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Matchmaking service Tawkify now considers users Klout scores when pairing them with each other for phone dates.
Tawkify rolled out in January to set up singles, but on Monday, the service added a new twist to its matchmaking methods: connecting people with similar Klout scores.
Tawkify co-creator E. Jean Carroll, a long-time advice columnist for Elle magazine and former Saturday Night Live writer, believes a persons influence on the web is just as important as a profile photo.
Thats why Tawkify is partnering with Klout, which measures peoples influence on Twitter, Facebook, Google+, LinkedIn and Foursquare to assign scores from 0 to 100.
People with high Klout scores know how to listen and know how to react; theyre cute, smart and connected, Carroll, 69, told Mashable. Its as powerful as someones height or weight.
To use Tawkify, a person completes a brief questionnaire and submits a photo. Carroll and Kenneth Shaw, a 27-year-old former Microsoft and One Kings Lane employee who built Elles Facebook app, then call two Tawkify users and have them talk on the phone. Aside from scores, they consider age and interests.
Carroll and Shaw tested the Klout score element before Mondays announcement.
The duo matched 60 people, who all didnt know Klout scores had been factored into the matchmaking equation. Of the 30 over-the-phone pairings, 90% of them wanted to talk again, exchange numbers or meet.
Amorous fireworks caused by throwing two people together with similar Klout scores cant be predicted with perfect accuracy, of course, Carroll writes. A Klout score will never replace our match-making instincts.
But weve found that Klout scores are an authentic measurement of sophistication, wit, cultural savvy and appeal a much truer and more trustworthy measurement than the typical online dating site bull-hockey-factors of height, weight and income.
Klout spokeswoman Lynn Fox says this is just one example of how Klout wants influence to help everyone.
Do you think you would hit it off better with someone who has similar Klout score? Let us know in the comments.
Looking ahead, Klout is still building scoring models for seven more services (YouTube, Instagram, Tumblr, Blogger, WordPress.com, Last.fm and Flickr) that have already been integrated onto Klout users dashboards. Klout also plans to add Quora, Yelp, Posterous, Livefyre, Disqus, bit.ly and BranchOut.
SEE ALSO: Gilt Picks Your Discount Amount Based On Your Klout Score
Klout likely will continue improving its Topics feature (see screenshots below) and Klout Perks platform. The Topics feature, which rolled out in September and lets you gain insights on top influencers and +K recipients for specific content areas, got a visual update in December with a sashes and an Add a Topic button.
In December 2011, Klout rolled out sashes and an "Add a Topic" button. A blue sash goes to users with the most +Ks for any topic, while a gold sash is given to influencers based on Klout's algorithm. People who fall into both categories receive a blue-and-gold sash. Click here to view this gallery.
Thumbnail image courtesy of iStockphoto, Kativ
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