What I Learned My First Week In The Clubhouse App

Are you up in the club?  Clubhouse app, I mean? Clubhouse is the latest social media networking app and hotspot for conversations. It launched in invite-only beta in the final few weeks of 2020 and it’s been growing ever since.

Currently, it’s only available to iPhone users but those on different phone operating systems can reserve their username now if they wish. What makes it different from all the other social options out there is that it’s audio-only. So no getting camera-ready or even wearing pants if you don’t want to. The idea is to talk, share expertise, tell stories and generate conversations using your real voice in real-time — making a shift away from pre-produced content and towards high-quality knowledge sharing on the fly. The best part for many…no getting camera-ready or wearing pants to share knowledge, experience and value with others in your target audience.

Clubhouse is currently operating as an invite-only platform, but I was lucky enough reserve my name (@karlyn – come follow me!) and to score an invite as an early adopter. To grab yours, download the app and add your name to the wait list. This will then trigger your contacts who are already inside the app to wave you through if they choose to do so…but there’s a catch there, and you’ll have to keep reading as to why you may need a bit cautious on who you wave through the platform.

The Clubhouse App – a quick primer

When you’re in, it’s all about finding a room that suits your goals. The format varies from podcast style to panel discussions right through to informal networking opportunities, and there are some big names attached. The other day I was in a room with leaders who work for LinkedIn and they were spilling some secrets! The day before that I was in a room with Michelle Williams of the former music group Destiny’s Child talking about goals for the new year and she shared all about her new book from the virtual stage. I’ve also been on stage in a few smaller rooms to share my expertise and knowledge and two cents. The best part is…to chime in, all you have to do is hit the “raised hand” emoji at the bottom of the screen. So easy!

One thing to know: Clubhouse is a bit like Fight Club. Everything said on the app stays on the app, and nothing gets recorded – unless you explicitly get every room member’s permission upfront. So, have a pen and paper handy if you want to take notes. Hint: You’ll want to take notes. I tend to take notes on my phone’s notepad while I’m listening. In my opinion, the smartest thing Clubhouse developers did was allow other apps to run AND be used at the same time theirs is running. Since there’s no chat feature in the app people are connecting through Instagram and LinkedIn and DMing each other to stay in touch.

My Clubhouse Dos and Don’ts

Dos:

Don’ts