There’s plenty of buzz surrounding Clubhouse right now.
No longer totally underground, the invite-only social app has amassed an impressive 8+ million mobile downloads seemingly out of nowhere.
And just like any emerging social media platform, users are wondering how to monetize Clubhouse before the gold rush.
Clubhouse’s rapid growth and wealth of business influencers signal the potential that the network has to attract a high-spending audience. The exclusivity of Clubhouse’s audio-only rooms also hints at its potential as a pay-to-play network, too.
But what does monetization on Clubhouse look like? In this guide, we’ll break down some tips and ideas that you can try yourself.
6 Ideas to Monetize Clubhouse Content
Food for thought: Clubhouse recently raised $110M in funding (while boasting a $1 billion valuation).
In other words, widespread monetization features are inevitable at this point. The app’s founders recently announced its “accelerator program” for creators to help monetize their audio spaces.
That said, there are plenty of opportunities to make money on the platform before these pending features go live. Below are six ideas to help you figure out how to monetize Clubhouse ASAP.
1. Sponsored Rooms
We’re already seeing firsthand how influencers are making money from Clubhouse through sponsored rooms.
The process is straightforward. Companies work with influencers on Clubhouse, paying them to:
- Host a room that features the company and its product, promoting it throughout a presentation
- Mention the brand or product in their room or event’s title
- Promote that brand and product across other social channels beyond Clubhouse
Sponsored content is all the rage right now and Clubhouse is no exception. Working with influencers that have established followings is a win-win situation for both parties. Influencers earn cash while companies raise their profile and get much-needed exposure among Clubhouse’s user base.
The key to making this work is two-fold, though.
For starters, you need to have a product or service that’s relevant to Clubhouse users. Although there are plenty of B2B influencers and tech experts on the platform, we’re also seeing a lot of folks in the B2C space as well (particularly, the beauty industry).
But perhaps more importantly, you need to find the right influencers to work with (and vice-versa if you’re an influencer yourself).
That’s where platforms like IZEA’s The Creator Marketplace can save the day. Rather than dig for influencers or conduct cold outreach, IZEA streamlines the process of finding relevant people via a detailed, easy-to-navigate marketplace. Sorting influencers by industry, price, and expertise, you can find exactly what you’re looking for based on your budget and scope.
Pro Tip: Search through thousands more on The Creator Marketplace.
2. Tack Clubhouse Rooms Onto Your Existing Memberships
If you have a following on Clubhouse, chances are you have a following elsewhere.
Consider integrating Clubhouse groups and rooms into your existing digital offerings. This is a brilliant move if you’re a coach or have some sort of mastermind group.
The concept is simple: you can hold events and rooms where only your premium customers are allowed. Here you can run a class, give your students a chance to pick your brain, or interact one-on-one.
This offer is perfect for making your best subscribers feel like VIPs and likewise taking advantage of Clubhouse’s current sense of exclusivity.
The good news is that adding Clubhouse to your coaching packages is as simple as updating your service page. Whether you want to charge a premium for your membership it is totally up to you. Either way, Clubhouse users will be excited to get on board.
3. Repurpose Your Presentations and Sell Them as One-Off Products
Clubhouse is a place where you can have meaningful, off-the-cuff conversations with your target audience.
Don’t let those important talks go to waste! Businesses should double-dip their social content when possible and the same rings true on Clubhouse. For example, There are plenty of opportunities to take your presentations and either sell them as products (think: using Gumroad) or use them as the basis for a podcast.
Again, the exclusivity of the app makes your content seem more enticing and worth paying for. Given that there’s probably a large chunk of your audience that doesn’t have access to Clubhouse (yet), you might be surprised at how many people are willing to pay for your insight.
As a side note, you shouldn’t expect to make big bucks or sell all of your presentations. Audio-only broadcasts are naturally going to cost less to produce than webinars and your price point should reflect that. Even so, you can build a sizable revenue stream of recordings if you create content consistently.
