Helping business owners, freelancers & other self-employed creatives succeed… and have fun doing it. It can be overwhelming at times, but there’s nothing like the privilege of working for yourself – making your own rules, owning your time, and trusting your instincts to make the right decisions. With short episodes that get straight to the point, this podcast is about the common issues we face in business, along with solutions that work for other creatives like you. Aardvark Girl is a producer, project manager & business specialist with 20+ years of experience managing companies & helping people in creative industries. She helps you get a handle on the business side of things so you can focus on your talent. Let's get to work!
Episodes
Monday Feb 22, 2021
Selling without a Pitch
Monday Feb 22, 2021
Monday Feb 22, 2021
Can you sell without a pitch? I believe you can. I sell by doing good work, sharing value, and being kind. Not traditional sales techniques, but that's how I've built a loyal client base.
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Please leave a review and subscribe so you never miss an episode!
Connect with me through your favorite platform: https://pods.link/aardvarkgirl
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In my opinion, selling is one of the necessary evils of running a business. Whether you’re pushing a product, a service, or both, you have to let people know you’re out there if you want them to buy. But many of us don’t like it, aren’t comfortable with it, or just aren’t interested in being salespeople. Is it possible to sell without a pitch? I believe it is.
The stereotypical idea of sales involves the car salesman approach where someone is aggressively trying to convince you that you need that thing right now and if you walk away you’re ruining your life. It’s the barrage of LinkedIn requests where as soon as you accept, before any real engagement has occurred, the person sends you a message asking, or sometimes telling, you about how they can help you. Or in the current day where it seems everyone is a coach and has taken the same courses about how to sell, it’s the person who offers a free webinar where you join, listen to them talk for 30 minutes without really saying much, and at the end they offer their secrets if you buy their course or join their group – which, of course, is usually thousands of dollars but if you sign up today you can get it at a massive discount. And, even if you don’t, you’re going to get bombarded with emails and last chance offers until you have no choice but to mark as spam and wonder how you got bamboozled again, thinking you might get some helpful tips for free. It makes me cringe.
Look. I get it. These are all proven sales techniques that have worked for a lot of people. I’m not negating that. It’s just not my style. It works for plenty of people, and I know that’s why so many people are taught certain things. Don’t let them go until they’ve bought something or committed to a time. Yep, sound advice. But I know that sometimes people need to take their time to think over a decision, and I want to give them the space to do that. I’d rather get a thoughtful yes than a regretful one, where someone ends up with buyer’s remorse and feeling like they were pressured into it. I’d even rather have a no than a yes that makes me look like a bully.
I was talking to my good friend Eric about this the other day. He’s been in sales for most of his career, so I consider him to be an expert at the topic. It came up in the context of people who do the bare minimum but still expect to be recognized, praised and promoted. You know the type. They don’t want to do the work, but they want the rewards. And that kind of behavior reflects in how they are with people in general, not just in business. For me, it goes back to something as simple as the Golden Rule. Treat people how you want to be treated. It’s not that complicated.
If someone reaches out to me about a job and I’m not available, or not interested, I’ll let them know right away and, if I can, recommend someone else they can ask. This accomplishes a few things. First, it leaves them with a positive impression of me. Secondly, it helps them in the next step. Hopefully my referral is available. I know how difficult it can be to find the right fit for the types of projects I usually do, especially when you’re working with someone new. A referral is always better than a cold call. Third, if someone I know and like gets the job, that helps someone else. So a simple, kind response just helped at least 3 people. I’ll also let them know they can reach out to me if they need any additional resources or if I can be helpful in any way. Again, that connects me with a good experience. Maybe the current job isn’t right for me, but maybe the next one will be, and chances are they’ll reach out again because of how I handled that interaction.
In another situation that came up recently, someone I worked with on a project emailed me asking for help. Technically, I was done with that project, but it was something that wouldn’t take more than a couple of minutes, and I knew how heavy her workload was, so I was happy to do it anyway. It’s the same as when someone asks me a question and I don’t have the answer, but I know I can find it pretty easily. I’m probably not going to spend an hour doing someone else’s research for free, but if I can take a few minutes to be helpful, why wouldn’t I? Because while I wholeheartedly believe you should never work for free, I also believe that there are times when I can afford to just be kind.
When I was talking with Eric about all of this, he said, “Do you know what that’s called? That’s sales.”
