CLUBHOUSE: How Entrepreneurs Are Using It To Their Advantage

By Paige Boyd, Managing Editor

As the COVID-19 pandemic shut down the world in many aspects in the last year, entrepreneurs have been left with a major crisis. Many "brick-and-mortar" businesses were forced to shut down in an effort to mitigate the virus, and all business owners were left with a dramatic decrease in income as the economy took a major hit.

In the midst of this global catastrophe, a new social network emerged as a method of connecting the world without the distractions of funny memes and visual superficiality. Launching in April 2020, Clubhouse is an audio-only app that is, pretty much, a grander version of a 3-way call. Initially an invite-only app, it allowed everyday people to connect with others based on similar interests and expertise. It quickly grew in popularity, as major influencers from various industries caught on to share their "tricks of the trade" to those who aspire to follow in their footsteps.

Naturally, the platform began to see an influx of entrepreneurs looking to use this unique premise to their advantage. Business owners have seen a growth in their reach because they are in direct contact with potential consumers. Clubhouse has a full range of interests that users can select, making it easy to tailor one's "hallway" (lists of related audio rooms) to their specific field. In addition to reaching out to potential customers, entrepreneurs also have the unique opportunity to sit in a room with top figures in the business world, sharing their wisdom, tips, and stories with those willing to listen. (NOTE: It is worth mentioning that you should definitely do prior research in using this app, as it is easy to have "business imposters" set up accounts and mislead others with falsehoods in relation to their "expertise.")

ABC's Good Morning America featured a segment in February 2021 on how some entrepreneurs have successfully used Clubhouse to grow their businesses. They also shared some "Do's and Don'ts" of the app. You can view the segment below.

**NOTE: The Clubhouse app is no longer "invite-only" and is now available on both iOS and Android devices.