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 (Coming Soon) | Org-specific scoring where buyers apply their own weights | My Cloud comparisons, personalized search |
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 evidence is accepted for business case verification?▼
Solutions can also verify business cases by uploading proof documents. Accepted evidence includes: invoices, signed SOWs/contracts, screenshots of project completion, and reference letters. The HC team manually reviews and approves/rejects submissions.
Can I give feedback anonymously?▼
Yes. All merit items (kudos, reviews, business case endorsements) can be given anonymously or by name. This is determined by the user giving the merit. Anonymous feedback still counts toward HC Score.
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.
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.
What are performance badges?▼
Badges are awarded to solutions based on HC Score percentile rank within a segment. Tiers include Top 1, Top 5%, Top 10%, and Top 20%. Badges are segmented by focus area, region, and industry, and awarded quarterly and annually. Only the highest tier earned is displayed. Badges require a minimum of 20 solutions in the segment.
How is the Custom HC Score different?▼
Custom HC Score (coming soon) allows buyers to apply their own weights. For example, when Microsoft evaluates solutions, endorsements from similar enterprises will matter more. Context adjustments include: same industry (+30%), similar company size (+25%), same region (+15%), and same focus area (+20%).
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