You may have an idea about what Klout is, and you may know it is important. However, most of the experts simply say that Klout is important and leave you trying to figure out the “why” part of the question.
Klout measures the accumulation of your influence on your social networks. That means the more social networks you add, the higher your Klout score goes. According to these statistics which occasionally change, the average Klout score is 40 while having a Klout score of 63 or better would put you in to Top 5% of Klout.
People love to see big numbers. The motivational speaker with 100,000 followers and the big blue check mark is going to get more opportunities than the motivational speaker with 10,000 followers and no big blue check mark. Klout score is popular because it goes beyond the number of followers someone has in order to identify how influential someone is.
More people than ever are paying attention to Klout score. Sam Fiorella did not make the interview process for a job just because his Klout score was a 34. The company ended up hiring someone who had a Klout score of 67. Having a higher Klout score also means more perks. I received the Klout Perk from Geico which was an oversized GEICO gecko and a signed picture of the gecko with a thumbs up.
Besides getting free stuff and getting the job, there are other ways that having a high Klout score is beneficial. For entrepreneurs who do not plan on applying for a job, having a higher Klout score will expose you to more webinars, public speaking events, and a more loyal fan base. The entrepreneurs that we know very well also happen to be the entrepreneurs with the high Klout scores.
Klout score is important towards identifying how influential someone is on the web. At the time of writing this blog post, my Klout score is currently 64, but my score changes periodically.
Hi Marc, I commented on this article a couple of years ago, and with moving my wife’s business URL to http://www.anniescloset.co.uk now, (without the hyphen), I’ve been good trying to move the links from the old site to the new. I read above in 2015 that you say “some people say that klout is dead” … How is it viewed now in 2016 ?
Cheers,
Klout isn’t what it used to be. At one point I remember checking my Klout score like I check my earnings, but then it became less popular. You can still access your Klout score, but the score itself doesn’t make a difference in your credibility. The Klout score is an acknowledgement of pre-existing credibility. You don’t become influential because of a high Klout score. You have a high Klout score because you are influential.
I did get a free Geico Gecko from Klout Perks so I can say my time on Klout was worth it 😉
Really didn’t know anything about Klout. Signed up and have an initial score of 45. I do like how you can schedule and share tweets. Thanks for the info Marc!
My pleasure Robert. Some would argue that Klout is dead but I believe it is still valuable.
I completely agree Marc. As your post suggests, often the main metric used is “Likes” or “Followers” when, in reality, that is simply a piece of the puzzle. If a company is truly looking to evaluate perceived engagement or the level of influence a person holds, the Klout score is a much better metric than the previously mentioned metrics alone. I hope that the Klout score continues to grow in its usage as I do think it is a key piece of the puzzle (and I find it intriguing). As a side note, you and I appear to share the same Klout score (64).
Thank you Kim. I am happy to hear that you still use Klout. Klout is fantastic since it measures more than the sheer numbers. Numbers are good, but the problem is that some people can buy their way to the top on many social platforms. Klout addresses engagement which fake followers can’t generate, and tools like TwitterAudit give us the power to know if a brand bought fake followers. Being honest is the best policy. Too bad not everyone follows it.
I’ve been doing as much marketing for my wife’s business http://www.annies-closet.co.uk and have just got a klout score of 61. How can I push on from this to hit the 70’s and really get the business flying ? Thanks
My recommendation would be to get more involved on multiple social networks but still focus most of your time on growing one social platform. It is also important to learn new and implement techniques along the way. The most important thing is to be patient and love the journey.
Informative post ! My Klout score is 77 you can check at https://klout.com/amithpanchal !
Thank you Amit. I’m glad to hear that you enjoyed the article, and congrats on the high Klout score.
My score runs into the mid to late 50’s. How can I use this?
Tell people you are influential on social media because you have a high Klout score.
I found out my score is 42. Is that good or…?
The average Klout score is 40 making you above average.
Very interesting article. I checked my Klout score and it was 62. Apparently I’m doing something right!
You are doing something very right! A Klout score of 64 would put you in the top 5%. What are the social networks you utilize the most?
Thanks. I just joined Klout and will have to pay attention to this.
OK, OK… I just endorsed you! 😉