And yeah, that makes sense. Sales doesn’t have to be about constantly pitching. Sometimes it’s more about building a reputation that makes people come to you.
My business is almost entirely referral based. I do get some clients from the podcast and social media, but at the core of my business is a group of loyal people who hired me because they worked with me directly at my old job, on another project, or someone we both know recommended me. Many of them have been with me since my first year in business. Some I met later on, and they’ve stuck around, too. I’ve had very few one-time clients, and I’m proud of that.
I always joke with people that I will work with them once and then find my way to insert myself so they can’t ever function without me again. I joke, but it’s kind of the way it works out most of the time. You know that show I was working on for 7 months that was only supposed to be 8 episodes over the course of 3 months? Well, that’s finally done. And just as I was starting to wonder what will be next, the supervising producer asked if I wanted to stay on for the next season. Another 8, possibly 16 episodes. The position normally would’ve gone to someone local to where they’re shooting, which is no longer in Las Vegas, but since I managed to do it this whole time from home anyway, that part matters less than sticking with someone who knows the process and has handled it well.
How I sell is by doing a good job. And it goes beyond when I’m hired. Yes, that’s the most important part of it. When someone hires me for a job – whether it’s one project, a monthly retainer, or a year-long commitment – I give it my full effort. I want to succeed, sure, but I also want my clients to succeed. And I believe the quality of my work reflects that every time. It’s really important to me that it does. The work we do affects others, and sometimes we don’t even realize the depth to which our participation helps or hinders a whole process. For me, it’s also about doing more than what’s expected. It’s a matter of being proud of what I do, and having that confidence in my abilities so my clients can, too.
I was talking about the Clubhouse app a couple weeks ago, and while it seems most people are open to the platform and are finding solid value in it, one comment struck me as… interesting. She said she didn’t like it because she couldn’t post links to sell her products, and if she couldn’t sell, what was the point? And yes, it’s true that you can’t post links anywhere in Clubhouse, but there are plenty of salespeople – they are definitely in there pushing their products and services every time they speak, whether it’s in a room they created for that purpose or if they’re on someone else’s stage trying to reach more people. It’s a different style for a different platform, but it’s still there with a mix of the over-the-top aggressive pushes, and other, more subtle ways of dropping information.
And then there are those of us who don’t even mention what we do unless someone asks us to. I don’t feel like I need to constantly pitch myself. It’s uncomfortable, and part of that is generational. I didn’t grow up with social media and this culture of constant sharing and promoting. I do share new podcast episodes every week across social, and I let people know when I’m co-moderating a discussion in Clubhouse. There is an element of self-promotion that I understand is necessary in the current market for anyone providing products or services. You have to let people know you’re out there doing what you do. I don’t know a way around that. But I do know that I have to do it in a way that’s true to who I am.
The natural way for me is to share my experiences and advice without any expectation for anything in return. This podcast is sales for me. It doesn’t cost you anything to listen, but if you like what you hear and want to work with me, you know how to find me. If I speak in a Clubhouse room and you find value in what I say, you can read my profile and connect on Instagram or Twitter. You’ll do that on your own if it resonates with you and the timing is right. I don’t need to try to force you. Do I? Am I doing this wrong? Probably, in many ways, I am.
I hear from so many people that every post, everything you do, needs to include a call to action. I understand why. It all makes perfect sense that you need to give people something to do to keep the conversation, or the relationship, moving towards that sale. But if what’s right for sales contradicts what’s right for me, I’m going to side with me every time. I can’t help it – it’s the way I’m wired. I won’t apologize for it either. My style works for me. Business is good for now.
That doesn’t mean I’m not going to try different things. I do want to release some online courses. Maybe some eBooks. I’d love to monetize this podcast in a way that doesn’t shove annoying advertisements in your ears. I’d like to get some sponsors to help me cover the costs. Maybe set up a Patreon account. Eventually, I’m going to run out of people I know and will have to start reaching out to other potential guests. Every bit of that is going to require some degree of selling, probably more aggressively than what I have to do for the work I’m already doing. And that’s okay. I’ll deal with it when the time comes and figure out the best way for me to do it.
What do you think? Can you sell without a pitch? Or do you think you have to be pushy in your approach to getting new business? I’d love to hear your thoughts. Send me a DM on Instagram – you can find me @aardvarkgirl. And if you are finding value in this podcast, please take a minute to leave a positive review on Apple Podcasts or wherever you’re listening. Those ratings and reviews help me out, so I would appreciate it.
