Explaining "Klout" can be a Humorous Undertaking

It can  be hard to explain what "Klout" is.

Klout vs. Kred in Social Media Analytics

Social media metrics are difficult, and measuring "social influence" is no exception. You might say "it is all about the algorithms" used to mine lots of different data to create a picture, and some think the effort is flawed to begin with. But social influence measurement is one of those analytic processes marketers seem to be asking for, which means the tools likely will be used. Right now "Klout" is the tool many have heard of.

A new service is being launched by social media analyst PeopleBrowsr will launch early in October, and promises an open application programming interface.

PeopleBrowsr says the Kred algorithm’s data will be fully transparent and accessible using the API, which means that once it’s launched we’ll have insight into how influence gets measured.

It is argued that influence-guessing services like Klout are more about vanity than they are about really identifying reach and influence. But it's the sort of think marketers keep wanting to know.

Klout vs. Kred, the new Social Media Influence Metric

Klout says it can Measure "Influence"

Measurement is why marketeers like online, mobile and other Internet-mediated advertising and marketing channels. Klout now claims it can use the same tools to measure influence.