Getting the most out of your Digital Masterchef membership
Six months ago I signed up for Kate’s Digital Masterchefs.
And like most new members, I’m still amazed at how much there is on offer.
When Kate suggested I share advice from experienced DMC members about getting the most out of your membership, I jumped at the chance.
If digital marketing is your focus and you’re:
- new to digital marketing and/or SEO
- a Recipe for SEO Success graduate
- a Clever Copywriting School member
you’re in the right place.
DMC is like a five-star, all-you-can-eat brunch of:
- Digital marketing
- SEO
- Social media
- General business advice
But right now you’re probably wondering, “Where do I start?”
You may have already introduced yourself, and put all the events in your diary. (If you haven’t, stop reading this and add them to your calendar now.) You have also asked some questions.
But chances are you’re a little overwhelmed.
[Tweet “10 tips for making the most out of your DMC membership #digitalmarketing”]
So here are ten tips to help you make the most of your membership.
1. Ask Questions
When I asked ‘the oldies’ for their top tip, this was by far the most common piece of advice.
You can ask questions in several ways. You can post a question, and take advantage of the group’s vast pool of knowledge. (Make sure you start your post with ‘#question’.)
If it’s a question for Kate, don’t tag her in your question. Instead, post it in the monthly ‘Ask Me Anything’ (AMA) session, which gives you direct access to Kate and allows her to answer it in her typically detailed and informative way.
Don’t panic or stress if you’re not sure about something. Chances are someone has had the same problem. It might seem like a silly question, but if you don’t know you simply don’t know. You’ll only grow and learn by asking.
Just don’t forget to add a hashtag (#). There’s a list in the group’s ‘pinned post’, but you’re welcome to make up your own.
2. Schedule all the events (along with some time to catch up)
Put the events, training, and masterclasses sessions in your diary as soon as they’re announced.
Even if you can’t attend, having them in your diary serves as a good reminder to watch them later.
Tip: If you’re not in the Sydney time zone, respond to the Facebook event and you’ll not only see the session in your time zone but also get a reminder.
If you miss a session, schedule a time later in the week to catch up.
3. Commit to applying the training
It’s easy to just watch the training session, make some notes, and then forget about it.
So make sure you identify three actions from each training session to implement each week and add them to the weekly accountability post each Monday in the DMC Facebook group.
You can take it one step further and add them to your project management tool (e.g. Asana, Click Up, your trusty spreadsheet) each week.
Just imagine how awesome it will be to look back a year from now and see the progress you’ve made.
And each Friday you can celebrate your wins in the DMC Facebook group with the ‘Weekly wins’ post.
4. Read the regular newsletter
It’s easy to miss posts in such a busy group.
Make sure you read the fantastic newsletter Kate and her team put together every couple of weeks. It provides a great snapshot of what’s been happening.
And you never know—you might even be featured.
5. Get involved
Tell us who you are and what you do.
This doesn’t mean selling your product or service every chance you get. It’s about becoming known for what you do and who you are.
And people in the group have forged some great working relationships and friendships.
Even if you’ve just joined, don’t be afraid to jump in and respond to posts people are sharing in the group. Contribute to the conversations and work on building new connections.
DMC isn’t just a place to learn. It’s also a place to share. And sometimes showing your support can really help someone out.
There are also meetups in most capital cities. Don’t be afraid to take it offline and meet in the real world. It’s a good chance to put on pants and meet some fellow digital marketing nerds.
6. Search the group
This is always a good first option, and why hashtags are valuable.
Chances are someone has asked your question before. Searching the group is especially useful when you’re about to hit the “oops I messed my site up” panic button.
The Facebook group is an absolute treasure trove of incredibly clever people and amazing advice.
7. Keep a separate notebook for DMC
If you’re like me, you’ve got piles of notebooks filled with client notes, random thoughts, and training sessions.
So this year I have a notebook dedicated to learning.
Have it with you when you watch any training session so you can jot down valuable information and keep it in one spot. If you’re feeling super organised, create an index of training sessions at the front.
8. Use the archives
This group is so much more than the Facebook page.
There are years of Toon training sessions and Masterclasses on the member page.
Focus on the ones relevant to your business, which will depend on what you do, what stage you’re at, and what you need to know.
9. Attend the Toon Trainings
About once a month, Kate presents ‘TOON Training’.
These are super comprehensive sessions and come with detailed notes and resources. You also have the opportunity to ask questions
Past topics have ranged from specific digital marketing skills such as developing email sequences to general business advice such as managing finances as a small business.
And these are free for DMC members. So if there is anything you should definitely attend each month, this is it.
10. Dive into the best of the best playlists
Here’s just a sample of the huge archive of Masterclasses with industry experts and training from Kate that is on offer.
Access all Masterclasses here
- Masterclass: How to earn an extra $1000 with Kate Toon
- Masterclass: Pricing with Kate Toon
- Masterclass: Creating website retargeting audiences using Facebook ads with Loren Bartley
- Masterclass: What to charge, who to charge
- Masterclass: Content marketing 101 with Shannon Morrison
- Masterclass: Branding with Belinda Austin
- Masterclass: Psychology‐based copywriting tips with Cath Fowler
- Masterclass: Advanced keyword research with Dido Grigorov
- Masterclass: Google Ads with Melinda Samson
- Masterclass: Introduction to MailChimp with Jennifer Gale
- Masterclass: Chatbots with Rye Smith
- Masterclass: Advanced social media Q+A with Cherie Clonan
- Masterclass: Canva 101 with Ally Moates
- Masterclass: WordPress plugins with Marco Gatta
- Masterclass: Mobile optimisation with Tom Casano
- Masterclass: Using ActiveCampaign to manage your leads with Nick Roose
Access all Toon Trainings here
- Toon Training: Wireframing your home page
- Toon Training: SEO copywriting for your ‘About’ Page
- Toon Training: What makes a legendary lead generation piece?
But don’t stop here. DMC offers several masterclasses, Toon trainings and member makeovers every month. Head to the Member hub and check out the latest training.
A double dose of Kate Toon.
Maybe you’re a member of both Digital Masterchefs and The Clever Copywriting School, and wondering how to keep up with so much Toon love.
Because I can’t always remember whether I picked up a piece of helpful info in DMC or TCCS, I colour code my diary entries. That way I can easily check my notes and work out which group it came from.
I also use the search box and hashtags in both Facebook groups to help me find what I’m looking for.
Don’t be afraid to ask the same question in both groups, either. It’s interesting to see the different perspectives you get from the different members.
Conclusion
Most of all, get involved and have fun.
Make the most of the inspirational DMC community and the countless resources on offer. It won’t be long before your membership has paid for itself.
[Tweet “Your membership will pay for itself @ange_pickett #digitalmarketing”]
Over to you
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About Angela
Angela Pickett a Barossa-based SEO copywriter who writes articulate, approachable, and adventurous copy to help businesses connect with their customers wherever they are in the world.