Do you see what I did there? That was me following the common advice and including a call to action in this episode. While also being true to my awkward nature and pointing out that this is a call to action. Yay! I did sales!
Monday Feb 15, 2021
Busyness is Not a Badge of Honor
Monday Feb 15, 2021
Monday Feb 15, 2021
Why do people seem to take so much pride in how busy they are? I'm all for hard work, but if you don't have time for anything else, what's the point?
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Please leave a review and subscribe so you never miss an episode! Questions and comments can also be emailed to info@aardvarkgirl.com.
Connect with me through your favorite platform: https://pods.link/aardvarkgirl
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Because this seems to keep coming up in my conversations, both on this podcast and outside of it, I want to talk about it more specifically. There’s an epidemic out there, at least in America, where people use the word “busy” as an emblem of pride.
“I’m soooo busy.”
“Oh, work is great. I barely have time to sleep.”
“Oh man, I was so slammed today I completely forgot to eat.”
“You gotta hustle.”
I’m sure you’ve heard all this before. But why? We do you “gotta” hustle? I’m all for hard work, as you know. You don’t find success by doing nothing. But if you’re working so hard that you don’t have time for anything else, what’s the point?
Even if you love what you do, you need time for other things. You need a mental break from work. Time with people who aren’t your clients and vendors, even if it’s not in person.
If you Google quotes for motivation, you’ll find all kinds of memes about the hustle that are meant to be inspirational. So I’m sure my opinion on this matter is not the norm. It often isn’t. But I have never had the goal to be busy. I’ve wanted to accomplish things. I’ve wanted to be successful. I’ve wanted specific outcomes to result from my hard work. But I have never once thought, I wish I was busier.
My definition of successful doesn’t include constant busyness. I don’t want to be so busy building an empire that there isn’t time for anything else. Maybe that means I’ll never have an international multi-billion dollar corporation to my name, but that’s okay with me.
When I was contemplating leaving the corporate world, many people assumed I would start my own production company. It would’ve made sense considering I’d been managing them for so many years. But I never had any interest in that. I didn’t want a company with a building and employees and overhead and all the hassle that comes with that. I wanted something simple, where all I really needed was my laptop, minimal software, and an Internet connection. I didn’t want other people relying on me for their salaries and livelihood. I didn’t want to be stuck at another place for several hours a day, unless that place was my home. I really just wanted to do my own thing. That’s what I’ve been doing ever since.
I know I’ve said it here before, but my biggest goal in starting my business was to make more and work less. That was it. Sure, I wanted to enjoy my work more by choosing the people around me and what my schedule would be. I wanted the freedom of self-employment. I still enjoy that every single day. Goal accomplished.
But as I was working my way here, I never used the word hustle, or even thought of it in that manner. Like many of you, I started building my business while I was still employed full-time. I didn’t feel ready to just throw caution to the wind and let go of my stable income. I still had a lot of things to figure out, and at the time, I thought it was best to try to do both. But I never called Aardvark Girl my side hustle. I wasn’t moonlighting or freelancing “on the side.” I always had that mindset that I was building a business.
Of course, I was working extra hours when I was balancing them both, but that only lasted for a few months. I learned pretty early on that the 40-50 hours a week I was spending at my job was 40-50 hours a week I could be working on my own business. I wasn’t going to find the right clients and projects when I only had a few spare hours a day. So if I was going to give my time and energy to a company, I might as well do it for mine, right?
But that type of thinking goes back way further than that for me. I got my first job when I was 16. I remember telling people that I was going to work hard while I was young so I didn’t have to when I was older. I didn’t know when “older” would be, but I knew it was worthwhile to start early. People my age didn’t always understand. They rarely did. It actually started a whole debate in my AP government class in high school, but that’s another story. Then in college, a lot of people thought I was missing out on all the fun. I didn’t live on campus. I didn’t do anything or join anything school related. I didn’t party. I didn’t do any of those things you’re apparently “supposed to” do at that age. But I never felt like I was missing out on anything. I didn’t want to do those things. Come on, could you really see me in a sorority? I didn’t think so.
Instead, I was earning money. I was learning how to run a business. I asked questions. My boss taught me about IRAs. At one point I was working a full-time job, a part-time job, taking a full college course load, and maintaining my 4.0 GPA. I was truly busy. I don’t regret that at all, but I have never wanted to chase that feeling again. I did what I had to do to get where I wanted to be. That’s important. I’m grateful I started young because that’s what got me ahead. I didn’t spend 4 years having the traditional college experience. I spent those years building the foundation of my career instead.
