I read about this yesterday on Shoemoney.com and found it both interesting and humorous. Fast Company magazine, a publication that writes about entrepreneurs, start-ups, business ideas, etc., asked themselves this question: “Who are the most influential people online right now?” Rather than trying to answer it themselves, they decided to experiment with a site called The Influence Project.
The Influence Project is designed to measure the amount of influence people have over others (duh!). BUT, it’s not just about how many friends or followers you have. It’s about being able to actually affect the behavior of those you interact with. On the site, the more influence they measure in connection with you, the bigger your picture. Here are the criteria:
The scale of your influence, and therefore the size of your photo, is based on two measures.
1. The number of people who directly click on your unique URL link. This is the primary measure of your influence, pure and simple.
2. You will receive partial “credit” for subsequent clicks generated by those who sign-up as a result of your URL. In other words, anyone who comes to the site through your link and sign-ups for their own account will be spreading your influence while they spread theirs. That way, you get some benefit from influencing people who are influential themselves. We will give a diminishing, fractional credit (1/2, 1/4, 1/8 etc ) for clicks generated up to six degrees away from your original link. [The Influence Project]
It’s actually a pretty interesting, very simplistic experiment. What I find funny is the way they’re getting people into the site…The promise of getting your picture into an arguably influential magazine! Who doesn’t want that?!
So, if you have ever dreamed about getting your mug into a magazine, sign up. Doesn’t cost anything. That’s the sole reason I signed up. By the way, if you click on any of the links to the project in this post, it will affect my influence.
I kind of wonder how many of the hot chicks will end up being the big influencers. It will also be interesting to see how long it is before someone games the system and creates a fake influence.
Check it out here: The Influence Project.
August 6th, 2010 at 11:28 am
Interesting concept, basically like the old top 25 web lists you used to see all over the web. Being featured in a big magazine is a pretty cool prize. I'm sure people could put that extra exposure to good use.
August 7th, 2010 at 3:23 pm
What an interesting concept! It is finally using another aspect of human socialisation and that is facial expression. If someone has an interesting/appealing countenance, they will get the clicks. If nothing else, it will prove how much communication happens through facial expression. I'm going to give it a go ~ more fun anyway than having a photo used as a dart board
August 7th, 2010 at 3:26 pm
A Very interesting concept. Finally another way to evaluate the amount of communication that happens through facial expressions.
August 7th, 2010 at 3:29 pm
Hi Ryan,
It's a pity it takes so long to load. Still, with over 26,000 photos its probably not too surprising
August 8th, 2010 at 10:36 pm
The load time is a serious source of frustration for me as well. Nice post.
August 9th, 2010 at 12:17 am
The concept is great the same is true with the prize. Who wouldn't want to be featured in a famed magazine as one of the most influential people in the net even if you're not as rich as Bill Gates. But, unfortunately I think this concept wouldn't work for a fact that there are a lot of ways to tamper or create fake influences in the net. This idea is very much possible to do for computer expert and unethical hackers out there. Anyway, let's remain optimistic. Cool post, thanks for sharing.
August 9th, 2010 at 12:45 am
I think thats right everybody wishes to get his / her picture into fast compnay magazine and thats really good way i have found to be listed in it.
August 9th, 2010 at 5:18 am
I am just wondering if this is really a good way to measure influence. I hope so. However, the prize is really worth something.
And yes, load time really frustrating.
August 9th, 2010 at 1:13 pm
Nice idea ,but they should have tried to answer this question by themselves,or maybe they are getting some sort of popularity by this .
August 9th, 2010 at 2:02 pm
Tried it just now.. and yes, the loading time takes forever. Thanks for posting anyway, worth my time though
August 9th, 2010 at 5:06 pm
I hope it will work for me, I am gonna try it, interesting post.
August 9th, 2010 at 11:48 pm
Hye nice post,i like ideas
August 10th, 2010 at 12:56 am
It is finally using another aspect of human socialisation and that is facial expression.
August 11th, 2010 at 3:02 am
This is really interesting and opens up a whole new way of looking at the influence we have. Might give it a go myself, now where's that camera…?
August 11th, 2010 at 8:37 am
It took time to download. But this is another interesting topic. I'll check and browse the link again if I have enough time. Thanks for the post. =)
August 11th, 2010 at 6:47 pm
Your article is much more informatics for all of the visitor. I am very happy to read it. This is really very nice. Thank you for it..!!!
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August 11th, 2010 at 11:03 pm
Really nice concept..your approach to this project is exactly what influence is about – good communication with people whom you have a relationship with which calls them to action to do something on your behalf. You have a great, loyal 'tribe' of people and you consistently communicate with them the same way Influence Project or not! Keep it up
August 12th, 2010 at 1:46 am
Well, this sounds interesting and pretty sure many will be hook by this contest. However, the criteria seems to lack integrity for a fact that there is no accurate method to measure one's influence over others online. It's so hard to determine if the influence made is fake. But great concept anyway and i hope it will be successful. Cool post, thanks for sharing.
August 12th, 2010 at 10:29 am
Yet again bandwidth holds back innovation and progress because we want to see what folk look like before anything
August 12th, 2010 at 8:13 pm
Ryan,
It sounds like a great concept. I went to the site and it was so slow loading that I think that will hinder the experiment. People are not going to stick around and wait for a slow-loading site.
Cheryl
August 13th, 2010 at 1:51 am
Nice post. Who wouldn't want their picture to be posted over the net and labeled as one of the most influential people online? What a nice opportunity. A once in a lifetime chance, I think I'm going to give it a go.. Thanks for posting.
August 13th, 2010 at 2:28 am
It can be seriously biased as the people interested in placing the picture in their magazine will be in a certain segment of the market, but anyway nice concept.
