Klout started out in 2008 with the promise of measuring the world’s influence. Although its rapid rise to fame has inspired a bunch of similar services, Klout has remained my favorite social media analytics.
Upon connecting your social media accounts with Klout, the service calculates your score on a scale of 1-100, depending on the popularity of your posts as measured by the number of interactions and reposts from your community, among other factors.
To derive your score, Klout processes an astounding 50 billion pieces of information every single day. Granted, Klout isn’t the most accurate social analytics tool out there, but it does help you get noticed for your unique passions.
Besides, the team is dutifully adding new features on a regular basis. My only gripe with Klout: its sub-par iPhone app – and I’m using the term ‘app’ loosely here – that would only let me see my Klout score and nothing else.
Today’s version 2.0 update changes all that by adding several much-needed features such as personalized content streams, the new content scheduler and topic explorers, Klout Perks and more…
Klout for iPhone honors Apple’s design guidelines for iOS 7 development and includes swiping-based navigation akin to Apple’s own stock iOS 7 apps. Other gestures are supported as well. For example, just drag up to preview and share a piece of content, or drag right to edit your topics.
As illustrated below, Klout for iPhone is now all about content discovery. You can start by choosing an item from Klout’s curated list of popular topics from your network. This content stream is personalized, meaning stuff that gets surfaced is likely to go viral with your unique set of friends, fans and followers.
“As with the desktop experience, the same helpful tags highlight articles that are trending or particularly relevant for your audience,” Klout noted.
When you see something worth sharing, the app makes it easy to post the story URL to your connected social networks along with photos and location information. Like before, you can still check your Klout Score and add or remove topics from your Klout profile.
As for Klout Perks, the updated software allows you to browse and claim these exclusive rewards right on your iPhone. Previously, you visited the web UI to redeem your perks.
If anything, the new app can finally help improve your Klout Score by discovering, creating and sharing popular content on the go.
Here’s a video walkthrough of Klout 2.0.
Speaking of which, those who obsess over their Klout score may have noticed that the service has recently gone from measuring the score and offering dubious Klout Perks to presenting you with a stream of popular content from your social media contacts.
This makes Klout more of a discovery tool than the arbiter of online influence it used to be, or a meaningless popularity contest.
A look at my Klout score and stream on the web.
As a result of this newly-found business model, Klout’s web interface now lets you skim through trending topics from your network or create and share your own stories to one or all of your social networks (or schedule them for later), right from the Content page. A Klout URL gives away such tweets and Facebook posts.
The company also offers Klout for Business, now 200,000 customers strong, and an API for web developers.
Klout was acquired last month by Lithium Technologies in a stock deal estimated at $200 million, turning its founders into instant paper millionaires.
Wrapping up, Klout will be rolling out an Android app shortly and you can join the wait list here.
“Like Lannisters, Klout always pays its debts,” jokes the webpage. “We owe you an Android app.”
Download Klout free from the App Store.
The app requires iOS 7.0, but unfortunately doesn’t run natively on iPads.