4. Become a Clubhouse Rep or Advocate for a Company
If you’re an influencer with a sizable following, you’re in the perfect position to act as an advocate on behalf of businesses looking to expand their Clubhouse presence. For example, you could offer shout-outs and endorsements as part of your next room or feature that same company’s products as part of a specific presentation.
5. Sell Tickets for Your Premium Rooms
Perhaps the most straightforward way to monetize TikTok content is by independently selling seats to presentations exclusive to Clubhouse users. You could do this yet again through a platform like Gumroad which allows you to sell licenses and codes as products on-site.
You could also use free rooms as an opportunity to give users a taste of your premium offerings. For example, you could run a four-week course or workshop on Clubhouse that includes three free rooms. Then, you wrap up the series with a final paid session featuring a premium lesson or guest.
6. Prepare for Clubhouse’s Rumored Monetization Features
If nothing else, you can start preparing yourself for some of Clubhouse’s paid features which appear to be just around the corner. According to a recent report from TechCrunch, the platform is currently testing the following:
- “Tipping” (presumably a virtual tip jar option to compensate hosts and participants for their time)
- “Tickets” (in-app tickets for events and rooms, creating a sense of scarcity)
- “Subscription” (a Patreon-like service where users can support creators on a monthly basis)
With these potential features in mind, begin brainstorming your content strategy and the moves you need to make to win paid users and long-term subscribers.
How to Get a Head Start on Clubhouse Monetization
To wrap things up, let’s look at some big-picture tips to help users to a head start when it comes to these money-making opportunities and future in-app features.
Learn the Clubhouse App Inside and Out
Being able to get in on the ground floor of any social platform represents a massive competitive advantage.
Look no further than the recent boom of TikTok as evidence of this. Just like there were skeptics that saw TikTok as a fluke with no room for actual growth or ROI, the same rings for Clubhouse. Critics were obviously wrong about TikTok, right?
Meanwhile, Clubhouse already has a massive, plugged-in business audience. From celebrities and entrepreneurs to up-and-coming influencers, it’s safe to say that Clubhouse has grown beyond the “passing trend” phase.
If you’re already on Clubhouse, you’re in luck. Folks are still fighting tooth and nail for invites.
Now’s the time to participate in audio rooms, browse the hallway, and make connections. The more you familiarize yourself with the best practices of the platform today, the easier it will be to grow your audience and sell down the road.
Build Your Network Right Now
Piggybacking on the tip above, building your network on Clubhouse should be a top priority. This includes colleagues, other players in your industry, and influencers.
As the platform is still invite-only, you may not have too many colleagues on the platform yet. We recommend reaching out to your network via Twitter and LinkedIn to connect with fellow professionals that already have a presence.
If platform’s rumored subscription features end up being legit, having a large network will set you up for success when it comes time to monetize your Clubhouse followers.
Ready to Monetize Your Clubhouse content?
There is no “one-size-fits-all” answer when it comes to how to monetize Clubhouse. Whether you’re an influencer, business owner, or simply someone representing a brand via social, you have plenty of options.
And if you haven’t already, check out The Creator Marketplace® to better understand how you can work with influencers to grow your Clubhouse presence sooner rather than later.
Be Prepared to Play the Long Game
Let’s be clear: Clubhouse isn’t some sort of get-rich-quick scheme.
Even Clubhouse’s own founders seem cautious about how they want to go about monetizing the app. The initial slow roll-out of invites and careful approach to growth mean that the platform will keep its “it” factor for now.
The value of Clubhouse goes far beyond dollars and cents, too. In some cases, the ability to grow an audience and establish your influence among users in your industry is arguably more valuable than what you can get from selling directly.
Even so, you should absolutely get a return on investment when it comes to your content and time spent on social media. Clubhouse offers a brilliant place to double-dip your knowledge and expertise to sell what you know and nurture a community that’ll be ready to buy products from you in the future.
With the right tools and tactics, you can start doing so right now.
