What is Klout?
Klout is a application built to measure a person's influence across all social media platforms. Currently including Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn, Google+, Foursquare, YouTube, Instagram, Blogger, Tumblr, WordPress, Last.fm and Flickr, it compiles all posts, comments and shares into an algorithm that gives you a score from 1 to 100. And if you work in social media, you better hope you land somewhere toward the top.
In an article from Wired, they tell the story of Sam Florella--a fifteen-year consultant who had worked with major brands such as AOL, Ford and Kraft. During his interview at a large Toronto marketing agency they requested his Klout score. He admitted he didn't know what that even was. So, they pulled up the website and discovered across his social networks he had a Klout score of 34. The interview didn't last long after that.
Klout is also being used by retailers. According that same article from Wired, the Palms Casino Resort in Las Vegas had clerks look up customer's Klout scores upon check in last summer and high scorers received instant upgrades. After the so called "Klout experiment" the Palms went from being 17th-largest in social networking among Las Vegas casinos to third on Facebook and one of the highest among Klout users.
And this is just the beginning. In February, Salesforce.com introduced a service to monitor client Klout scores. A service that undoubtedly could result in quicker and more personal attention to those with higher social media presence.
Criticisms
As mentioned before, Klout is not without its critics. Not only for the method of breaking down complex online networks into one simple number but also for its societal effect. By quantifying these interactions many consider it a devaluation of human interaction. British author Charles Stross in his blog calls Klout "the Internet equivelant of herpes." Another author, this time American John Scalzi, considers Klout to be "socially evil."
While quantifying someone's influence may seem a bit barbaric, it is the business of measurable social media. And this business pays. In many ways Klout is merely identifying people we already knew to exist--opinion leaders--and the easier to find them, the easier to use them (or become them). So quit tweaking with your resume and open a browser. It's time to check your Klout score.
Klout is also being used by retailers. According that same article from Wired, the Palms Casino Resort in Las Vegas had clerks look up customer's Klout scores upon check in last summer and high scorers received instant upgrades. After the so called "Klout experiment" the Palms went from being 17th-largest in social networking among Las Vegas casinos to third on Facebook and one of the highest among Klout users.
And this is just the beginning. In February, Salesforce.com introduced a service to monitor client Klout scores. A service that undoubtedly could result in quicker and more personal attention to those with higher social media presence.
Criticisms
As mentioned before, Klout is not without its critics. Not only for the method of breaking down complex online networks into one simple number but also for its societal effect. By quantifying these interactions many consider it a devaluation of human interaction. British author Charles Stross in his blog calls Klout "the Internet equivelant of herpes." Another author, this time American John Scalzi, considers Klout to be "socially evil."
While quantifying someone's influence may seem a bit barbaric, it is the business of measurable social media. And this business pays. In many ways Klout is merely identifying people we already knew to exist--opinion leaders--and the easier to find them, the easier to use them (or become them). So quit tweaking with your resume and open a browser. It's time to check your Klout score.
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