But again, I always had that mindset that I was going to work hard then so I wouldn’t have to later on. Fast forward to later on. Like I said earlier, when I finally decided it was time to leave the corporate world to work for myself, it wasn’t so I could hustle and grind… a phrase I don’t think I’ve ever used outside of this conversation. My goal was to work less and make more. And that’s what I’ve done every year I’ve been in business. I actually use my old salary and the number of hours I worked every week (including commute time) as the measuring stick to remind myself that I made the right decision. My life is way more fulfilling because I’m more intentional with my time… because I own it.
I’m plenty busy. I’m not opposed to busy. But I do believe in the necessity of balance. If you take on a project that is going to eat up a bunch of your time, finding those little pockets to rest and decompress are more important than ever. It means that during those times, you have to be extra careful and make sure you don’t lose sight of what’s important – the basics like eating, sleeping, and exercising. Do what you need to do to take care of yourself while also taking care of your business.
I’m not trying to tell anyone that being busy is a bad thing, or that it’s realistic to be a business owner who isn’t juggling a lot of things all the time. It’s more about being mindful about your decisions and why you’re so busy. Is it because you are putting in the necessary work, or are you not being efficient with your time? Are you spending your time being productive and working towards something, or are you avoiding something else in your life by burying yourself in your work? Do you think others will judge you if you don’t give the impression that you’re constantly hustling? I’m asking these questions because I’m genuinely curious why busyness is that badge so many wear with pride.
It’s not because I don’t know what it means to hustle. It’s because I don’t know why it seems to be something people strive to do.
A few years ago, I traveled for the majority of the summer making the Dream Out Loud documentary. 25 cities in 3 months. It was a lot. I didn’t put my whole business on hold just because I was pursuing my passion project. I continued to do my other client work because I didn’t want to neglect what I’d worked so hard to build. Sometimes it meant I was in the passenger seat with my laptop working on a spreadsheet during the drive from one state to the next. Other times it meant being up at weird hours because I was in Ireland and my clients were in a much different time zone. It often meant getting up early and staying up late to work on other things because I was spending the rest of the day filming interviews for something that was important to me. But that busyness was temporary. I knew that, and it’s why I was okay doing it for a little bit.
Then last summer, I put my plans on hold to take a 3-month job, which turned into a 7-month job. That was also an informed decision. We were in the middle of a pandemic, production work had ceased, and this was a good opportunity that would allow me to do the work I enjoy from the safety of my home. It was a no brainer. But that show was considered full time for those months and I still, thankfully, had all of my regular retainer clients. And there are often times when everyone needs me all at once. I know they rely on me, so I find a way to make it work. It’s a challenge I’m grateful to have. And during those months, I didn’t completely neglect my personal projects, but when I felt I was too busy, I made the choice to stop. I prioritized all the things I needed to do, which included taking breaks to make sure I wasn’t overdoing it.
I do get the intention behind the “hustle” concept. The idea that we need to work hard for the things we want in life, and sometimes we have to make sacrifices to get there. It’s part of the journey. The best accomplishments rarely come easily, but that’s what makes them so rewarding. And hey, if you’re truly happy with being soooo busy all the time, don’t listen to me. I just hope you’re being honest with yourself about why that’s the lifestyle you want. I treasure my down time. Sometimes nothing is one of my favorite things to do. Not out of laziness, but because I earned it.
When you’re ambitious, you tend to work hard, accomplish a goal, and then instantly start working towards the next one. I tend to be that way myself sometimes, so I understand. But every now and then it’s more important to take a moment to enjoy what you’ve achieved. Pause and appreciate that you can take a break.
Owning a business is a constant juggling act, whether you’re one person doing it all or if you have a whole team. Busy isn’t a negative word. I’m not opposed to busyness in general. Busy is usually a good indication that your business is doing well. What I don’t get is when people define their quality of life by how busy they are, especially if that busy-ness they’re bragging about is secretly stressing them out. So be mindful of your workload and how much you choose to take on at a time. Hustle when you need to, but don’t make a constant grind your end goal. Work smart so you can have it all – a thriving business, and some time off to proudly spend however you want.
