Last updated on May 31, 2026
From “Klout” to True Influence
So many people are now seeing the value of Audience Intelligence and measurable influence. Many top consulting firms won’t even hire you to work within their digital teams if you cannot demonstrate a tangible footprint—whether that’s a high “Social Selling Index” (SSI) on LinkedIn or a solid engagement rate across your channels. Many influential people won’t even engage with you on X (formerly Twitter) or LinkedIn unless you have visible authority or a clearly defined niche.
After your content strategy is set and you have worked out who you are—i.e., what topics, specific skills, or niche you are focused on—then follow the steps below to build real influence.
- Audit Your Footprint: Go to your core platforms (I recommend starting with LinkedIn, X, and YouTube) and ensure your bio and messaging are consistent. You can’t be a “crypto expert” on one and a “gardening pro” on the other unless you connect the dots.
- Smart Search on X: Increase your relevant following on X by searching under specific #hashtags to find the right people to follow. The X Advanced Search is very useful initially for getting an understanding of the conversation before using something more industrial like Audiense or SparkToro.
- Note: With these software tools, it is possible to do deep analysis and segmentation. I think it’s good to try them just to see what is achievable for you. Don’t forget everyone’s account is different, so it may not be good for you to automate everything. Authenticity wins. If you engage meaningfully with 20 people a day, you will often find 5-10 engaged followers back—which is worth far more than 100 bots.
- Cross-Pollinate: Build up all these platforms and cross-promote them to get the maximum amount of followers and fans on each. (e.g., share your LinkedIn newsletter on X, or your Podcast clips on YouTube Shorts).
- Engage, Don’t Just Broadcast: Comment on other people’s content, sharing where appropriate and making sure you tag them (include their name) when commenting; otherwise, they may miss it.
- Check Your Stats: Install a browser extension or use a tool like Shield Analytics (for LinkedIn) or X Pro (TweetDeck) to monitor the “influence scores” or engagement levels of the people around you. Don’t waste time shouting into the void—engage with the movers and shakers.
If you have any more questions hit me up on X: https://x.com/NatSchooler or via the contact form on this page.
+Nat Schooler
Nathaniel Schooler is a Podcast Host, Amazon Best Selling Author, and Entrepreneur. He is Co-Founder of International Imposter Syndrome Awareness Day and Co-Founder of MONDAY INFLUENCER®.
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