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Make Yourself An Influencer By Playing The Klout +K Game

June 26, 2011 74 Comments
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A lot of people continue to talk about Klout and whether it’s something to take note of, or simply another tool that’s fun to use but doesn’t offer real value.

Personally, I’m in the second camp. Probably because I don’t feel you can measure influence purely by what you do online, and most definitely because there are so many variations that make up a single decision that – to me – it’s impossible to say what influenced that decision the most.

But whether you think Klout has value or not, it’s now a lot of fun – because you can game the system and show its flaws, and this is all done by one of Klout’s own tools, the new +K option.

The +K option allows you to vote for people’s expertise on a certain topic. The idea is, the more votes someone gets on a topic, the more recognized they are by Klout as an expert in that field. Which, as the video below shows, can lead to completely ridiculous results .

So, yeah – well done, Klout, for showing your flaws better than any critic could. Now that deserves a +K!

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Note: Big props to Dino Dogan for the idea of this mock interview to highlight how to game Klout.

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Filed Under: Influence, Insights, Marketing, Recommended Viewing, Social Media Tagged With: ,
About Danny

Danny Brown is Chief Technologist at ArCompany and an award-winning marketer and blogger. His blog is recognized as the #1 marketing blog in the world by HubSpot. Danny is also co-author of Influence Marketing: How to Create, Manage and Measure Brand Influencers in Social Media Marketing.

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Wes Towers@GraphicDesignMelbourne
Wes Towers@GraphicDesignMelbourne

Haven't really given Klout much thought. Judging from your post, it seems I am not missing out on much, am I? If I do join in on Klout and I'd be labeled as an authority on yaks, I'd probably be aching to go through the same interview you had with Dino Dogan.

Gotta give it to you and Dino though, mate. :) The video is a classic! Baaa, eh?

Danny
Danny

Haha, okay, it is now my mission to have you influential about yaks, mate. :)

Wes Towers
Wes Towers like.author.displayName 1 Like

Haven't really given Klout much thought. Judging from your post, it seems I am not missing out on much, am I? If I do join in on Klout and I'd be labeled as an authority on yaks, I'd probably be aching to go through the same interview you had with Dino Dogan.

Gotta give it to you and Dino though, mate. :) The video is a classic! Baaa, eh?

Wes Towers
Wes Towers

Haven't really given Klout much thought. Judging from your post, it seems I am not missing out on much, am I? If I do join in on Klout and I'd be labeled as an authority on yaks, I'd probably be aching to go through the same interview you had with Dino Dogan. Gotta give it to you and Dino though, mate. :) The video is a classic! Baaa, eh?

Danny
Danny

Haha, okay, it is now my mission to have you influential about yaks, mate. :)

Kim Davies
Kim Davies

Hi, Danny.

Watched the video over at Dino's and if my internet connection is not as slow as it was right now, would have watched it here all over again just for the fun of it. Loved the Baaa! at the end and of course, the steel wool. ;)

As I was telling Tammi, who wrote an article about Klout over at Ari's blog, I really don't mind checking it out. I even registered and saw my Klout score. I got a 41. And for someone new, I believe that is not so bad. But, will I work my ass off to increase my Klout score? Definitely not.

I interact with people online by commenting on their blogs or by retweeting their posts or sharing it on Facebook because I believe there is value in what I have read and I want to share this value to others. I'd like to actually gauge my social media influence by the kind of replies that I am getting from my comments and by the relationships that I am slowly building with the people I interact with often online.

No Klout score can tell me how my friendship with Kaarina Dillabough is blossoming (we both think we're soul sisters) or how I value Bill Dorman's loyalty to my posts. He visits and comments every time and my heart swells just by thinking about this special person. Or how I have placed Danny Brown, Gini Dietrich, Dino Dogan, John and Ameena Falchetto, Nitty Griddy and Brankica, among others on a pedestal because of how I learn so much from them. Or how my eyes just get all starry-eyed when they reply to my comments. :D

So, really, Klout is not all that bad. But, it's not that good either. It's in the between that could just very well be in the back of my drawer. ;)

Kim Davies
Kim Davies

Hi, Danny.

