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  • redheadmeag Facebook

    redheadmeag | Monday, December 12, 2011 6 Comments

    Klout, schmout

    In the last few weeks, there’s been a lot of negative backlash directed at Klout, based on an algorithm change that caused a lot of people’s scores to plummet. As for me, I’ve been a skeptic since I got my first Klout score. Now, I’m no Ashton Kutcher (gratefully) but I’ve been on Twitter for nearly 4 years and consider myself something of a Twitterholic. Imagine my surprise when I got my Klout score -– a meager 30- – and learned that I’m considered “influential” about…real estate?

    Real estate? A happy renter that’s never even been to an open-house, I can’t imagine in what universe I’d be considered knowledgeable on the subject, let alone influential. (Editorial side note – a recent check of my Klout score now has me influential about PR, family and Massachusetts…perhaps thanks to those recent algorithm changes? More info in this article from Adweek: http://www.adweek.com/news/technology/klout-faces-foes-136721)

    As our collective consciousness has evolved past the “my follower/friend count defines my SM self worth” stage of evolution (see posts from Ginny Pitcher and Chris Brogan for more on that), I think we all look for some metrics that will define our status as “rock star.” (I’ve always been a fan of HubSpot’s continuously evolving Twitter Grader –- perhaps because it gives me an A+?) Tools like Klout can either be validation, or useful for those starting out to figure out if they’re “doing it right.” I’m not so sure that Klout is an effective tool for either of those situations.

    A recent post by Hollis Tibbetts on SocialMediaToday has a nice little case study on “gaming” Klout that I think is a pretty clear illustration of what (IMO) is wrong with the service: http://socialmediatoday.com/softwarehollis/385964/exposed-klout-scores-still-garbage-after-all-these-days.

    Maybe my 30 isn’t so bad? Some interesting insights in this piece: “Why I deleted my Klout profile,” (check out the insights under #6), http://socialmediatoday.com/pammoore/389381/why-i-deleted-my-klout-profile

    With the advent of +Ks, I think there’s a chance that Klout’s “influencer” metrics may be improved by some user-generated control. While the site is still technically in beta, I’ll look to see continued improvement that makes what they’re measuring more meaningful. I wonder if by the time they get there, though, anyone will consider it so.

    What’s your Klout score? Are you a fan of the service?

  • http://twitter.com/linaroque Lina Roque

    Completely agree. I have been very skeptical of Klout, especially since I have a good following and quality interactions for some time! Hopefully they improve.

  • http://twitter.com/RedHeadMeag Meagan Shaffer

    Congrats on your 46, Lina! (ever think you’d get congratulated on an F? Or that you’d ever get one when you rock??) Agreed, they have a ways to go -thanks for commenting!! 

  • Ezzylanguzzi

    I don’t totally buy into it, but it’s fun to “play.” Miss you, Girl.

  • Laura

    I like the fact that I did one tweet about Steve Jobs and iHeaven - which got retweeted 3 times, and suddenly I was an “expert” in Steve Jobs and in Heaven according to Klout. ;)  

  • http://twitter.com/RedHeadMeag Meagan Shaffer

    Hey Ez!! Miss you, too!! How close are you to being published? ;-)  

  • http://twitter.com/RedHeadMeag Meagan Shaffer

    Well, geeze Laura – with 3 RTs, you practically are! ;-) That’s a pretty spot-on example of just how under-developed the “behind the scenes” stuff they have actually is.