Clubhouse vs Greenroom
Author: Kyla Denanyoh
Many podcasters use social media to promote their show, new episodes and/or podcast guests. While social media can take up a LOT of time, some apps are better than others at spreading the word.
Clubhouse has some competition in the audio-only app space. If you have heard of the app Greenroom, then I am here to give you more details about it. If you haven’t heard of Greenroom, WAKE UP! Podcasters are all about audio and audio-only apps go hand in hand with podcasters. Sharing your show and message with a large audience without worrying about what you look like is the main perk of being a podcaster.
Anyway, Greenroom is not just another social media app (although it is another social media app). There are major and minor differences between Clubhouse and Greenroom. Take a look at the top 20 details in both apps and how these apps benefit podcasters:
CLUBHOUSE APP DETAILS
Availability: Available on iOS in March 2020; available on Android in May 2021
User Access: Receive an invitation from a current Clubhouse member
Followers: Choose to follow club rooms or individuals; options to be followed by individuals or become a club member
Navigation: Look in the Hallway *carefully*, enter rooms by tapping anywhere (seriously, watch how you scroll or you’ll find yourself in some funky rooms), leave a room by selecting “Leave Quietly” or enter another room, raise your hand to speak, ping one of your followers, option to Hide rooms
Hallway Configuration: Hundreds of rooms based on who you are following or your selected interests
Live Discussions: Live conversations that end when the room ends
Advertising: Ability to link Instagram and Twitter pages in the profile
Profile Length: Unlimited; seriously you can scroll and scroll on some profiles
Bedazzled Profiles: Emojis and keywords are beneficial in your profile
Room Hierarchy: Stage with Speakers, Designations of Moderators, Followed by Speakers Section, Others
Finding Rooms and Topics: really easy to search and find by emoji or keywords
Communication: Visit someone’s Instagram or Twitter page and slide into their DM’s (direct messages)
Speaker Acknowledgment: Tan or light brown bubble that surrounds the speaker and flashes while speaking
Praise for Speakers: When on stage, tap your microphone off and on to “clap” for speakers
Speaker Highlights: immediate access, HOT MIC, the option to mute other speakers on stage
Speaker Accessibility: Returned back to your original place whether on stage or in the audience
Audience Screen Recording Options: Allowed and a continuous reminder that sharing recordings is frowned upon; it’s disturbing that the app knew that screen recording was on 👀👀
Host Screen Recording Options: Designate that a room is being recorded in the room title
Host Benefits: Must host a room three times before creating a club
Engagement: Bounce around the room and review profiles and follow people
GREENROOM APP DETAILS
Availability: Available on iOS in June 2021; available on Android in June 2021
User Access: Download the app and have fun
Followers: Choose to follow individuals or join topics; options to be followed by individuals
Navigation: Scroll through room options with reckless abandon, enter rooms ONLY by selecting Join room, leave room by closing the app or joining another room, raise hand to speak, ping one of your followers, no option to hide rooms (as of the publishing of this article)
Hallway Configuration: Lots of rooms based on who you are following or your selected interests
Live Discussions: Live conversations that end when the room ends, but there is a designation of LIVE at the top of rooms which gives the impression that recorded sessions may be replayed
Advertising: Ability to link Twitter and YouTube pages in profile
Profile Length: 140 characters
Bedazzled Profiles: Live links in your profile to send people to your podcast or Instagram page
Room Hierarchy: Stage with Speakers, Others
Finding Rooms and Topics: difficult to search for topics; ability to review and join subject in the profiles of others
Communication: CHAT ROOM, CHAT ROOM, CHAT ROOM! There is a chat section in the room; host has the option to not allow chats
Speaker Acknowledgment: Bright “Spotify” green bubble that surrounds the speaker and flashes while speaking
Praise for Speakers: When on stage, tap a speaker's image to give a gem. Gem tallies are displayed in profile
Speaker Highlights: delayed access to stage based on size of room, speakers immediately muted until chosen otherwise,
Speaker Accessibility: Returned back to your original place whether on stage or in audience
Audience Screen Recording Options: Allowed without issue; when closing the screen recording you receive the option to send the recording to Spotify to report someone
Host Screen Recording Options: Choose to record AND receive a copy of the room audio
Hosting Benefits: Create a room immediately and choose to share the room with any of the groups you’ve joined
Engagement: Chat, bounce around the room, review profiles, follow people and chat
After reviewing the 20 details of Clubhouse and Greenroom, I still couldn't decide which app was better so I had to create a list of pros and cons. As a podcaster, a couple details were more important than others:
Bedazzled Profiles: Clubhouse wins with unlimited profile characters and words which allows you to find the best podcast guests and topics
Communication: Greenroom wins with the option for chat rooms, chat rooms, chat rooms to send people directly to your podcast
Engagement: Greenroom wins with the option for chat rooms (seriously, the option to contact someone immediately is great)
Audience Recording Options: Greenroom wins because audience members can record without irritation
Host Recording Options: Greenroom wins because a host can receive a full copy of the room audio which is priceless
Although Clubhouse was created for podcasters (see the receipts here) and I have personally seen immense growth of my brand through the app, Greenroom is more accessible. The use of Greenroom chat rooms keeps me engaged in the rooms, instead of listening to a Clubhouse room while rearranging furniture or walking the dog. If you only have time to join one new social media app this summer, make it Greenroom (because you still need to know someone who is using Clubhouse).
