This post originally appeared on Sola Salon Studios
Have you heard of Clubhouse yet? This invite-only, audio-based social media platform has been the hottest new app of 2021.
Clubhouse features discussion rooms with podcast-style moderators, where users can listen to live streaming audio and even join in the conversation “on stage” with the push of a button (and the go-ahead from the room’s moderator). Topics range from beauty and fashion to world events and politics, and everything in between.
1. Connect with Industry Leaders
We love Clubhouse for the vast array of beauty professionals and stylists who are already making waves. Industry leaders have flocked to Clubhouse during the pandemic to share their skills, expertise and perspective on a platform that doesn’t require video or a social media campaign to generate interest.
Clubhouse allows you to get an insider’s glimpse into the minds of global and industry-specific thought-leaders in a raw and authentic format, sharing genuinely on topics that they are passionate about without all the bells and whistles. This means you can hear from people who may otherwise be too busy for a public event or official podcast.
When you join rooms moderated by industry leaders, there will often be time for discussion where you can raise your hand and join the conversation. This is an incredible way to connect with people who may otherwise be completely inaccessible.
Join a room hosted by your favorite educator and you may be one button push away from talking to them live. This is a new way of networking that has the power to totally change your career.
2. Connect (and Reconnect) with Your Community
In 2021, in-person events have been few and far between. Clubhouse creates daily opportunities to be present and engaged in a room full of passionate peers from all over the world. For many, this might even be better than in-person networking because you can join discussions in sweatpants. Even better, these are not video conferences, just audio, so you can listen and join in from anywhere - in the car, on a walk, in the salon, at the gym, or better yet, from the comfort of your own home.
It can be hard for people to stay away once they’ve joined Clubhouse. You will find yourself immersed in a world of inspiring and motivated peers, sharing tricks of the trade to better your work as a beauty professional and independent salon owner. You are able to connect not only with industry leaders, but also peers, oftentimes who find themselves in the same rooms as you. You can reach out and connect with those like-minded peers, creating a sense of online community that might move into other social media platforms, or perhaps even in person. By growing your network as a beauty professional, you are building a stronger foundation to flourish as an independent salon owner.
You may also find invitations to Clubhouse rooms posted on various social media platforms by influencers and educators that you follow elsewhere. If you love their stuff, link up with them on Clubhouse for a deeper dive. You never know when your biggest idol may become your educator, teacher or even a friend!
3. Join the Conversation
Imagine logging in and clicking into a room with one of the greats - a styling icon or infamous beauty guru, and suddenly you are part of their conversation. This is an incredible way to connect with people who educate, motivate and inspire from the comfort of your own home.
As a Clubhouse user, you also have the opportunity to moderate rooms yourself. Do you have a topic that you would love to discuss or share? This is a great low-pressure way to hone your public speaking skills and even gain a following. Many creatives and educators are making a name for themselves via Clubhouse.
If you have a niche skill, an interest, an educational tidbit to share - give Clubhouse moderation a try! Share your creativity and inspiration with the world. This is a virtual, low-commitment way to make a splash. At the very least, taking initiative and creating your own discussion room will build courage and lead to some great connections in the industry.
4. Free Education
Clubhouse provides unparalleled opportunities for free education. With in-person educational events on a momentary pause, Clubhouse provides a space for ongoing live events, whenever you are available. This makes educational content more easily accessible and engaging than ever before.
The best part is that the content is not flat. You are not watching endless lectures or scrolling through another Instagram Reel. These discussions are live, in real-time, creating a sense of depth and authenticity. Furthermore, you get to join in on the conversation, making it all the more personal and engaging.
Do you have a burning question about a beauty technique or business strategy that you are learning about on Clubhouse? Raise your hand (push the hand raise button at the bottom right corner of the screen) and you can get invited to speak on the virtual stage. The ability to participate live on an audio stream and connect with minds all over the world in this way is a truly revolutionary concept. We can now show up and participate in discussions never before possible, on virtually any topic you can think of, all over the world, with the click of a button. How cool is that?
5. Expand Your Horizons
Clubhouse has an infinite capacity to expand your network of beauty professionals, industry leaders, peers and business resources. We recommend searching for particular topics, clubs and industry leaders that you would like to follow, and discovering new rooms through suggestions from Clubhouse.
When you have enjoyed a particular discussion, follow the moderator and they will appear in your Clubhouse “hallway” in the future. Often moderators will even host a room regularly, which can bring you into a recurring community. This sense of virtual community creates a remarkably expansive network of brilliant minds all over the world.