Somewhere between a conference call and an interactive podcast, the invite-only Clubhouse is the latest social networking app and has skyrocketed in popularity in recent weeks.
Through the app, subscribers around the world can host and tune in to real-time, free-flowing, and voice-only conversations of any length on virtually any topic – books, politics, Beyonce, feminist theory, investing, dating, and much more. Moderators convene a group of speakers on “the stage,” while everyone else in “the room” listens in and has the opportunity to request to speak if they have something to share. Moderators can then accept or deny those requests.
To join the app, you must receive an invite from a current user. Once you’re on, be sure to follow current users who share your interests and join and follow clubs on your preferred topics to raise your profile.
Outside of your work, what hobbies or activities really excite you?
As communications professionals, Clubhouse can potentially be a great tool for getting your message out, engaging with new audiences, and connecting directly with like-minded individuals. If you’re considering hosting an event on Clubhouse or have been invited as a speaker for one, here are a few tips for making the most of the platform:
- Schedule your room in advance: While you can start a room at any time, scheduling a room in advance can help guarantee a larger audience. With a scheduled room you get a shareable link for promotion on other platforms, can automatically notify your followers and potential audience members when the event begins, and ensure that your room shows up in Clubhouse’s main events calendar.
- Consider who’s on the stage: As with any event, it’s important to make sure your speakers are diverse, and offer a variety of perspectives that will positively add to the discussion. Hearing from women, people of color, or LGBTQ people for example, allows you to have a more well-rounded, and therefore, interesting conversation.
- Reset the room: With users constantly browsing and hopping in and out of chats, it’s helpful to regularly reset the room to update those who’ve just joined on the ongoing conversation and who’s on the stage. It’s also a great way to get the conversation back on track if speakers have gotten off topic.
- Ditch the prepared remarks: One of the best things about Clubhouse is its intimacy and unstructured format. Sharing your thoughts and ideas on a topic or hearing what feels like a personal conversation between your two favorite media personalities can be powerful and help you feel connected, which is all the more valuable after a year in quarantine. It’s always good to prepare talking points or a discussion guide, but embrace having a free-flowing and authentic conversation.
Written by Ianthe Metzger WWPR Membership Co-Chair, Communications Director, The Collective PAC
- Scan the Audience: You never know who might be listening in, so as a host or speaker, take time to regularly scan the audience and read bios. If your room is discussing the ongoing winter storms in Texas for example, and a person from a local relief organization is in the audience, it could make sense to invite them up to the stage to talk about their work and share more about how listeners can help.
It’s important to ensure that your room remains a positive and safe space, where all users and perspectives can be heard. Check out these helpful articles to learn more about Clubhouse:
New York Times: What is Clubhouse?
Inside Hook: What Is Clubhouse and Do You Need to Be on It?
San Francisco Chronicle: Invitation only app Clubhouse has tech titans talking
Bloomberg: Invite-Only Social App Clubhouse Is Slowly Getting Pried Open
Forbes: Is Clubhouse Creating An Equitable Environment For All Its Users?