In the best Twitter conversation I have ever had, Olivier Blanchard (@thebrandbuilder), myself and others had one of the most intriguing conversations. We realized that while there’s some sort of “algorithm” that tells us how influential we are, where’s the true, realistic value that yields an almost tangible result?
Klout is full of it
Like it or not, Klout is math. It measures, analyzes, and then shows you a result. But what is it measuring? How can one single Tweet have a value to it because it was retweeted 15 times, or replied to with a witty answer? Simply put, it can’t. The value of a relationship, of an interaction, has a fallout that is immeasurable. Let me put it this way: Over the course of about an hour and a half the thoughts that were exchanged have built a level of communication that in the future could hold more for me or Olivier than what happened in just that time. This blog post may yield some clicks on an affiliate link or a Google Ad, or maybe even reach someone willing to employ me. Can Klout measure those repercussions? Yeah…no, they can’t.
@desertronin said:
But digital influence is like a mirage, I may be known by a certain segment, but there’s a good chance that I’ll ever be able to move them to buy a product, give to a charity, start any meaningful action.
I couldn’t have said better. But to him my answer was that the people that we meet first-hand, in person and have held a conversation with become the people that influence us or that we influence; Klout can’t measure that. We are better off using the smaller communities that we are a part of to get a message out to those with whom we have mutual trust.
Gaming the System
Chris Brogan was right in Trust Agents when he talked about tinkering and gaming the existing models for out benefit. As NSFW as this is Olivier was right:
The problem is the combination of “personal branding” and “influenceitis.” It turns social platforms into a giant circle-jerk.
Quora, Twitter, Blogs, it’s all a “You scratch my back, I’ll scratch yours” mentality. The constant revolution of using these tools to promote ourselves and prove that in an atmosphere where the playing field has been leveled, we are all competing against each other where we are all the same. Essentially perfect competition. The people who can become these influencers are the ones that have tinkered with it to form “influential opinions”.
Tools like Quora are beneficial, they do give us answers questions that need solutions. Too often though, are we asking the wrong questions, we ask for opinions on solution, not for the solution itself (which goes back to perception).
It’s time to start seeing social media as a problem solver, not an opinion giver (yes I realize that I’m stating an opinion to a solution not a solution, call me a hypocrite). When you realize that someone is looking for a solution, where’s the harm in an explicit answer, not some roundabout bullshit answer that may vaguely give the asker a concept.
Stop caring about yourself, trust me your personal brand with grow more by helping the people in your community rather than boosting yourself.
Follow this on David Armano’s Question on Quora.
Image by beckitten
What is your focus in the social sphere? Networking, Marketing? Whichever it is there is a difference, and one that many people tend to blur. Networking and marketing are two entirely separate strategies and methods for their own unique goals. While many strategist employ the usage of both to further their means, we cannot make the mistake of misnaming one type of social ideology with the other.
