Dear Klout: you’re right. My Klout has had better days. I don’t have problems with you changing the way you create scores — transparency is good. But considering it’s that change that made my score drop dramatically, perhaps from a PR standpoint, you might want to drop that particular phrase from the dashboard for the next week or so, huh?
The status above is something I posted on Facebook, after logging into Klout and realizing that like so many others, my score had dropped.
Klout says the change is a result of an updated algorithm, and admits that while many people will be disappointed, it’s an effort to be more accurate and transparent (see “A More Accurate, Transparent Klout Score“).
I’m a Klout fan, and I’ve told you why before. I’m a fan even in the face of some very good anti-Klout arguments from big brains; I think there’s validity to the idea that despite its efforts, Klout does not factor in some key items like blog reach and offline influence.
But my biggest problem with the change is that for all of the accuracy it claims, some of the key measurements seem to be less valuable.
For example, my “true reach” score plummeted:
And my immediate influence network no longer includes:
- my mother
- my husband
- a close colleague
Unless there’s something they’re not telling me, I think I’m still pretty influential with them.
Does it really matter? Maybe not. I like my perks, and many of them have come because I had a score of over 60. I like being featured as someone to follow on Klout and other networks, and it’s been helpful professionally to have a high score. I have included my Klout score in my press and sponsorship kits for the blog, and it will be a shame to have to send this new score out.
About Katy
I’m so confused by the changes. It was pretty drastic for me too. I think mine dropped by something like 7 points!
Tina @ Faith Fitness Fun recently posted..Something New
I have never heard of Klout.
Christina @ Just Running recently posted..Why I Like Racing
Am I the only person whose Klout went up with the new calculation?
deb roby recently posted..I have finished the move.
i just signed up for klout & am working on understanding it. i think i signed up after they made the change (just signed up 2 days ago?), but i’d be bummed to see the score go down even though YOU didn’t change anything!
sarah (sarah learns) recently posted..groovin’
I do use Klout, and I think it is another new and interesting social media tool. However, I think this whole score debacle kind of made me realize that numbers are not the be all and end all of what matters. Ok, I didn’t really think that anyways, but I did find myself going on every day, +K-ing people and hoping people would +K me. Then my score dropped…a lot. I think this whole situation made me realize that even thought Klout doesn’t think I’m “influential” to whatever amount or reach of people anymore, I think I am. I think people should learn from this that even thought you have 5,356 Facebook friends or 3,304 Twitter followers…or whatever…it doesn’t mean that you should let those numbers run your life and tell you how good you are. Of course, for most of us, this is easier said than done.
Kelly recently posted..Perfect Chocolate Chip Cookies
My klout page won’t even load anymore!
Coco recently posted..Your Speed
My score seems to have jumped quite a bit, but I really don’t understand the site.
Jen@FoodFamilyFitness recently posted..Comparing
Mine dropped by about 5 points as well. It’s bugging me and, like Tina, I don’t quite understand the changes.
Lauren @ Forward is a Pace recently posted..Thankful Things Thursday: On Soccer, Jack-o-Lanterns, and Glow in the Dark Medals
I had to admit I wigged out when I dropped 8 points! and I do NOT understand the changes…. blah
Tara Burner recently posted..J. Fein Designs- Artisian Crafted Eco-Friendly Jewelry Review
I think Klout is only as valuable as companies perceive it to be. While it was definitely the market leader in influence measurement before, it will be interesting to see how companies look at it now–will they still put stock in it? Will they change their standards to go with the new measure?
The fact that they’ve changed the scores retroactively is also semi-troubling/annoying.
I’m lost…I have no idea what Klout is. I bet if I search your blog, there will be a past post about it though
Brooke recently posted..DIY Wedding Series: Personlized Dress Hangers
Boo! My Klout dropped from 60 to 44… and I no longer influence @CFLBlogCon (which I manage! Ha!) so I’m just going to stop promoting it on my marketing pieces. As far as I can tell, they did not get this “adjustment” correct.
Bess Auer recently posted..Watering the Bushes
My score went up.
It seems like the scores are using Facebook more than they did before. That would be my guess for my score going up.
Dina recently posted..Half Marathon Training Week 12 In Review
I wouldn’t say that I am “using” Klout, although I do log in from time to time, I still find it so confusing!
Kat @ living like the kings recently posted..FF – Pins
My Klout score dropped DRAMATICALLY! From a 64 to 49! It’s very possible because since my facebook account is personal and my employer sees it, not using facebook all day long to post updates and such caused my score to drop. These days I’m stating to think of klout as a big ol’ measure of internet addiction. My score has fallen steadily because I’m not sharing as much – does that mean my audience is less influenced? I doubt it, so for me I think of it as a measure of my addiction and I’m kinda glad to see the score dropping – it means I’m influencing the people that matter most in my life – my kids, family & friends.
Janice – The Fitness Cheerleader recently posted..Motivation Monday: First Week of Training