August 13th, 2010 at 10:37 am
Hey Ryan,
Happy to allow you to influence me. Over 30,000 now…
August 15th, 2010 at 12:11 am
Im thinking this concept really amazed,just time to load maybe frustration me abit.overall your concept really interesting methods to use,thank
August 15th, 2010 at 4:01 am
If anyone has an interesting/attractive face, they will get hit. If nothing else, it will be much through the communication of facial expression.
August 15th, 2010 at 7:05 am
Hey nice post! Thanks for the information! Your site is very adorable.
August 16th, 2010 at 1:42 pm
This is a very interesting experiment and an equally attractive reward at its end. I am curious about the results and ultimately the tactics people used to influence the behaviour of others.
August 16th, 2010 at 11:19 pm
Nice concept thanks for the post but its really work….
August 17th, 2010 at 7:13 am
Tempting headline
. And very interesting experiment. thanks for information
August 17th, 2010 at 9:09 pm
Hi Ryan,
Yes you do wonder if it is a true measure of influence? That equates the more pleasing the look – the more clicks.As you say the readings could be totally false. Anyway I think that influence is power. It is theaction invisibility exercised over another and we would hope that it is a positive influence.
August 18th, 2010 at 9:15 am
Wow, that sounds awesome. I would love to know my influence. If only it gave you helpful little hints on how to improve…
August 19th, 2010 at 9:22 am
Good Idea.I am looking on somehow like this,and I get it!!
August 19th, 2010 at 4:26 pm
This is a great way for them to make some linkbait disguised as a social experiment. They have all these people spreading around links and talking about the company, basically doing all the work for them. Very clever.
August 20th, 2010 at 9:03 pm
that is good concept, I have that "duh expression.
August 21st, 2010 at 12:35 am
it's a interesting idea..The Influence Project is designed to measure the amount of influence people have over others good to know that facial expression good communication happen
August 21st, 2010 at 1:24 pm
this post it's helpful, thanks!
August 22nd, 2010 at 5:45 pm
I know what your mean,slow loading ,its a bit frusttrating also
August 26th, 2010 at 8:53 am
Great info. Thank you for sharing.
August 26th, 2010 at 7:29 pm
Interesting, but as others said a long load time. It says it's no longer accepting submissions though
August 26th, 2010 at 9:40 pm
A Very interesting concept.. good article
August 27th, 2010 at 12:26 am
can i get my picture…???
August 29th, 2010 at 9:46 am
Its generally good post. Thanks for sharing.
August 30th, 2010 at 12:09 am
It is the best way to get his / her picture into fast company magazine. Thanks for information.
August 30th, 2010 at 12:29 pm
who can know , that face is belong to her/his??
August 31st, 2010 at 11:59 am
Thatsgood idea but its problem is loading time. Anyway thanks for sharing.
September 2nd, 2010 at 2:33 am
Great concept. However, there are some flaws with regards to the criteria of the contest. It' would be impossible to determine if who has the big influence in the Internet for a fact that it could be tampered. Internet users who dreamed to become famous could easily faked their influence in the net. So it would be very much unfair. Anyway, it's just my theory. Somehow, you could find solution to this. Thanks a lot for sharing.
September 2nd, 2010 at 10:20 am
yeah ,It can be seriously biased as the people interested in placing the picture in their magazine will be in a certain segment of the market, but anyway nice concept.
September 4th, 2010 at 10:33 am
I like idea it's helpful … I am gonna try it, interesting post.
Thank Ryan
September 6th, 2010 at 12:18 am
Ya,Good post..Very interesting.If anyone has an interesting/attractive face, they will get hit. If nothing else, it will be much through the communication of facial expression.
September 6th, 2010 at 4:23 pm
It can be seriously biased as the people interested in placing the picture in their magazine will be in a certain segment of the market, but anyway nice concept.
September 8th, 2010 at 6:50 pm
wooo.. this sounds great. that company has a better strategy. and i think it would be successful in terms of attracting their viewer and reader. This influence project really influence me.
September 22nd, 2010 at 8:07 pm
Hi Ryan, even though they are not taking submissions I hope that by visiting your pageI have helped in the influence department.
September 23rd, 2010 at 5:03 am
This is coola nd I would hope that i can appear there one day if things go well.
October 5th, 2010 at 4:17 am
Must be me but i was a bit scard about the picture thing, guess I really do need to step out my comfort zone.Thanks was a good wake up call.
October 9th, 2010 at 12:28 am
Well, it's another social media experiment and though the concept is great still it's quite impossible to determine if who has the biggest influence in the net. I suggest that the criteria should be changed to prevent biases. The fact that the influence can fake by Internet buff it's definitely unfair. But then lets remain optimistic. Thanks a lot for sharing this out anyway. Nice post!
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October 28th, 2010 at 3:07 pm
Nice! Thanks for posting. Who wouldn't want their face to be seen in a magazine? I guess everyone likes it.
October 28th, 2010 at 10:19 pm
Thanks for writing this blog. This is one of the best blog that I have read today. Getting your picture published should carry uniqueness. It should strike the editor so that you could get published. When you create an impression, then maybe you can be one of the greatest photographer in time..
November 30th, 2010 at 10:10 am
Marketing has always been about beautiful people. People have a need to always be someone else and advertisers/brands play on this.
January 27th, 2011 at 4:13 am
Its interesting way to advertise..Like the blog ..thanks for share
March 7th, 2011 at 3:25 am
Yeah i am agree with this post. Really, it’s a good information.
Thank you so much!
June 25th, 2011 at 12:16 am
Yet again bandwidth holds back innovation and progress because we want to see what folk look like before anything
August 11th, 2011 at 3:46 am
sounds like a great concept really very nice. Thank you for it..
August 11th, 2011 at 3:56 am
really influential concept specially for those who has good facial appearance….