When I first started to see posts about the new app Clubhouse, the sources were mainly from those mentors or podcast hosts that I followed in the Social Media marketing world and the podcasting world. Just like with many of the apps that are out there, I waited a week or so to make sure it was legit.
Clubhouse
If you are into podcasting, TedTalks, or attending conferences then Clubhouse could be a great place for you! Still in it’s Beta testing (as of January 2021), it’s a little tough to get in but, once you’re in, you’ll get addicted! To get in, you must be nominated. Once you are in, you will get one link that you can share to allow one other person in.
There are a few backdoor ways of getting your friends into the app through a sponsorship platform but we’ll go into that on a different blog post in the future.
What are Clubs?
Inside of Clubhouse are “Clubs,” which have great names like “Women In Business,” “Real Estate Moguls,” “Equestrian Connect,” and more. These clubs are based around a base topic and theme that becomes a wild umbrella for the conversations that can happen within those Clubs.
Just like getting into Clubhouse is a bit touch-and-go, creating a Club in Clubhouse is the same with a lengthy waitlist. You can fill out an application but the administration side of the app is looking for people who are speakers and moderators meaning active in the app.
What are Rooms?
Club Rooms
Club Rooms is a room created inside of a Club by any of the members with a catchy topic that could entice the rest of the followers into the group to join the conversation. If the Club name, say, is Equestrian Connect, then someone could start a room called “To blanket or not to blanket this winter!” What do you think this topic is about? It would be about blanketing your horse in the winter and the moderators will lead what we can only assume is a spirited conversation about blankets and horses in the wintertime.
Open Rooms
In an open room, and I’m not sure if this is the professional term that they use, but is a room that anyone makes to start conversation. This is a great way for you to get traction in your chances of having your own Club someday as you can prove your value and worth to the app through engagement and activity in the Room that you created and are moderating.
Closed Rooms
You never know what is said behind doors and this is true in the Closed Rooms. These rooms replace private messages or direct messages since messaging of any kind is impossible on Clubhouse. This is the way that I have a conversation with someone that I have met in a room that I want to dive deeper into a topic on.
Roles within Rooms
Moderators
Just like in a Zoom meeting or listening to a panel speak at a conference, the Moderator serves value in continuing the conversation and building the quality of the conversation by keeping it on track. The creator of the event will be a Moderator automatically and then you can add other co-hosts to help you moderate.
Moderators are recognized by a green circle with a white asterisk at the bottom of their profile photo. The top left individual is the one that created the event - even if they aren’t the one talking the most or doing the moderating.
Keep in mind that the green asterisk is NOT equal to the Blue Checkmark famous on many other platforms that verifies the account as a professional, celebrity or industry expert. The green asterisk is simply to let you know that they are the moderators of the group.
The Speakers: The First Group of People in the Room
As discussed above, the top left profile circle is the person who created the group. Those with the green asterisk are the moderators of the group that are allowed to see “raised hands” and move individuals into the Speakers section of the Room. If you are in the Speakers section or moved into it, make sure to mute your microphone when you are not speaking to retain the highest audio value available.
If the room is a topic of interest to you, and it must be if you clicked on to join it, then make sure to
Followed by Speakers
Listed right below the Speakers are the profiles that are followed by the Speakers of the group. These may be her profiles that you are interested in following on Clubhouse.
Others in the Room
These are other individuals that are in the room. In a Room in a Club, these are oftentimes other Club Members. However, since most of Clubhouse is still new, there is a lot of people joining rooms based off of the uniqueness of the title of the room.