UPDATE: Dharmesh updates Grader every month and things are pretty much back to normal now. Before i wrote this post I was under the impression that the whole algorithm changed.
Sometime over the weekend Twitter Grader changed up their algorithm for ranking their top Twitter Users. Most of the top users out there that we all know and are fond of (ChrisBrogan, Zaibatsu, BuzzEdition, Scobleizer, GuyKawasaki, etc etc) cannot be found on the Top 100 users list and their grades have bumped down drastically.
A tweet from Grader and Dharmesh himself addresses the change in algorithm:
Just released a *massive* update to the Twitter Grader algorithm.http://twitter.grader.com – Ranks will be erratic for a bit.
My personal grade has suffered drastically and keeps on decreasing! LOL 
(speaking of erratic!). I am an advocate of change but can’t help thinking to myself how this will affect so many power users out there who regularly check their grades and compare with others?
Twitter sure seems to be changing, first with lists (and that war is just beginning) and now with this new algorithm that no one really knows much about. It’ll be interesting to see whats next in their bag of tricks!!
{ 9 comments… read them below or add one }
Didnt know about the new algorithm….btw my grade has fallen drastically and many of the top 100 users that I know are somewhere in 5-15k
I feel ya Rahul, thanks for commenting. It seems that most of us are in the same boat.
Thanks for trying out the new algorithm.
Things are settling down now after a few more tweaks.
Please try again and see if the grades make more sense. Since there are 5 million accounts in the database, it takes a while for things to shake out.
Regards,
Dharmesh
Thanks for stopping by, im sure you guys have it under control.
Hi everyone, I just tried out the new algorithm .. it seems I am back at no.1 at Malaysia.. Finally its not about followers but it is about interactions and real conversations. Thanks Twitter Grader
to check mine you can follow .. http://twitter.grader.com/index.php?Action=TwitterUsersByLocation&Country=MY
Thanks for stopping by mate, glad you are back on the roster – you deserve it.
Yes what a mess! I’m not someone who compares myself to others…..
The reason the rank is so important to me, is I’ll be teaching Twitter to top ranking companies. And with my “new” ranking, and no longer being in Top 1000 where I’ve been located for quite some time now, it makes it difficult for me to refer to myself as an “expert on Twitter.”
I feel its great to change up the ranking, but not this drastically! lol
B
The timing of this change could not have come at a worse time for me. I had been ranked in the top 5 in both Detroit & Michigan for a very long time. I literally sent out an email THE DAY BEFORE the change took place in which I listed all of my Twitter rankings to several investors who are thinking of investing in my business. I was explaining my expertise in Twitter – 25,000+ followers, Twitter. Grader rankings, very high Klout.com score, named one of “Top 25 Professionals in Real Estate” by Proxio.com, nominated for several Inman real estate awards, etc. – and I included links to all the relevant sites, including Twitter.Grader.com. I can only imagine that they were left scratching their heads, wondering why I had directed them to a site where I now appear quite ordinary. I hope to understand the logic for the change at some point, but, for now, this has very likely cost me real money.
@Blair: Hey buddy thanks for stopping by. I hear ya man, what can we do. Lots of people are not happy with this change, but it will get better and you’ll be back to your normal ranking in no time.
@Michael: Glad you stopped by and added your thoughts. I’m very sorry to hear that, talk about bad timing. Wish I could help you out but unfortunately i don’t control the grader algorithm. You should try talking to @dharmesh on twitter and see if he can help you out. My own grade has slipped from #110 in the world and #1 in my location (and i’ve been there for ages) to like #12,590 or worse. LOL!
I’ve talked to a bunch of tweeters and they say this happens often (but not as drastic) and we should be good within this week.