Watched the video over at Dino's and if my internet connection is not as slow as it was right now, would have watched it here all over again just for the fun of it. Loved the Baaa! at the end and of course, the steel wool. ;)

As I was telling Tammi, who wrote an article about Klout over at Ari's blog, I really don't mind checking it out. I even registered and saw my Klout score. I got a 41. And for someone new, I believe that is not so bad. But, will I work my ass off to increase my Klout score? Definitely not.

I interact with people online by commenting on their blogs or by retweeting their posts or sharing it on Facebook because I believe there is value in what I have read and I want to share this value to others. I'd like to actually gauge my social media influence by the kind of replies that I am getting from my comments and by the relationships that I am slowly building with the people I interact with often online.

No Klout score can tell me how my friendship with Kaarina Dillabough is blossoming (we both think we're soul sisters) or how I value Bill Dorman's loyalty to my posts. He visits and comments every time and my heart swells just by thinking about this special person. Or how I have placed Danny Brown, Gini Dietrich, Dino Dogan, John and Ameena Falchetto, Nitty Griddy and Brankica, among others on a pedestal because of how I learn so much from them. Or how my eyes just get all starry-eyed when they reply to my comments. :D

So, really, Klout is not all that bad. But, it's not that good either. It's in the between that could just very well be in the back of my drawer. ;)

Danny
Danny

You know, Kim, your comment is EXACTLY why social influence tools like Klout, PeerIndex and others will never be (to me, anyhoo) anywhere near as good as they want to be.

You simply can't gauge human reaction and interaction and sum it up with a few points. It's an unreal expectation, and doesn't take into account all the nuances that real human emotion has.

Thanks, miss!

Kim Davies
Kim Davies

Hi, Danny. Watched the video over at Dino's and if my internet connection is not as slow as it was right now, would have watched it here all over again just for the fun of it. Loved the Baaa! at the end and of course, the steel wool. ;) As I was telling Tammi, who wrote an article about Klout over at Ari's blog, I really don't mind checking it out. I even registered and saw my Klout score. I got a 41. And for someone new, I believe that is not so bad. But, will I work my ass off to increase my Klout score? Definitely not. I interact with people online by commenting on their blogs or by retweeting their posts or sharing it on Facebook because I believe there is value in what I have read and I want to share this value to others. I'd like to actually gauge my social media influence by the kind of replies that I am getting from my comments and by the relationships that I am slowly building with the people I interact with often online. No Klout score can tell me how my friendship with Kaarina Dillabough is blossoming (we both think we're soul sisters) or how I value Bill Dorman's loyalty to my posts. He visits and comments every time and my heart swells just by thinking about this special person. Or how I have placed Danny Brown, Gini Dietrich, Dino Dogan, John and Ameena Falchetto, Nitty Griddy and Brankica, among others on a pedestal because of how I learn so much from them. Or how my eyes just get all starry-eyed when they reply to my comments. :D So, really, Klout is not all that bad. But, it's not that good either. It's in the between that could just very well be in the back of my drawer. ;)

Danny
Danny

You know, Kim, your comment is EXACTLY why social influence tools like Klout, PeerIndex and others will never be (to me, anyhoo) anywhere near as good as they want to be. You simply can't gauge human reaction and interaction and sum it up with a few points. It's an unreal expectation, and doesn't take into account all the nuances that real human emotion has. Thanks, miss!

Warren
Warren

I haven't spent any time at all really looking at the klout scores (seems there are more analytics to track on a regular basis, than I have time to) but I see today I have a score of 62 (you're kicking my butt Danny :)

Does look like an interesting site though.
Another one is heardable.com (like I said, no shortage of analytics to watch/track/monitor

Hope your well Danny, and wish you all the best!

Warren
Warren

I haven't spent any time at all really looking at the klout scores (seems there are more analytics to track on a regular basis, than I have time to) but I see today I have a score of 62 (you're kicking my butt Danny :)

Does look like an interesting site though.
Another one is heardable.com (like I said, no shortage of analytics to watch/track/monitor

Hope your well Danny, and wish you all the best!

