Assessing Our Klout

Until Monday, Klout’s clout came from many social influencers who consider the tracking tool a meaningful measure of importance. Yesterday it was announced that VCs with clout bought more Klout while giving the company $8.5 million in new funding http://www.mediapost.com/publications/?fa=Articles.showArticle&art_aid=142689. Who are we to doubt VC powerhouse Kleiner Perkins Caufield & Byer? But all of us who are spending even a little time in social circles wonder about our clout  -- or lack thereof. And consistently we have found that no tracking company has produced the definitive measures we desire. I’m nearing 1,000 followers on Twitter (@jeffhasen). Beyond tracking the growth that way, I can point to the many relationships that have been created with people worldwide, not to mention the business contacts established with folks from Fortune 100 companies in the States. Where do I sit on Klout? Giving me a score of 49, Klout.com says the following: Jeff Hasen is an Explorer You actively engage in the social web, constantly trying out new ways to interact and network. You're exploring the ecosystem and making it work for you. Your level of activity and engagement shows that you "get it", we predict you'll be moving up. A 49 means what? I’m not sure. For perspective, Best Buy’s CMO Barry Judge, known as an active social media influencer, has a 54. Political consultant Joe Trippi comes in at 51. The Moments of Trust Implications of Klout: Admirably, Klout doesn’t claim to be the end-all. On its site, it says Klout isn’t about figuring out who is on the “A-list.” We believe that every person who creates content has influence. Our mission is to help every individual understand and leverage their influence. With those words, Klout has attempted to lower the expectations. But VCs are VCs so the expectations are now raised.