.3M to $201.8M.