If you’ve been in certain online circles the past few weeks, then you’ve probably seen some of the excitement surrounding the Clubhouse App. There’s not much on the app’s website, and most people can’t get in right now. So, that may leave you with a lot of questions about what this app is and what’s getting everyone so excited about it.
Let me see if I can answer some of your questions…
What is Clubhouse App?
Clubhouse is an audio-only social media platform that’s currently available in the Apple app store.
The app is set up with various chats, where users can take the “stage” in order to share stories, share information, brainstorm, collaborate and so on. Many of these chats are like free-flowing podcasts, with panels answering questions and discussing an issue.
Aside from it being an audio-only platform, here are two other factors attracting an audience:
- Celebrities. You can tour around Clubhouse and encounter some very big celebrities, including Oprah, Ashton Kutcher, Drake, and even various entrepreneurs. Some of these big names might even host their own chats, which gives you an opportunity to listen in or perhaps even participate in the discussion.
- Exclusivity. Currently, you can’t get in without an invitation, and invitations are in short supply.
Which brings us to the next question…
How do I get into Clubhouse?
As mentioned, Clubhouse membership is by invitation only, and the invitations aren’t flowing too freely yet. That’s because the app creators want to build their community slowly so they can work out what features to add in anticipation of having a big, thriving community.
If you have an iPhone, you can download the app, reserve your username, and then wait for an invitation. If several of your friends are already members, Clubhouse may waive the requirement for an invitation and let you in the backdoor.
Once in, you can set up your account, which includes these steps:
- Fill out your bio. Make the first three lines count in particular, since this is part of the preview. Tell people who you are and what you can do for them.
- Show your face to build rapport. Ideally, choose a clear photo with a white background, which will make it “pop.”
- Connect Instagram and Twitter. People will follow you on these platforms, plus this is also where they’ll message you privately.
- Add tags/interest. This helps Clubhouse make relevant recommendations to you.
Next…
What impact will Clubhouse have on other social media?
While it’s too early to tell exactly how Clubhouse will affect your other online activities, here are some early predictions:
- People will spend less time listening to podcasts. People tend to value live events over recorded events, especially when they can participate. While podcasts will always have their place (as people like to listen to them on their own time), some people are going to move away from podcasts in lieu of spending more time listening live on Clubhouse.
- More people will follow your other platforms. When you’re on stage, people tend to click on your Clubhouse bio and then click through to your other platforms, such as Twitter and Instagram. What’s more, Clubhouse doesn’t have a private messaging feature, so people will also follow you on these other platforms so that they can message you.
Next question…
How do I make the most of Clubhouse?
The first thing you need to know about Clubhouse is that recording isn’t allowed. That means that if you want to make the most of Clubhouse, it’s a good idea to take notes that you can refer back to later.
NOTE: It’s against the Clubhouse’s terms of use to record or transcribe conversations without the participant’s permission, so you either need to use these notes for your personal use OR obtain proper written permissions if you have some other use in mind.
The second point you need to know is that Clubhouse is all about providing value. If you take the stage and drone on about yourself, you’re going to turn people off pretty quick.
Instead, think about how you can provide value to the discussion. What fresh viewpoint can you introduce? What useful information can you share? How can you contribute in a thoughtful, useful way to this conversation?
Along these lines, you’re also going to want to consider how you can provide value in the form of some sort of lead magnet. As mentioned, people will click on your bio while they’re listening to you – and they’re even more likely to do that if you’re contributing a lot of value to the discussion. You can then have a related link in your bio that offers prospects a related podcast, video, report or other resource.
In addition to building your own community with a lead-capture funnel, you can use Clubhouse to network with others in your niche. Spending 15 minutes talking to someone via this voice chat builds relationships and trust much faster than exchanging gobs of emails.
In Sum…
Clubhouse is an exciting new entry into the world of social media, and it’s already changing how people interact. Perhaps the lockdowns from the pandemic helped Clubhouse gain its popularity, as people were looking for more personal interactions since they were missing that in their offline lives.
Even if you can’t get in yet, it’s a good idea to reserve your username, and start thinking about what sort of conversations you’d like to join and what you’d like to contribute to those discussions. Remember to be generous with what you share, take the focus off yourself, and provide a lot of value to the audience.
Oh… and have fun!
