Fast Company has a new project that seeks to identify how influence on the social web is defined.

Influence is not only about having the most friends or followers. Real influence is about being able to affect the behavior of those you interact with, to get others in your social network to act on a suggestion or recommendation. – Fast Company, Influence Project

Brands, companies and marketers always want to exert some type of influence over people. Whether it’s buying a new product, supporting a new campaign, getting you to take action in some way, shape or form. The goal is to exert some level of influence on you to get you to take action.

In the social media space, many people seem to think influence is determined by the numbers (how many followers/subscribers you have). Others argue that influence is determined by the quality of relationships that you have with your followers (however large or small). The Influence Project seeks to determine whether influence is determined by relationship, by number of followers/subscribers or some other means.

The contest is simple, register an account at the Influence Project which will generate your own unique URL link to the site. Then Tweet your link and share it on Facebook; the more people click on the link and register, the bigger your influence will grow. The contest runs through midnight EST, August 15, 2010. The winner will have their picture appear in the November issue of Fast Company magazine. So head on over and register your account and enter to win!