Clubhouse: The Next Big Thing for Virtual Networking

We’ve talked before about ways to use LinkedIn to grow your business connections online. However, there’s another social network you’ll probably be hearing more about. Clubhouse is an invitation-only, audio-based social media app that lets members explore areas of interest while also sharing their thoughts and subject matter expertise.

It’s likely you’ll find that Clubhouse and LinkedIn can be highly complementary to one another. But first, let’s talk more about what Clubhouse is and how it works.

Real-time Dialog

Clubhouse members join “clubs” based on a wide range of topics and then visit their underlying rooms which delve into sub-topics under each respective subject. Think of these rooms as two-way, real-time podcasts that also let members engage directly in the conversation. Users can virtually step into any room to listen in on experts in discussion, ask questions, chat with others, and let their thoughts be heard. If you wander into a room you like, there are scheduled times for future meetings to ensure you visit again.

Clubs and rooms are seemingly endless, encompassing business, entertainment, hobbies, personal growth topics, and more. Members can start rooms on topics of their choosing, open them to others, and moderate who gets to speak.

Clubhouse is clearly on fire, having grown from a few thousand members to several million in just months.

Starting Out

If you’re new to Clubhouse, there are some things you can do to make the most of your presence:

1. Build your bio. This is your space that allows you to talk about yourself and your expertise (I’ve included my own Clubhouse bio as an example). This area is your personal “billboard” that will let others discover more about you. Room moderators may also use this information to introduce you if you’re brought on stage in a room to speak.
2. Link to other platforms. Your bio is also where you’ll link to your other social profiles. Currently, Clubhouse has direct links for Twitter and Instagram but not for LinkedIn. If you’re active on LinkedIn, you’ll want to prominently include the URL to your LinkedIn profile in your Clubhouse bio. This way, Clubhouse members will be able to easily locate and connect with you on LinkedIn.
3. Listen first. When you get started on Clubhouse, spend time simply listening to learn the etiquette before you speak. Once you decide you’re ready to contribute to a conversation, this is initiated in the form of virtual hand-raising. If you’re invited by the moderator to speak, common rules of courtesy apply, such as muting yourself when not speaking and avoiding crosstalk or interrupting others.

Clubhouse as a Complementary Platform

While Clubhouse has significant value on its own, it can also be used to help grow your networks and deepen your existing connections on other social platforms.

Clubhouse’s real-time audio enables natural verbal dialog, supporting relationship building in a way that text- or image-based platforms cannot. When I first joined Clubhouse, I started by following the influencers I had made connections with on LinkedIn, with the goal of enhancing these relationships through spoken conversations. In doing so, I’ve gotten to know them in a way that text-based posts and direct messages don’t allow. Connections that I only knew superficially on LinkedIn I now know on a more personal level through Clubhouse.

Clubhouse can also provide for a more personal opener when extending invitations to connect on LinkedIn. For example, instead of sending a generic invitation, you can reference the Clubhouse room in which you heard the person speak and what they said. This sets the tone for a more personal relationship moving forward.

Clubhouse’s popularity can be attributed to its audio capabilities. If anything, the downside is that it can become time-intensive due to the sheer volume of clubs and rooms likely to be of interest. The best strategy is to narrow your focus to a key topic or two of interest to you or your organization and concentrate your efforts there.

It’s believed that Clubhouse will eventually enable wider access compared to its current invitation-only model. For now, if you’re fortunate enough to have received an invitation, use it to expand your business network, deepen your relationships, and showcase your thought leadership through meaningful contributions to conversations.

 

Rachel moderates a weekly Clubhouse room dedicated to LinkedIn topics.