Monday Feb 08, 2021
Casey Eade: Being a Professional Silly Person
Monday Feb 08, 2021
Monday Feb 08, 2021
Casey Eade is a brilliant and funny creative with many talents - voiceover, copywriting, marketing, social media management, art and cosplay, to name a few.
Less than two years ago, she left her corporate job to pursue her passion, and she's never looked back. In this episode, we talk about knowing when it's time to quit your job and become self-employed, balancing multiple interests, and being an adult while still having fun with what you do.
We also discuss the Millennial point of view of what work should be, figuring out what work style and schedule makes sense for you, and how taking breaks allows you to be more productive.
We're happy rebels who do things our own way instead of following the traditional business model.
Connect with me on your favorite platform: https://pods.link/aardvarkgirl and please email info@aardvarkgirl.com with any topic suggestions, feedback, or just to say hi!
Follow Casey @muirin007 on all social platforms
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01:33 I quit my corporate job and I jumped into [voiceover] full-time. And now I've been doing this full-time for over a year. And I can't. It's bonkers.
02:56 I just think I hit a breaking point. And sometimes breaking points can be good, because it was like, well, the worst that's gonna happen is nothing. And then I still won't die.
05:03 I loved it, even when I was scared and going crazy and, like, what if this doesn't work? I was still having a ball. Because this is what I really love to do. And I know that sounds cliche. But man, it makes a difference.
06:20 Because I had abandoned the stuff that was holding me back, the corporate day job, I was able to divert that energy into finding new clients. And I within like two to three months, I built up a full-time client roster.
08:05 I've noticed among folks that are around my age that are self-employed, it's not even a question of “Are you willing to adapt to all these tech changes?” It's, well, duh, we gotta adapt!
11:27 Most people my age, from the millennial generation, have multiple jobs. Whether it's a daytime 9-5 thing and then they've got things they're doing on the side, or they're freelancing and they have multiple projects. I think that's becoming the norm, especially with all the work from home lately.
13:16 Being in charge of what I do has made me so much more productive.
15:25 I think part of the appeal of this online self-employed entrepreneurial boom that I've been seeing is that I can get the work done, you just need to let me do it.
16:54 I think younger people entering the workforce - they've grown up with the flexibility of the Internet, and they've grown up seeing entrepreneurs and entrepreneurial mindsets - are questioning and saying, Well, why do I have to do that when I can do the same thing, but more effectively, and the work quality will be better?
18:48 More and more people I know personally, whether it's voice acting, whether they’re freelance writers, editors, artists, whatever, are kind of making this leap because I think a lot of people are just fed up with that old world model.
21:07 Ultimately, it's about what makes you happy. I know that sounds so Disney Princess, but the older I get, and the more I do this, and the more people I talk to, do what you want to do. Seriously.
A big challenge for me was shifting from "Oh my God, I failed once. I have to say 10 Hail Marys. Oh, no, what am I going to do to?" to "What can I learn from it? Let's try this and see if it sticks. Oh, that didn't work. Try this. That didn't work. Oh, that did." That kind of freedom lets you explore and fail and be okay with it.
23:54 I think it was about me believing in me and getting away from all those voices that told you, for one reason or another, you can't do this.
24:59 And I think it's, especially for women, that ability to say, "You can do this. You're going to be fine." Ask for help when you need it, which is so hard to do. But that's the other critical skill I've learned.
27:17 Kind of on the flip side, there's absolutely a tendency to romanticize it. Like I can just go take a three-hour ice cream break or whatever. Yay! You're on your own! I'm free! But now you've got to do the work. Nothing's going to fall into your lap.
28:30 It's been hard. It's been, at times, exhausting and scary, because it's kind of like I was used to following the mold that was set out for me. And now I'm building my own. I don't regret it for a second, I cannot believe, for real, that I wake up every morning and get to make noises in a box for a living.
30:15 This has also been a big process of me learning. What can you logically, realistically do today, Casey? I am never bored, which is good. I've always got a one-man song and dance show in some way going on over here.
31:46 It's another fun way to get the creativity out. I've been able to partner with some awesome charity organizations because of the cosplay stuff I do, and do some great work with them. I can't stop making stuff ever.
34:41 I think we get to a place when we're adults where we almost tell ourselves, "I can't have fun anymore. I have to be serious." And that's part of why it took me so long to get away from my corporate job. I was like, well, it's not realistic. And now I'm like, who says? People do this all the time! So I want to encourage people to just let themselves play again and have fun.
