Wednesday, September 5, 2012

Is anyone else actually using Klout?

Is anyone else actually using Klout? How about Google+ for that matter? Respond or give me a +1 if you're around. LOL!

5 comments:

Ruben Roel said...

I use Google a lot since it's easier to use and the features are a bit better. Most of my friends are slowly moving to google plus thanks to the android applications. 

It's going to be a long time before they all come to google, but then again, it took a while for them to move to facebook from myspace and Xanga. 

I use klout for the free stuff, the harder I try to move my score up, the slower it moves. However, when I just leave it alone for a while, I come back to see a jump - up or down. BUT, you can't pass an opportunity of getting free milk shakes or free keychains!

John said...

I prefer Google+ over Facebook for general social interaction. The folks on Google Plus usually talk about more interesting things. Facebook is good for keeping tabs on the kids and old friends.

I logged into Klout, but find their algorithms lacking credibility. When some of us asked for clarification from Klout here on Google, their answers (and lack thereof) reinforced my perception.

L. Scott Harrell said...

I can certainly agree, John. I'm definitely starting to make the move towards Google+ and LinkedIn as well. Form  business owner's perspective, I really hate the fact that Facebook instituted EdgeRank and did away with landing tabs. FB boasts that it made brands more social but that is a product of having to compete for a slot in your fans' newsfeeds... or pay for it.

The lack of transparency at Klout is not surprising. Their algorithm is the secret sauce of their business. I chuckle at the scores when I check them but, ultimately, the question becomes "I'm a 63... So what?" There's no real way to leverage one's "measure of influence" outside of using it as a barometer for how well we're connected.

The jury is still out for me whether Twitter is worth the time. I fully understand the value but don't see myself becoming a super-user or even checking in more often that every few days, which kind of defeats the purpose of starting a conversation there.

John said...

When my whole Facebook account was mysteriously deactivated by Facebook as an "impostor" account, I was forced to try out something new ... Google. In the three months I went without Facebook, I learned to prefer Google.

But, moreover, I learned not to put all my eggs in one basket. If Facebook or Google or Linkedin can shut down all your profiles without recourse, or even a response, it makes sense to maintain a few.

I still don't find I can completely be "myself" on Linkedin, but that's just me. I should shape up and start using Linkedin a lot more. For me, Twitter is just a good news stream. Simple, and awesome. But, not exactly a requirement for business.

Then again, you have to sign up and grab your name handle to nobody else does. Its the new rat race.

L. Scott Harrell said...

When developing brands and am surveying potential usernames I use http://knowem.com