Danny
Danny

Hi Warren,

I'm obviously biased, mate, but I don't feel you're missing out on too much by not checking Klout regularly... ;-)

Warren
Warren

I haven't spent any time at all really looking at the klout scores (seems there are more analytics to track on a regular basis, than I have time to) but I see today I have a score of 62 (you're kicking my butt Danny :) Does look like an interesting site though. Another one is heardable.com (like I said, no shortage of analytics to watch/track/monitor Hope your well Danny, and wish you all the best!

Danny
Danny

Hi Warren, I'm obviously biased, mate, but I don't feel you're missing out on too much by not checking Klout regularly... ;-)

Nancy Davis
Nancy Davis

My son who is eight thinks your accent is not real Danny. :) "We leave the baby sheep alone cause that's naughty" pure gold! I almost spit out my water!

I am influential about New Jersey, Mazdas, and The Beatles. It really is a shame that Klout doesn't dig any deeper into what people actually blog about. Oh wait, that is actual work, silly me!

How nice would it be if we were influential in topics that are really near and dear to us?

Hopefully Klout will get it one day, but in the meantime, I won't hold my breath.

Nancy Davis
Nancy Davis

My son who is eight thinks your accent is not real Danny. :) "We leave the baby sheep alone cause that's naughty" pure gold! I almost spit out my water!

I am influential about New Jersey, Mazdas, and The Beatles. It really is a shame that Klout doesn't dig any deeper into what people actually blog about. Oh wait, that is actual work, silly me!

How nice would it be if we were influential in topics that are really near and dear to us?

Hopefully Klout will get it one day, but in the meantime, I won't hold my breath.

Danny
Danny

Hmm, looks like your son is onto my next topic of expertise - made up accents. ;-)

Gotta love the continued fascination with "social influence", eh miss? ;-)

Nancy Davis
Nancy Davis

My son who is eight thinks your accent is not real Danny. :) "We leave the baby sheep alone cause that's naughty" pure gold! I almost spit out my water! I am influential about New Jersey, Mazdas, and The Beatles. It really is a shame that Klout doesn't dig any deeper into what people actually blog about. Oh wait, that is actual work, silly me! How nice would it be if we were influential in topics that are really near and dear to us? Hopefully Klout will get it one day, but in the meantime, I won't hold my breath.

Danny
Danny

Hmm, looks like your son is onto my next topic of expertise - made up accents. ;-) Gotta love the continued fascination with "social influence", eh miss? ;-)

Bhaskar Sarma
Bhaskar Sarma

I actually checked out my Klout score after watching this video and found out that I am influential about law. Fancy that? In your face, law school grads who spend hours in the library and mock courtrooms.

I saw a person on Twitter bemoaning that on top of needing to keep up with SEO and FB/LI/Twitter she will now have to understand how +K and +1 works.After watching this video I can tick +K off that to-learn list.

Thank you mate

Danny
Danny

Hi there mate,

Law, eh? That'll really please my wife's friend who's halfway through a seven-year law school degree... ;-)

Bhaskar Sarma
Bhaskar Sarma

I actually checked out my Klout score after watching this video and found out that I am influential about law. Fancy that? In your face, law school grads who spend hours in the library and mock courtrooms. I saw a person on Twitter bemoaning that on top of needing to keep up with SEO and FB/LI/Twitter she will now have to understand how +K and +1 works.After watching this video I can tick +K off that to-learn list. Thank you mate

Danny
Danny

Hi there mate, Law, eh? That'll really please my wife's friend who's halfway through a seven-year law school degree... ;-)

Emily Leary
Emily Leary

This is brilliant!

I'm shocked they ever introduced K+. Such a bad move - makes the whole thing ridiculous and makes you doubt the credibility of the all Klout 'algorithms'.

Oddly, I checked my Klout topics a few days ago, and 'sheep' is one of my influence topics - is the word of sheep spreading??

Emily Leary
Emily Leary

This is brilliant!

I'm shocked they ever introduced K+. Such a bad move - makes the whole thing ridiculous and makes you doubt the credibility of the all Klout 'algorithms'.

