Clubhouse – what is it & how can brands take advantage?

Just when you thought we’d maxed out our ability to engage with another social network, out of pretty much nowhere, Clubhouse crashes the party. And like any good guest, they’ve certainly brought their own bottle. In the form of an exciting new way for individuals and brands to communicate with  audiences. 

Time to pop the cork, here’s what you need to know about the latest app on the block: 

What is Clubhouse?

Put simply, Clubhouse connects people via audio. Like Instagram’s appeal is mainly pictures , Twitter’s is words, Tik Tok’s is video, Clubhouse’s is audio. The app is set up as a series of different ‘rooms’ which you can dip in and out of and it gives its users the ability to listen live, ask questions, even raise your hand to contribute to spoken content like you’re sat in the room with the presenter or group. Whether it be your favourite podcast, a book club, debates, comedy shows, or Elon Musk discussing when humans will inhabit Mars (in 6 years, apparently). You name it, if it can be spoken, there’s likely to be something on Clubhouse about it.

A spokesperson told the Evening Standard that its their mission to create “a social experience that is focused on connection, learning, and authentic conversations, where people close the app feeling better than they did when they opened it, because they have deepened friendships, met new people and learned. 

You can also setup your own rooms with friends or strangers too, to have impromptu discussions about anything and everything.

How long has it been around?

Clubhouse was launched at the height of the first lockdown in Spring 2020 by seasoned Silicon Valley duo Paul Davison and Rohan Seth. 

Can anyone join?

Currently, Clubhouse is still invite only. This is due to the audio app still being fairly new and still in its beta stage. Which is basically to ensure everything works both technically and from a security standpoint before they roll it out to the masses.

It’s estimated at the moment that there’s around 600,000 registered users. Each person that’s lucky enough to already have earned a slice of the pie can invite one person to join. But due to its early uptake,  we imagine they won’t want to leave it too long before its open to everyone.

Oh, and sorry Android users, it’s presently only available to iPhone users, so you might need to wait a little longer.

How can brands use it?

Like any new social media app, it creates new opportunities for brands to connect with their audiences and clubhouse is no different. Whilst the app is still defining its core values/offering and people are still working out how to utilise its key features. There isn’t a user guide on how to grow your presence on the platform. But we believe there lies some opportunity for brands: 

• Take your podcast live – brands have the potential to take their podcasts live with influencers around topics that tie back to their brand.
• Live shows – music is currently an untapped area on clubhouse and with the death of live shows in 2020, brands have the possibility to host their own live music, comedy or other shows.
• Discussion – whether its the latest movie release, a trend in the fitness industry, the impact of Boris’ latest announcement, brands can hop on Clubhouse to discuss trending topics relevant to them.

Whether you think Clubhouse is just another fad, or are excited about its prospect. Twitter & Facebook have taken notice and are in the process of preparing their own, similar versions within their respective apps.

Want to be the first to take advantage of Clubhouse and other social media platforms? Get in touch today.