Entrepreneur Dan M. Jones’ Toastmasters Club Records Highest Net Membership Growth Of Any Club In The UK And Ireland

Entrepreneur and digital marketing expert Dan M. Jones has been invited to share his membership growth strategies with Toastmasters District 71 after the club he led during his presidency recorded the highest net membership growth of any Toastmasters club in the UK and Ireland.

During Jones’ presidency, Didsbury Speakers grew from 22 to 46 members, adding a net 24 members and more than doubling in size. The achievement placed the club ahead of every other Toastmasters club in the UK and Ireland for net membership growth during the 2025 to 2026 Toastmasters year.

When Jones took over as President, the club faced a very different challenge. Membership had fallen to the point where committee discussions centred around finding a cheaper venue because the club’s finances were under pressure.

The club was also short of volunteers. At one stage, Jones simultaneously served as President, Vice President Public Relations, Vice President Education and Sergeant at Arms until new volunteers stepped forward to fill the vacancies.

Jones, who had been a Toastmasters member for just six months when he became president, believed the real problem was not the cost of the venue. It was that too few people knew the club existed.

“People often say Toastmasters is the best kept secret. I’ve never understood why it should be a secret. Toastmasters genuinely changed my life and I wanted more people to experience that. I knew that if more people knew it existed, more people would join.”

Instead of reducing costs, Jones proposed increasing membership and publicly committed to doubling the size of the club, setting a target of growing from 22 members to 44.

By the end of his presidency, that target had been exceeded, with membership reaching 46.

The increase not only addressed the club’s financial concerns but also transformed the atmosphere at meetings.

At one stage the club had meetings attended by as few as eight people. By the end of the year, one meeting attracted so many guests that the club ran out of chairs.

The growth was driven by a digital marketing strategy developed by Jones, founder and Managing Director of On Top Marketing Limited. The strategy focused on increasing the club’s online visibility, reaching people actively looking to improve their confidence and public speaking skills.

“The same principles we use at On Top Marketing to grow businesses can also help non-profit organisations that genuinely improve people’s lives. Toastmasters gives people confidence, helps them become better public speakers and can literally change the direction of someone’s career. My goal wasn’t about growing membership numbers. It was more about helping more people find something that had already made a huge difference to my own life.”

District 71 Club Growth Director Dan Deighton said:
“During Dan’s Presidency, Didsbury Speakers achieved the highest net membership growth of any Toastmasters club in the UK + Ireland (24 members). The club doubled in size and exceeded the growth of clubs in central city locations despite being based in a suburban area that is significantly less convenient for guests to reach. These results provide clear evidence that Dan’s digital marketing strategies are highly effective at attracting new members and delivering real world results.”

The achievement came during one of the most successful years in the club’s history. In addition to recording the highest net membership growth of any Toastmasters club in the UK and Ireland, Didsbury Speakers also achieved Smedley Distinguished, the highest level of recognition awarded to Toastmasters clubs through the Distinguished Club Program.

Jones’ success has since led to an invitation from the District 71 leadership team to deliver educational sessions, sharing the marketing strategy behind the club’s record breaking growth.

Reflecting on the achievement, Jones believes the experience demonstrates what can be achieved when marketing, leadership and a clear long term vision come together.

“Early on I had to cover multiple committee roles because we simply didn’t have enough volunteers. It was just me, Jacqui Rosser, Zinhle Buthelezi and Aleksandra Gdula. I was incredibly fortunate to have them. They cared deeply about the club, believed in what we were trying to achieve and worked incredibly hard to make it happen. Together, we turned the club into a place people looked forward to coming back to.”

“I’ve seen people come in here nervous and shy when speaking in front of the room, and then a few months later they’re leading the meeting like they’ve been doing it for years. And if I’m honest, that’s been the most satisfying part of the whole journey.”

For Jones, the achievement reinforces a principle that has shaped both his business and his presidency: effective marketing is about connecting the right people with the right service or product. Whether helping businesses attract customers or helping individuals discover Toastmasters, the underlying principles remain the same.

About Dan M. Jones

Dan M. Jones is a Manchester based entrepreneur, SEO specialist and the founder of On Top Marketing.