Clubhouse is a new 'audio only' social media. You get the opportunity to jump in on discussions, interviews and conversations between live speakers on various topics. They're like mini podcasts that you have the opportunity of participating in. You can 'raise' your hand and get invited to ask a question, share a story or an insight.

But when the 'room' is finished, it's over, there is no record of the audio available after. Implementing the 'FOMO' (Fear Of Missing Out) effect.

How do I get on clubhouse?

Currently clubhouse is somewhat 'exclusive' you can only join if you get an invite from someone who is already a member. Anyone can download the app and reserve a username though, but until you get an invite you won't be able to access.

It seems that Clubhouse suddenly appeared out of nowhere, that's because at first it was targeted at high profile celebrities, CEO's and top influencers. Some of the first users of the app included Drake, Oprah Winfrey and Elon Musk.

Clubhouse was launched in March 2020 when co-founders Paul Davison and Rohan Seth " wanted to build a social experience that felt more human - where instead of posting, you could gather with other people and talk".

According to Forbes, one of the biggest pulls of Clubhouse is the break away from a screen (or zoom fatigue). Audio only frees up people to listen while also multitasking, they could be on a walk, doing housework or on a commute. It also provides listeners with 'authenticity', people are connecting more with human voices and conversational aspects of the app.

How are some businesses using Clubhouse?

Learning from experts

The biggest attraction of Clubhouse right now is the opportunity to connect with some of the world's most prominent business leaders and entrepreneurs. Beyond the mentorship potential, you can also use it to become a thought leader yourself. As an entrepreneur, you can learn about a wide range of topics that can help you solve a problem or strengthen your business.

Finding people with skills you need

As you're visiting rooms relevant to your business, you may get to know people with knowledge and experience you need. An example of this is when Erik Corzberg landed a job after speaking on 'stage' in a Clubhouse room. He was on Clubhouse for a month and he continued to network in search of a job.

Getting new business

You can create your own rooms around your areas of expertise, share tips and tricks. When you connect with people and talk about your business, people make a connection with you and your business has the potential to gain new clients.

Online communities and audio content are increasing in demand

During COVID-19, people who were stuck in their homes turned to webinars, virtual events and online experiences. While virtual events were beneficial at the time, for many they eventually dealt with screen fatigue. Globally during the pandemic, listening to podcasts increased by 42%, this could have primed audiences for Clubhouses audio only nature. Helping brands meet and build engagement with fans.

Is Clubhouse right for you?

Clubhouse offers some major awareness and community building benefits to brands. But also creates some risks. As Clubhouse is live and unscripted, having a representative of your brand say something wrong could be damaging. Although conversations cannot be recorded in the app itself, you could be quoted or screen recorded easily.