Oddly, I checked my Klout topics a few days ago, and 'sheep' is one of my influence topics - is the word of sheep spreading??

Danny
Danny

Any time you introduce something that allows your friends to raise your alleged experience on something is ripe to be gamed. Nice move, Klout... ;-)

Emily Leary
Emily Leary

This is brilliant! I'm shocked they ever introduced K+. Such a bad move - makes the whole thing ridiculous and makes you doubt the credibility of the all Klout 'algorithms'. Oddly, I checked my Klout topics a few days ago, and 'sheep' is one of my influence topics - is the word of sheep spreading??

Danny
Danny

Any time you introduce something that allows your friends to raise your alleged experience on something is ripe to be gamed. Nice move, Klout... ;-)

Niall Harbison
Niall Harbison

Couldn't agree with you more and was just writing about it being bullshit last week. It's completely gameable and although it might improve in the future I just don't buy in to these sorts of numbers

Danny
Danny

When they can be gamed so easily (and so ridiculously) it does make you question their worth as they currently stand, mate - cheers!

Niall Harbison
Niall Harbison

Couldn't agree with you more and was just writing about it being bullshit last week. It's completely gameable and although it might improve in the future I just don't buy in to these sorts of numbers

Danny
Danny

When they can be gamed so easily (and so ridiculously) it does make you question their worth as they currently stand, mate - cheers!

tjang
tjang

hi Danny , it' me again
thanks for sharing your expertise and considerable sheep acumen with us,good job

tjang
tjang

hi Danny , it' me again thanks for sharing your expertise and considerable sheep acumen with us,good job

Danny
Danny

You're welcome, Tjang - hope the tips come in useful. ;-)

tjang
tjang

hi Danny , it' me again
thanks for sharing your expertise and considerable sheep acumen with us,good job

Danny
Danny

You're welcome, Tjang - hope the tips come in useful. ;-)

Mimi Meredith
Mimi Meredith

I loved this video. Love the point. But mostly, I'm so glad to hear someone address head on the origins...and dangers...of raising those sheep that produce the steel wool.

Danny
Danny

It's caught many people out for centuries, Mimi. To be honest, I'm expecting a call from The Cultural Organization of Sheep Ticklers any day now to discuss more... may have to lay low for a while. ;-)

Mimi Meredith
Mimi Meredith

I loved this video. Love the point. But mostly, I'm so glad to hear someone address head on the origins...and dangers...of raising those sheep that produce the steel wool.

Danny
Danny

It's caught many people out for centuries, Mimi. To be honest, I'm expecting a call from The Cultural Organization of Sheep Ticklers any day now to discuss more... may have to lay low for a while. ;-)

Clay
Clay

I'm not a big fan of these types of rating systems. Too easy for friends to run your score up or for people who have a lack of understanding on a topic to rate someone as an expert.

Klout. I guess deliberately misspelling the word makes it sound more social?

The only clout I need is this: "Hey Danny, do you know a good copywriter?" "Sure! I have a mate in Tennessee, let me get you his phone number."

Clay
Clay

I'm not a big fan of these types of rating systems. Too easy for friends to run your score up or for people who have a lack of understanding on a topic to rate someone as an expert.

Klout. I guess deliberately misspelling the word makes it sound more social?

The only clout I need is this: "Hey Danny, do you know a good copywriter?" "Sure! I have a mate in Tennessee, let me get you his phone number."

Danny
Danny

Funny you mention that, mate - speaking to someone next week about a content project. :)

And yes - bastardizing a word gives you immediate cudos. ;-)

Clay
Clay

I'm not a big fan of these types of rating systems. Too easy for friends to run your score up or for people who have a lack of understanding on a topic to rate someone as an expert. Klout. I guess deliberately misspelling the word makes it sound more social? The only clout I need is this: "Hey Danny, do you know a good copywriter?" "Sure! I have a mate in Tennessee, let me get you his phone number."

Danny
Danny

Funny you mention that, mate - speaking to someone next week about a content project. :) And yes - bastardizing a word gives you immediate cudos. ;-)

Trackbacks

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