At Illinois, we’re used to hearing about a different kind of clout, but in the world of social media there is a new kind of Klout that is sure to be on your employer’s radar in the future. Klout.com is a social media tool that takes your Twitter, Facebook and LinkedIn to score your social media presence based on the amount of people you actually reach, the kinds of people you influence and who is engaged in what you have to say.
For those interested in pursuing a career in the blogosphere or in social media, it may be vital to increase your Klout score, and in the right kind of way as there are different categories of Klout.
So what kind of Klout should you have to get on your employer’s radar in the right ways?
Become a specialist – For those interested in going into a specific concentration, you should focus your social media efforts on becoming a specialist. You will want to have a consistent flow of information on to the web and also share messages that are specialized for a certain audience.
Become a socializer – For those who want to work in a field where they need to stay at the top of their social game, you will not only have to dabble in social media, or tweet consistent thoughts but share information of your own that your followers will want to know about.
Become a taste-maker – This option is for those who have a certain social media savvy and who stay current on the network. You will want to share your own, engaging opinion, and must have followers that are highly interested. You not only engage in topics related to what you want to say but you also contribute to the mix.
When working on your Klout, it is important to be mindful of your label. If you’re not a celebrity, than I wouldn’t recommend having your Klout score resemble that of a celebrity. If you are a self-proclaimed social media expert, you probably should not be labeled as an observer – a person who doesn’t tweet much, or post statuses but knows a bit about each of the popular social networks. Not very many of us know about Klout, but it is something that is going to make or break us when applying for a job.
Not only is Klout a great resource in finding out just how engaged your audience is in the things you do, it is also a means for you to get a grasp on the sorts of people that read the information you put out there. Log on to Klout.com today to discover where you belong in the world of social media.