We’d like to introduce you to our new Social Media and SEO Strategist, Angela (but call her Angie, she’s like your new best friend) M. Jordan. With an article published front page on Social Media Today, I think it’s safe to say we’ve just had a gem join us. She’s a talented, inspirational superwoman we have grown to love and admire. Enjoy this short little intro, just to give you a taste, and come back soon for her banging new column that is sure to bring you from blogging novice to blogging, SEO and Social Media expert in no time.
What’s your number? How influential are you across the social web? My Klout score is 71… but what does it all mean? And more importantly, why should anybody care? There are so many skeptics of measuring social influence (and ironically, they mostly have the lower scores), and understandably so. It’s like we woke up one morning to find yet another way to have to “compete” with our peers, or better yet-stand out.
Whether you participate or not, it still exists
You can ignore this new social influence measurement phenomenon, or you can participate, either way it’s here and I’m betting it is here to stay. Choosing to ignore it is like saying that the economy is in a recession, but you aren’t going to participate. It’s just plain silly. You will be affected, you will be measured, and you will be judged by those scores. And trust me, people are watching. Employers are starting to take notice, potential clients are checking, your peers are gauging your success by it-like it or not, you have been given a number. Get familiar with it and deal with it.
Social proof is real and it matters
Have you ever followed someone back because they had thousands of followers? Or was flattered to receive a mention from one of these perceived twitter powerhouses? What about sharing an article that you noticed was already shared hundreds of times or liked a Facebook page that a million people like, just because a million other people like it?
That is social proof at work whether you have known it or not. It is the perceived importance based on how many others like something, or follow, or approved. It’s the phenomenon that make you click the “like” button because since a million people like it already, it must have something of value to offer.
Should you focus on moving your score or increasing your social influence?
Increasing your social influence-yes. Moving your score-no. The truth is, if you focus on developing great content, keep interacting and building your relationships, your influence will naturally grow. It can help you to gauge how much interaction you get as opposed to your peers, but an obsession on moving that score is pointless. Your energy is better spent building relationships or writing awesome content.
How to leverage this power for good
If you’ve got Klout, flaunt it. Use your influence to drive your business. Use your influence on twitter to reach more people. Use your influence to ask for things, to establish your authority, your credibility. Social influence is not a bad thing. Actually it puts you in a unique position to create a business and influence in whatever it is that you are passionate about. It’s the new “celebrity” where you don’t have to be pretty, or have the ability to dance, or sing, or entertain in anyway to have influence. Your influence can come from what you are truly passionate about and what you truly love.
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