I'm sure many of you have seen that number at the top of your blog or next to your name in posts wondering what is that? Or been curious what makes it go up or down? The short answer is that it's your Reputation Score. But as always, let's go a little more in depth into that number.

What is Reputation Score? What Effects it? What Does it Do for You?

Q: What is this number by my name?

Short answer: That's your Reputation Score.

The number you see at the top of your blogs and next to names in posts or comments is the Reputation Score. It is used as a tool showing how many positive votes versus negative (or flag) votes on the site. This score ranges from -25 up to 75, with new users starting at 25.

Much in the same sense as earning experience points in a game to level up, each new level requires more points. Our reputation score is just like this, with every 10 levels requiring 10 times as many 'reputation points.' So a person who had achieved level 55 has earned 100 times as many as a level 35.

When you first start on Steemit, you'll see this score move rather quickly due to votes (and/or flags) you receive on posts and comments. After a while, you'll notice it taking longer to get to the next level. Since Steemit rounds this score to whole numbers, it may be helpful seeing this score down to the first decimal on places like

@good-karma's eSteem Mobile App

@jesta's Steemstats Site

@blueorgy's Steem Cool Site

or @heimindanger's Steemwhales Site

While it's by no means perfect, it can get you a gauge of

• how long somebody's been around
• how active they are
• how well received they've been versus viewed as a problem

Typically people who have been around longer and/or obtained a lot of upvotes have the higher numbers. I'll get a little more in depth on this within another section of this FAQ.

Q: What Effects my Reputation Score?

*Short Answer: Upvotes and Flags, with stronger effects by voters with higher rep and/or more Steem Power. *

Votes are the only to change your reputation, but not all votes give as many 'reputation points.' The major factors are the reputation and Steem Power levels of the person voting for (or against) you.

So for example, if you're brand new (having a rep of 25) and another brand new user upvotes you (they have 25 rep too and say 50 Steem power), you'll see minimal change. If I were to upvote you (with rep 69 and about 7,000 SP) than you would see a lot more effect, perhaps raising you a whole level or more. If a whale like like @officialfuzzy votes for you (having a 72 rep and about 300,000 Steem Power) there would be a rather huge effect.

For those who want a more technical forumla for Reputation (optional technical read)

This uses a base 10 logarithm of the raw score (i.e. reputation points...NOT the final score we see on the site.) For example, I currently hold 89,788 (b)illion reputation points which translated to my rep of 69. It does adjust around the median of 25.

The formula used on steem.cool is: ((log10(abs(reputation#))-9)9)+25

And if you're curious what it looks like in the actual Steem code:

function log10(str) {
    const leadingDigits = parseInt(str.substring(0, 4));
    const log = Math.log(leadingDigits) / Math.LN10 + 0.00000001
    const n = str.length - 1;
    return n + (log - parseInt(log));
}

export const repLog10 = rep2 => {
    if(rep2 == null) return rep2
    let rep = String(rep2)
    const neg = rep.charAt(0) === '-'
    rep = neg ? rep.substring(1) : rep

    let out = log10(rep)
    if(isNaN(out)) out = 0
    out = Math.max(out - 9, 0); // @ -9, $0.50 earned is approx magnitude 1
    out = (neg ? -1 : 1) * out
    out = (out * 9) + 25 // 9 points per magnitude. center at 25
    // base-line 0 to darken and < 0 to auto hide (grep rephide)
    out = parseInt(out)
    return out
}

Source: Steemit Github - ParsersAndFormatters.js

A word about Flags (i.e. downvotes)

The same factors apply when somebody flags your post or comment, but in a downward direction. Sometimes new people get on the wrong side of a larger, established user getting themselves flagged (like by spamming their posts with non-applicable comments.) You do want to try and prevent getting flagged.

• Here on Steemit flags are for the most part meant more for abuse (plagiarism, personal threats, etc)...NOT just because you have a different stance than another user.

If you're reputation goes below zero (remember it can go down to -25) than all of your posts and comments will automatically be 'grayed out' making it rather hard to get your posts seen and hence earn money. They are still there and not deleted, but others have to put forth more effort than usual to view them.

• If you have been flagged to this state, you will need to talk with the bigger people that flagged you, asking for them to be removed (nicely.) Everyone knows misunderstandings happen and able to work things out. But if someone is a continuous problem, this will be their fate.
  

Q: What Does it Do?

Short Answer: Higher reputation helps to get people to notice you. Too low reputation actually hides your posts and comments.

Higher reputation tends to get people to notice your posts more often. It lets you be seen as a more veteran and/or popular user around here, meaning a higher likelihood of finding quality content (yet by no means perfect.) There tends to be a little jump when you hit level 50, with many people viewing you (solely through that number) as no longer being a newbie. Don't take that you shouldn't still ask questions at that stage, but just enjoy the benefits.

With so much of Steemit looking like a blogging platform, it's easy to forget the social media aspects of this place. Your reputation, well beyond the actual number, is really what can make or break you here. The concept of making friends, building relationships with users and integrating yourself into the community itself will greatly help you be more successful as time goes on.

For those who like to frequently cause trouble...remember users can see anything that's been done on the blockchain (posts, edits, transfers, etc.) It's amazing how many times I've seen people crying about how they were treated so unfairly (after getting flagged,) yet when you go look at their history, it's obvious for anyone to see what the issue was.

Having freedom requires taking personal responsibility.

Previous Helpful Posts for Newbies

❓Answering Common Questions: Steem, Steem Power, Steem Dollars and What Should I do with them? 💲

What's this Slider Bar and Vote Power Percentage? What's the Difference?

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Answering Common Questions about Voting and Curation

Don't Miss the Show! Follow the Steemit Talk Podcast (STP) Account

New STP Website!!

Are you new to Steemit and Looking for Answers? - Try https://www.steemithelp.net.

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