Image via CrunchBase

Klout measures your online influence based on your ability to drive action online. Every time you tweet, post, or otherwise create online content, you influence on some level.

Klout measures that level and gives you a Klout Score from 0-100 with 100 being the highest. Then it defines you further. Are you a conversationalist? Are you an activist? Broadcaster or specialist?

In the past few months, a Klout Score has gone from using data via Twitter and Facebook to including LinkedIn, YouTube, Foursquare (and more) to measure the people you influence, how much you influence them, how influential they are and how you influence overall. It makes sense, since these additional venues are key in the social media realm as much as Twitter and Facebook.

As a result, companies are beginning to take notice of Klout scores in offering and selecting key individuals as part of their brand campaigns, so Klout is an online tool of which to take notice. It appears to be here to stay. Companies like Mashable and TechCrunch agree. In the social media world, many are obsessive about their Klout scores as they are with their Google analytics.

Another tool in Klout is the +K feature where fellow Klout users can give you Klout kudos for your online areas of expertise. To learn more about that feature, see my post here, but it has given even more social media credence to the Klout experience. =K is all the rage, just as +1 for Google.

All in all, Klout continues to grow. Question is: are you a part of it yet?

Related articles

• After Foursquare, Klout Adds Blogger, Tumblr, Instagram, Flickr And Last.fm To Measure Social Influence (techcrunch.com)
• How to Give a +K on Klout (charlenechronicles.com)
• Klout Can Now Get You Exclusives at Funny or Die (mashable.com)

What is a +K?

If you have seen tweets like this, you may wonder what it means or how to do it.

If you are not familiar with Klout, then see my post here, but a relatively new way to show your Klout is to show that you have online influence on a certain topic or are otherwise considered an authority in a particular area. It can be important to show your expertise with brands or companies for various opportunities. Currently, those topics are generated by Klout’s algorithms, but Klout has mentioned that it may to let users submit their own topics in the future. But generally, this is what it looks like.

These are the topics that Klout has determined I am an influencer in and fellow Klout users have given me +K in those topic areas. You can see where I have gotten more +Ks in one area over another in the progress bar on the right.

So here is how to do it.

First, you need to sign-up for Klout. Second, you need to link your Twitter and Facebook accounts to your snazzy new Klout account. Ta Da! Now you have Klout.

Then, look for people you know to give them your +K. One of the easiest ways to find someone is to type in their Twitter handle (example: charchronicles) in the upper right corner of your Klout page.

When their profile comes up, under where it says Influential about, click “See all” link.

Then select one of the topics associated with that profile and click the +K button.

You then have the option of tweeting or posting your +K gift. Klout users get an allowance of five +Ks every day that they can give to any user in any topic and they can give a +K to the same user on the same topic once every seven days. Ta Da! Easy right.

So how about giving me some +K love.

Related articles

• Klout Now Factors in Foursquare Checkins (mashable.com)
• Klout Adds Blogger, Flickr, Instagram, Last.fm & Tumblr (mashable.com)
• Introducing Klout Squad: Measure Your Social Influence & Reach (themacwizard.com)
• After Foursquare, Klout Adds Blogger, Tumblr, Instagram, Flickr And Last.fm To Measure Social Influence (techcrunch.com)