36:06 Probably one of the most important things I've learned since going full-time self-employed is knowing when to take a break. Being self-employed also doesn't mean you're going to be working 200 hours a week, forever and ever, and then you crash. No. A huge part of it is learning when to stop. And that's another kind of freedom.
37:43 I can't do anything or make any money at all if I'm exhausted. There's no way. Take a break when you can.
39:14 Everything's cyclical. There are going to be busy times and downtimes. So just being able to take advantage of that, I'm so much more productive when I do.
41:06 The other thing you start to realize is these [clients], they're also just regular people. And that kind of takes a lot of the intimidation out of it for me. I think people are, in some ways, more understanding than I would give them credit for.
44:50 If you know you do a lot of your best work at one in the morning, and that's naturally how your body clock is, and it's not going to hurt you, go for it!
46:17 Listen to what your body responds to naturally. Listen to what work techniques and patterns and workflows work best for you. Try different ones. A lot of this has been me reteaching myself to listen to myself. I think a lot of our work culture has taught us to turn that off. Don't listen to yourself. Just keep going. Just push it, push it, push it. There are times when you need to do that, and that's fine. But, just speaking from personal experience, I've been so much more productive, and so much happier, since I've allowed myself to be like I work best at this time.
47:42 Believe in yourself and reach out when you need help. Get rid of the idea that you have to pull yourself up by your bootstraps with absolutely everything and you're totally on your own. That's not how human beings work. Use your support system, your network, find one. You can do so much more than you think you can.
Monday Feb 01, 2021
Does the Clubhouse App Live Up to the Hype?
Monday Feb 01, 2021
Monday Feb 01, 2021
Connect with me through your favorite platform: https://pods.link/aardvarkgirl
If you have questions, comments, or suggestions for topics, email info@aardvarkgirl.com or find me on social @aardvarkgirl. If you want to work with me, that’s where you’ll find me, too.
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There’s a new-ish social media app called Clubhouse. It’s still in its beta form and is currently only available to iPhone users, and only by invitation. You can find me there @aardvarkgirl. If you’re not on it, don’t tune out yet. You may have heard all the hype and wonder what it’s all about. You may have seen posts on other social platforms with people asking, sometimes even begging for an invitation. You may be asking uh, what is Clubhouse?
It’s not like me to get excited about another app. I haven’t made it a secret that I’m not the best at social media. I’m not consistent with posting because I don’t love it and often don’t feel like I have much to say or share. Ironic coming from a podcaster who’s talking every week, right? But I am finding a ton of value in Clubhouse. And because it seems to be such a hot topic, I wanted to chat with you about it.
Clubhouse is an audio-based social media app. There are no visuals except for your profile picture. There aren’t any DMs. Nothing is recorded (at least it’s not supposed to be). It’s all real-time conversations. Think about the old school chat rooms back in the 90s when the Internet was gaining in popularity. It’s like that but with voice instead of text. So for me, it eliminates a lot of those things I don’t love about social media, like the need to constantly create content if you want to stay relevant.
My friend Tiffany introduced me to Clubhouse in December of 2020, about 8 months after it was formed. I hadn’t heard about it yet but after doing a little research I was really curious to check it out. Fortunately, we were both able to get invitations that night so I could start exploring. As a podcaster, the idea of having actual discussions about topics was appealing. Especially when factoring in that I wouldn’t have to spend any time trying to create an appealing graphic or photo or video. I could just show up and offer my input where it was needed.
When you join, you can create rooms based on topics you want to discuss, or join other people’s rooms. You can silently listen in or you can raise your hand if you want to go “on stage” and speak. The moderators accept you and keep everyone organized, if they’re doing it right, so no one is talking over each other. Beyond that, there aren’t really any rules as far as how long a room will be open, what topics are available, or anything else. You can find all kinds of themes and moderation styles. There are rooms that last a few minutes and some will continue all day, overnight, and keep going into the next day. If you consistently host rooms, eventually you’ll be given the ability to start a club. Then people can follow your club and you can invite them to join and you can build up a whole new network that way.
People are offering so much value in these rooms. Yes, some people are pushing their own brand and products and looking for sales. You’ll never be able to get away from that. But so many people will jump in and just want to help or offer their own input and advice from their experiences. The app started with celebrities, and many of them are still in there actively participating in conversations. Not just actors, but also entrepreneurs and experts in so many areas of business. Do you want some marketing advice from Grant Cardone? He’s on there pretty much every day. Do you have a question for Tiffany Haddish? She’s there, too, offering her raw and unfiltered perspective. I got to have a discussion with Justine Bateman about the documentary I produced. These are conversations that aren’t possible elsewhere.
