The Brief: Clubhouse launched a program to help influencers monetize through the free drop-in conversation app, according to The New York Times.

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Clubhouse, the exclusive invite-only app is seeing the rise of influencers on the platform. The drop-in app hosts ongoing conversations that users can pop-in and listen to. The application is currently in beta, and users gain access by invite-only. Others can join a waitlist. Once a user joins they are given a few invites to share with others. As of Jan. 24, Clubhouse founders Paul Davison and Rohan Seth announced they plan to open the app up to the world.

The app is intended to connect users with friends and interesting people across the world. It was initially used by venture capitalists and techies to converse with one another. Now, it includes thought leaders and celebrities — like Elon Musk, Kevin Hart, Ava DuVernay, and many others — across numerous industries including fashion, music, journalism, and other creative fields.

Like many other social media platforms, users are able to build their own following-base. Typically one can grow their account by frequently using the app, hosting their owns rooms and/or clubs, and participating in discussions. Those who’ve been able to grow large followings are already emerging as influencers on the app.

Monetization

With that being said, what are the benefits to being an influencer on Clubhouse?

Monetization is one of the first things that comes to mind. Even though Clubhouse is still in beta, the app has recently advised they’d be launching a program for creators.

According to The New York Times, Clubhouse confirmed it will be introducing products to help creators on the platform get paid, including subscriptions, tipping and ticket sales. According to The Times, Clubhouse’s “Creator Pilot Program,” has “more than 40” members so far. This group has been pulled from over 600,000 registered users and one of them, Catherine Connors who is the former head of content at Disney Interactive, hosts two talk shows on Clubhouse which helped grows her follower base.

As TechCrunch pointed out, if influencers are able to monetize, that means Clubhouse — which is free — will also be able to monetize. “Adding ways for users to pay other users provides an opportunity for Clubhouse to retain a cut for its services,” they explained in the Jan. 24 article.

Bloggers also banded together on Clubhouse to discuss how they might be able to take advantage of growing an audience on the drop-in voice app. Moderator Shelly Bell, shared some of the ideas in a blog post. The list included the following: creating brand partnerships, creating sponsored rooms and paid club memberships, launching your product or services from Clubhouse, charging for playback of your own Clubhouse room, charging for live note taking in rooms – get hired by clubs to take notes, using affiliate links to in blogging recaps from rooms, providing product discounts for products and services when on stage, and placing a lead generator to your content in your Clubhouse bio.

As of now, only 40 people are actually considered to be official Clubhouse influencers, but it looks like individuals with a rapidly growing fanbase aren’t going to wait for the app to allow them to profit off of their own thoughts and skillsets.