Influence vs Expertise: May the REAL Mom Win!

(Last Updated On: March 28, 2012)

Earlier today Gizmodo challenged my friend Andrea Fellman of Savvy Sassy Moms to defend her Mom Influence, and Klout to defend their ranking system as well. They wrote an article entitled “Can a Dumb Social Media Tool turn this Chump into the Internet’s Top Mom?”

Andrea is ranked #1 on Klout in the Topic “Moms”. Klout is a network that measures topical influence on Twitter. If you belong to Klout and Twitter, you can vote people up on a given topic, by giving them “+K” in that topic. It’s like a vote of confidence.

Andrea’s been voted up a lot. But she didn’t get to the top of that Moms list just because of the votes. She got to the top of the list because she earned it. She is not only an influential Mom, she is an expert on Motherhood. As reporter for iVillage and contributor to Baby Center’s Momformation, a Mom Blogger, Event planner, and mom of two adorable kids, she’s got her finger on the pulse of modern mom-hood. You want authenticity and expertise from the Klout influencer charts? You got it right there. People not only amplify her voice, they take her advice. They respect her. This is the “Dumb Social Media Tool” doing it’s job. Perfectly.

Note:  A bit of disclosure, I’m on the Klout Moms Influence list as well. Number 5. I believe I’ve earned my place. I don’t see a single name on the list between myself and Andrea that I would accuse of being there for any reason other than the fact that they are genuine, hard working, leading voices. Real moms in the online space. Influencers and experts as well. Experts tend to get amplified, because their expertise is valuable.

But along comes Gizmodo, like a pack of snot nosed little boys who want to shake the candy out of a vending machine. Cuz, you know, heh heh heh…. YOU CAN! Dude! Reeses Pieces! M&Ms!!!! You just gotta kick it here and stick your arm way up there and fart real loud.

Newsflash boys…. You can game a lot of shit in life. Everything from your jr high class presidential election to your ebay auctions to yes, stuff on Twitter. I know. It’s shocking. Compose yourselves.

So the big funny here is that Gizmodo wants to make their booze swilling, computer losing, 20 something, kidless flunkie “Kyle” into a Klout Mom star. They are using (their considerable following)  and influence to launch this campaign. To prove a point. I’m just not sure what the point is though. That they can get the Milk Duds out of the machine without paying? That the system isn’t a perfect science?

The fact of the matter is that if Kyle can get people to tweet about him with the tag Moms, he IS exerting influence over this topic. Or more accurately, Gizmodo is.  The trail leads back to Gizmodo. Gizmodo is very influential in general and that makes it easier to game the “system”. Also making it easy is the human penchant for armfarts, young drunk guys and making fun of moms. Easy targets, easy laughs.

But back to my friend Andrea. Since Gizmodo wrote about her, challenged her and is so determined to unseat her, I say she’s even more influential that she’s being given credit for. I’d say she pretty damn influential in the topic of Gizmodo.  Watch your back Matt Buchanan!

Andrea’s written an article, urging her followers on Klout to give her +K in the topic Johnny Depp this week. I grant her that wish and toss in the Moms topic and last but not least, Gizmodo.

Because if anyone can handle a bunch of mischievous school boys, it’s a MOM!