Of course, as an introvert, it can be a little intimidating talking to strangers. Didn’t our parents teach us not to do that anyway? I don’t particularly care for talking on the phone, and that’s essentially what this is. But it’s a more natural way of engagement because there are multiple participants. I love doing this podcast, but it’s very one-sided. It’s just me talking. Or my guest if I have one. But other than the personal messages I receive, which I appreciate very much, I don’t really get that interpersonal feedback. The other side of the conversation never really happens. So I’ve enjoyed getting involved and collaborating with others. I do tend to stick to rooms with smaller audiences, but I’ve also listened in to a room that had over 2000 people in it because Gary Vaynerchuk was hosting. Apparently he’s pretty popular!
Like with all social media, it kind of is what you make of it. There are going to be people who don’t align with what you’re looking to do. You might not like the advice some are giving. You might disagree with their point of view. Some will be constantly trying to sell and promote their own agenda without offering anything in return. Some are going to try to implement rules like you have to follow the moderators in order to speak, or you have to invite x amount of people to join their club. Your call. I just don’t participate in those. They’re allowed to do whatever they want, but you can choose where and how you want to engage.
There’s this whole sense of FOMO… the fear of missing out... that’s making people obsess about getting into Clubhouse. People are actually selling invitations online, trying to capitalize on the desperation of people who want to get in. And then being on it all the time because there is no saving this chat for later. You either hear it live or it’s gone. But that doesn’t bother me. I’m not spending hours a day on it, so I know I’m “missing” a ton. But that’s fine. When I have time to be on, it’ll be a surprise what I will find at any given moment.
The most unfortunate mistake I’m seeing… and yes, I call it a mistake because it’s not how the app is intended to be used. But again, every user can choose how to use it. But the mistake is that they are treating it like all other platforms, thinking the most important thing is to get followers. But that’s not how it’s meant to work. You get access to rooms based on who you follow, so you should be strategic about it. Follow people in your industry or in your target customer base, or with whom you just want to connect. Follow people who share your interests, whether they’re related to your business, your hobbies, or just topics you like to discuss. If you follow a bunch of random people just trying to get them to follow you back and get your count up, you’re going to see a bunch of random stuff you don’t care about. And that can take away from what you do care about.
For a while, I was seeing a bunch of silent “follow for follow rooms” where the idea was that people would just go in there throughout the day and follow everyone who was in there. It made me cringe. So any time I saw someone I followed in one of those rooms, I unfollowed them. Now, fortunately, I don’t see them anymore. I’m pretty much like this everywhere, but Clubhouse is definitely a place where I’d rather have a small group of intentional followers than a whole bunch of people who don’t actually care about what I have to say.
For anyone wondering what the point is, I guess for me it’s about genuine engagements with people I wouldn’t be in touch with otherwise. Not just celebrities and other high-profile people, but those whose paths I might not cross on other platforms. I’ve only participated in a few rooms at this point, because I’ve only had little spurts of time to dedicate to it. Most of them have been film or podcast-related. I didn’t pitch myself or ask anyone to listen to my podcast in any of those. I just offered advice when it was asked or offered any commentary I thought would be helpful. In one week, my podcast downloads were up over 60% and I didn’t do anything else differently. The Women in Film club asked me to co-host a room about dispelling the idea that artists have to struggle financially. I connected with others in the industry who I didn’t know before that.
People hear you talk, they get curious, and they check out your Clubhouse profile. The profile can be linked to your Instagram and Twitter accounts, so people can also connect with you in other places.
I would love to hear your input about Clubhouse. If you’re on it, what do you think about it? What value have you gotten? Or what frustrations have you had? Do you think it lives up to the hype or do you think it will fizzle out quickly? If you’re not on it, do you want to be? Or do you want nothing to do with it? Let me know! Send me an email at info@aardvarkgirl.com or DM me on social @aardvarkgirl. If you’re on Clubhouse, find me there! Let’s start a room and chat about something fun. If you’re not and want to be, let me know. If I have any invitations available, maybe I can help! Either way, let me know what you think. This app seems to be a hot topic and I’m curious to see where it’ll go.