Clubhouse, the invite of the year!

You might've heard of Clubhouse by now; you would have seen me talking about it a few times on my Instagram story. I have been on clubhouse now for around 2 weeks, maybe a few days more. I won't lie, I was hesitant to sign up because, well, I think I am on enough social media platforms to last me a lifetime. BUT this is a platform like no other! It's unlikely you've joined Clubhouse...yet... so let me fill you in on the invite-only social platform.

This new social media platform has built its reputation, on exclusivity. You have to secure an invite and have an iPhone to get in although I feel this will change soon enough once the app is out of BETA mode.

Here's what you need to know about Clubhouse in case you soon find yourself using it.

Clubhouse is an invitation-only audio-chat social networking app launched in 2020. It is already taking the world by storm as of December 2020; it was valued at nearly $100 million.

What is Clubhouse?

In short: Clubhouse is an audio-based social media app. The company describes itself as "a new type of social product based on voice [that] allows people everywhere to talk, tell stories, develop ideas, deepen friendships, and meet interesting new people around the world."

The app is bringing together the style of live podcast conversations, panel discussions, networking opportunities, some people have taken to changing their bio from 'influencer' to 'moderator' and advantageous multiple-room use (locked and private options are available so you can talk to friends too), the social-media app mimics real-life interactions." The audio itself, however, doesn't leave the app. That's the main rule: There's no recording of conversations, and they're not saved. People have already been kicked off the app for not following this rule. So no recording audio!

Who is using Clubhouse?

Clubhouse is big with podcast hosts, motivational speakers, experts in their own fields (I see many hairdressers and marketers using this platform) plus big celebrities. The other morning I had just started my 5 am wake-up calls (more on this another day) but while sitting downstairs drinking my coffee, working through my emails I sat and listened to Elon Musk talking about his business and life journey. In what world would anyone be sitting at 5 am on a Monday listening to one of the world's richest men have live conversations with people. If you keep floating around the app and you might hear Oprah, Kevin Hart, Drake, Chris Rock, or Ashton Kutcher pop up. I have not come across them yet but ill keep trying. The fact that they can host chats and your potential to be 'called to stage' to ask them a question or have a chat with them is a huge part of Clubhouse's appeal. You get the chance to hear and even participate in, unscripted conversations with famous and powerful people. This platform is taking networking to a new level.

Other than the odd famous face floating around, the app gives less known but not any less inspiring people together to talk, collaborate, and share stories. I know the rooms I have listened to I have learned a lot. I sat in on an American marketing agency, like myself talking about how they do business, and I sat took notes, and connected with them. It has been great to step out of my Irish bubble and see how the rest of the world is marketing for smaller businesses in the middle of lockdowns and covid. I have also been in some random rooms where I have left very quickly; this is still the internet after all. This is something the creators really need to work on. It is a very free speech platform, and some extreme conversations are going on. The room titles normally give away what they are talking about, so keep away from rooms that will not benefit you business-wise and personally.

How do you get an invite to Clubhouse?

Ask around. Right now, you still cannot join Clubhouse without an invite. If you're an iPhone user, though, you can download the app and reserve a username, if that sort of thing interests you. But the app apparently plans to expand to the general public soon. Now is the time to jump on it and build up your name, and connections before it gets too busy.

The creators have not done this yet because they want to slowly build the community of the app, and it wants to prepare features that will help it handle larger numbers of people.

"We are building Clubhouse for everyone and working to make it available to the world as quickly as possible," the app's site reads.

So over the past 2 weeks or so I have connected with some great people, I have listened in to some great and not so great rooms, but I am excited about this platform, one main fact is I don't have to wear a scrap of makeup to present or talk to people like I do with zoom and Instagram. But it runs in the background so I can still use my phone, I can work away, and if I hear something inspiring, I can raise my hand and join the conversation. This is nice because my children really don't care for the latest Instagram update rants, I seem to be doing a lot more these days.

If you are still looking to join the clubhouse party, let me know I have a few invites left and would love to grow my network on the platform and have some new conversations with you.

Add me on clubhouse @taralouise_mc let's connect!