Estimating influence is provided. For example, estimating influence includes determining an objective influence measure, which can be applied to various applications (e.g., search using objective influence). In some embodiments, estimating influence includes receiving a subject graph, in which the subject graph includes two or more subject nodes, in which each subject node corresponds to a subject; in which the subject graph is a directed graph, or if the subject graph is an undirected graph, then each undirected edge is interpreted as two directed edges in opposite directions; and determining an objective influence measure based on the subject graph for each first subject node of the subject graph, in which the determination is based at least on part on a function of inward scores and outward scores, in which inward scores are computed from one or more paths leading to the first subject of a length of at least one, and outward scores are computed from one or more paths leading from the first subject of a length of at least one, in which a path is a sequence of contiguous edges with a length equal to its number of edges, in which at least one of the inward paths or outward paths is of length greater than one.