We’ve all said something akin to the phrase, “If I could be a fly on the wall for that conversation.” But what if you could? And what if you could put in your two-cents as well?
Clubhouse is a new social media app on the rise that allows you to engage in conversations regarding just about anything you can think of. And you can take part in those conversations with everyone from your next door neighbor to the creator of TESLA … as long as you have an invitation and an iPhone, that is.
Clubhouse has created opportunities for unique interactions among its users that brands and businesses may want to take note of. For example, the app provides chances to listen to and learn from industry leaders, connect with potential investors, and even get direct feedback from your own consumers.
What is the Clubhouse app?
Clubhouse is an audio-chat only social networking app. Yes, you read that correctly. No photos or videos or quippy memes here. Just good ol’ live conversations.
Yes, live. And yes, we said conversations. Because users have the option to simply sit back and listen or join in the conversation themselves.
Essentially, when you use the Clubhouse app (if you are able to get an invite), you select your topics of interest, such as books, music, marketing, stocks, etc. The app then provides conversation “rooms” that you can join which match your interests where you can simply listen to the discussion or chime in with your own thoughts. Additionally, the app can suggest other users to follow (similar to suggested profiles on Instagram or Twitter) who participate in or host discussions that match your interests.
When you use Clubhouse to join a room, you are likely to be part of an automatically muted audience. Want to raise a concern or give some commentary? Then you can click the “Raise Hand” button and the room moderators have the option to unmute you … or they can pass it over to keep conversation flowing. According to an article from Hubspot, “Entering a Room is essentially like attending a webinar or Zoom meeting with no video and a partially muted audience.”
What makes Clubhouse unique?
Clubhouse is just now reaching its one-year mark, but it already has two million users. What has made this app skyrocket in demand? Well, hosting a conversation between Elon Musk and the creator or Robinhood CEO Vlad Tenev certainly helped! But it also has to do with what the app offers its users.
Clubhouse takes a unique approach to social networking…
- It’s live. The conversations that occur on Clubhouse are live. You join a room and it’s like hopping on a conference call–it is going on right now and you, the user, get to be a part of it. But that conversation is the one that you are most interested in at that moment.
- It’s interactive. Unlike a podcast, Clubhouse app users have the option to react and interact. They can literally be a part of the conversation.
- It’s audio-only. Social media is largely themed around what you see, read, or watch these days. An audio-only app, especially one that allows you to be a part of the conversation if you choose, is a niche that hadn’t been filled until now. This is especially important to people worldwide who have become fatigued by highly-visual online media. Additionally, it creates an outlet for creators who may need a break from creating large quantities of video content!
- Quick-response opportunity. News travels fast, but nothing is faster than a phone call. When big news happens such as the Amazon CEO stepping down from his position, you can turn to Clubhouse for immediate conversation to discuss how this move might impact something as big as the stock market or your next binge-buy.
Considering the setup of other audio-based applications (think podcasting apps or even Youtube) or highly visual social networking sites (Facebook or Instagram), Clubhouse seems to provide a solution for the gaps that these other apps can’t fill. In a time when social media has often felt like it is destroying the ability for people to interact socially, the Clubhouse app may actually be allowing people to regain their conversational skills and engage in incredible conversations that wouldn’t have been possible otherwise.
In the words of Elon Musk, “Users can listen in to conversations, interviews and discussions between interesting people on various topics – it is just like tuning in to a podcast but live and with an added layer of exclusivity.”
Making Clubhouse work for you
Like we said, Clubhouse is an app that is still pretty exclusive. You can’t just download it and create a profile. For starters, it is only on iOS systems currently. It is also invitation-only so unless a current user invites you, there is no way in. Those invitations are a hot commodity too–current users can only invite up to two people total.
So, if you are one of the lucky few to get in, what role can Clubhouse play in your social media approach? Here are some great ways to use the app to promote and grow your brand or business:
- Start a discussion that answers questions about how your product or service helps potential customers.
- Sponsor a room to create and grow your brand awareness, which can help you draw in clients.
- Join conversations with other businesses in your industry to discuss common subjects such as how to overcome unique hurdles or even key tips to market in a new way during a global crisis.
- Join or start conversations about subjects specific to what your business does to help you reach your target audience, which is exactly where you want to be!
- Listen in on what consumers of your brand or similar brands in your industry think about your products or service. That real-time feedback can help you improve your business and even give you a leg-up over your competition.
- Take the chance to connect with investors that you may never have been able to talk to otherwise (a unique opportunity the app offers, according to Josh Constantine of Signalfire).
It’s new and it may seem strange to many of us when compared to the long-standing social media platforms. But it’s a new way to reach out and connect with people–and that is exactly what you need in a healthy marketing approach.
Staying up-to-date on the latest tools and trends to grow your business, but need extra help? We’ll tune up or dial in your social media marketing plan to give it the boost it needs. Contact RM Creative Services at info@rachaelmattice.com or visit our Contact page to get started.
Written by Brianna Fries, a California-based writer and editor. You can discover more of her work at briwritesthings.com.