The most successful social networking platforms stick to their niche. Instagram has photos, Twitter has text, and TikTok has video. But what if we told you that there was a new, podcast-inspired platform joining the party?!

Enter: Clubhouse

The newest social networking innovation, Clubhouse finds its niche in audio; no photos or videos allowed! In fact, the app (which is currently only available for iOS) has been described as being “if Twitter was a podcast you lived in.”
 
Clubhouse promotes connecting and networking with others through open conversation, no matter where they are in the world. The app has both public and private rooms with moderators and is similar to Zoom, with users virtually raising their hands to talk. The conversations can be casual or formal, business related or just for fun; it’s up to the user!
 
You might be asking yourself, what makes this platform beneficial for your brand? Although Clubhouse doesn’t let you ‘post’ the same way that most social media platforms do, connecting with a client base, potential customers, and other businesses is so important, especially right now. Without the face-to-face aspect of business, we lose a lot of that personal connection. Speaking real time with groups of people and sharing your business’s knowledge is a super beneficial way to build your customer base and gain exposure!
 
Not only that, but lots of celebrities (most notably Elon Musk) are active in the space! This is a major advantage of the app; where else would you get the chance to hear business moguls of that caliber speak in real time? Being able to connect with the leaders of major corporations and the most brilliant minds in your industry is an incredible learning opportunity!

The most important thing to keep in mind when networking on Clubhouse is that it elicits best results when you cross-promote it with other platforms. You need to be willing to spend time messaging and connecting with people in the space and then drawing them towards your out-of-app profiles. Because Clubhouse doesn’t have a traditional posting feature and as of now content cannot be saved, it is unlikely that the app will replace any existing platforms. Instead, it will likely just become another medium that gives you the opportunity to become a thought leader and connect with others in your industry or niche!
 
Be warned: Clubhouse can be a major time suck as you fall down the rabbit hole, like any well-designed social media app (see TikTok for reference ?). It’s still a little too early to tell if the platform will have a direct line for brands to sales just yet!
 
PRO TIP: We are HUGE proponents of continuous learning and this app really can give you access to a wealth of knowledge either in your own space or one that you are hoping to grow into. (Amazing access for College Students, Recent Grads and young professionals – GET AFTER IT!)
 
As of right now, Clubhouse is invite-only and super exclusive. When a new user joins, they are gifted only two invites, but can gain more as a reward for continuing to use the app. We’ll have to wait and see if the platform opens up more, but for now you’ll have to cross your fingers and hope you know someone who can get you in!

But wait… hold up! What about Clubhouse’s privacy and security?

Facebook Marketing Expert, Mari Smith, (aka our spirit animal!!) recently expressed her concerns with the lack of privacy options with Clubhouse. Just like most social apps, if you give Clubhouse access to your contacts, the app will show you everyone on your contact list who is also on Clubhouse. But what if you didn’t give Clubhouse access to your contacts, specifically because you didn’t want all of them to know you were there? Unfortunately, Clubhouse has made it possible for them to know anyway and encourage them to follow you, and there isn’t much you can do about it… at least for right now. So, before you decide to join the cool kids club, you might want to consider who will see you there, even if you take every available measure to keep your contacts private.
 
What do you think of this idea? Will you be dropping in to listen in Clubhouse or are you more of a ‘scroll with the volume off’ type of social media user and content to stay right where you are? Be sure to let us know!

xoxo,

The Ladies of Become Intertwined
Keeping the ‘Social’ in Social Media!
www.BecomeIntertwined.com
@BIntertwined