Klout is a website and mobile app that uses social media analytics to rank its users according to online social influence via the ‘Klout Score’ which is a numerical value between 1 and 100. In determining the user’s score, Klout measures the size of a user’s social media network and correlates the content created to measure how other users interact with that content.”  

Founded in San Francisco in 2009, Klout is a company that measures digital influence through data points from Facebook, Google+, Twitter, Instagram and other social media platforms. The higher your score, the more influence you are believed to have within your digital networks.

Why you should mind your klout scores? According to Gina Carr, an Entrepreneur and Speaker, Klout matters today for those who are influencers or those who want to be influential. Authors, Professional speakers, Actors, Marketing professionals and other  leaders  need to mind their klout Scores. Enterprises and companies also do have reasons to embrace klout, this will help them in making good decisions based on influence and klout provides a good way to quantify the amount of influence a person has online.

Mr. Carr further gives some principles on how to improve one’s klout scores. He calls the principle ABCs of social engagement. A is “Always be engaging, “B is “Be consistent” and C is “Connect.” This principle encourages one to firstly engage specifically with people on a personal basis; Facebook, LinkedIn groups, Google+ Communities and Twitter chats.

It is important to use Klout as a tool to gain a competitive advantage by gaining an understanding of prospective customers. Klout also offers a good way to provide a system of measurement for online influence. Though some critics have discredited the theory and they consider Klout insignificant to the social media industry. However, it has been discovered that with the help of Klout scores, businesses can have an idea of platforms where their customers are, giving them reasons to focus on these platforms and spend more time there.