Methodology

HC Score: How We Measure Merit

The HC Score is our ranking algorithm that measures solution merit based on verified customer feedback, business outcomes, and first-party data. It's designed to be transparent, objective, and resistant to manipulation.

Core Tenets

Verified over self-reported: Content from verified buyers carries more weight than self-reported claims.
Source credibility matters: A recommendation from a Fortune 500 VP carries more weight than one from a 5-person startup.
Context is king: The best solution for Microsoft may not be the best for a 50-person agency.

The 3 Score Types

Score Type	Definition	Where Displayed
Universal	The absolute, public score visible to everyone	Profile headers, leaderboard, solution cards
Contextual (Coming Soon)	Filtered rankings based on segment (e.g., "Top in Marketing", "Top in US")	Filtered leaderboards, category pages
Custom	Org-specific scoring where buyers apply their own weights	Custom Leaderboard

What Gets Scored

The HC Score is calculated from four input categories:

Kudos

The easiest form of merit—a thumbs up or thumbs down on solutions, products, or business cases.

Reviews

Text or video feedback attached to a kudos. Provides qualitative context to the thumbs up/down.

Business Cases

Documented projects and engagements completed by solutions for their customers.

First-Party Data

Data from buyer behavior—solutions saved, engaged with, notes taken, and org-wide patterns.

Understanding Verification

Verification is the cornerstone of HC Score's credibility. Verified content scores higher than unverified.

Merit Type	What "Verified" Means
Kudos / Reviews	The person giving merit is confirmed as employed by a company (they are a buyer), and they are the person giving that kudos/review
Business Cases	The customer confirms the work actually happened

Scoring Algorithm

Each merit activity awards base points. Negative feedback (thumbs down) decreases the score.

Merit Activity	Points
Thumbs down + review + verified	-5
Verified thumbs down	-3
Thumbs down + review (unverified)	-1
Thumbs down	-1
Thumbs up	+1
Thumbs up + review (unverified)	+1
Business case (self-reported)	+1
Verified thumbs up	+3
Thumbs up + review + verified	+5
Business case + verified	+5
Business case + thumbs up/review + verified	+7

Source Credibility Multipliers

Not all endorsements are equal. Base points are multiplied by factors based on who gave the feedback.

Organization Size

Company Size	Multiplier	Rationale
Enterprise (10,000+)	2.0x	Hardest to earn, most credible
Mid-Market (500-9,999)	1.5x	Meaningful validation
SMB (50-499)	1.2x	Standard validation
Small (< 50)	1.0x	Baseline

Role Level

Role	Multiplier
C-Suite / Founder	1.5x
VP / Director	1.3x
Manager	1.1x
Individual Contributor	1.0x

Example Calculation

Base: Verified thumbs up = +3 points
From: Microsoft (Enterprise = 2.0x)
Role: VP of HR (1.3x)
Buyer: Confirmed engagement (1.5x)

Final Score = 3 × 2.0 × 1.3 × 1.5 = 11.7 points

How to Use HC Score

For Solutions

→Ask satisfied customers to give kudos or reviews
→Publish business cases with real metrics
→Request verification from customers
→Connect with enterprise buyers for higher multipliers

For Buyers

→Compare scores within the same category
→Look for verified customer logos and cases
→Read the underlying reviews for context
→Score is one factor—fit matters too

Frequently Asked Questions

Can solutions game their HC Score?▼

HC Score is designed to be manipulation-resistant. Verified content requires proof of buyer status (business email or confirmed engagement), and we actively monitor for fraudulent patterns. Self-reported content still counts, but the bonus for verified content means authentic engagement naturally rises to the top.

How does kudos/review verification work?▼

Kudos and reviews are verified when the person giving feedback is confirmed as employed by a company. This happens when: (1) the user has an account with a company email (not gmail, protonmail, etc.), or (2) the user provides a company email when submitting. Future updates will require email verification by responding to an HC email.

How does business case verification work?▼

Until verified by the customer, business cases are labeled "self-reported." Verification can happen three ways: (1) Solution clicks "Request Verification" on their business case, (2) Auto-prompt when solution publishes a business case, (3) Customer discovers the business case and verifies unprompted. The customer receives an email with a unique verification link—no account required.

What's considered a "good" HC Score?▼

Scores vary by category maturity. Rather than targeting a specific number, compare scores within your category. Solutions in the top 10-20% of their category typically have strong track records worth investigating further. Use the leaderboard filters to see rankings by focus area.

Can negative feedback decrease a score?▼

Yes. Thumbs down feedback decreases the HC Score, with verified negative feedback having the largest impact (-5 points for a verified thumbs down with review). This ensures the score reflects genuine customer experience, not just positive marketing.

Build Your Custom Leaderboard

The HC Score shows what everyone thinks. Your Score shows what matters to you. Adjust the weights to rank solutions based on what's most relevant to your company.

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