Heather Townsend helps professionals become the Go-To-Expert. She is the author of The FT Guide To Business Networking and a high profile member of the professional services industry. Heather has worked with over 300 partners, coached, trained and mentored over 2000 professionals at every level of the UK’s most ambitious professional practices. She is a regular speaker and writer for the trade press.

Jon Baker has 25 years experience of managing, training & coaching in business. He is an in demand speaker, social media and sales trainer (Jon is a member of the professional speaker’s association). In the last 7 years he has coached hundreds of Business owners, helping to grow their firms by more than 63%. He has also had blue chip clients; including BP, Total, and Feel Good Drinks.

About the authors

Authors’ acknowledgements

Publisher’s acknowledgements

Foreword

Introduction

Part 1: Determining what your thing is

Chapter 1: Why do you want to become the Go-To-Expert?

What are your reasons for wanting to become the Go-To-Expert?

The importance of setting goals

Getting started on your journey to become the Go-To-Expert

Chapter 2: What is going to be your thing?

What do we mean by a niche?

The importance of being committed to your niche

Why professionals resist adopting a niche?

How to find your niche

Deciding on your niche

Part 2: Packaging your brand

Chapter 3: How to make your services irresistible to clients

What you need to know about your niche to build a successful marketing plan

Deciding what services to offer

Your sound bite

How to package up your services

How to differentiate yourself from your colleagues and competitors in the eyes of your niche market

Removing the risk for your clients

Chapter 4: How to craft the right impression

Your personal marketing toolkit

How to dress the part

Social media etiquette

Chapter 5: How to use your content to reinforce your expertise

What is meant by valuable content?

The three ways to create your content

What is a content plan?

Questions to ask before writing a content plan

Planning your business development content

Tips to save time producing and sharing content

The how, what, when and why of blogging

Part 3: How to build your visibility and profile to generate high-quality, warm leads

Chapter 6: Networking your way to success

Why build your network and community?

How to build your own personal networking strategy

How to generate referrals via your network

Your networking routine

Chapter 7: Publishing your way to success

The benefits of writing a business book

The challenges of writing a business book

The five steps to writing and successfully marketing your book

How to decide whether to go published or self-published

Chapter 8: Speaking your way to success

Why you need to add speaking to your marketing mix

The difference between ‘public speaking’ and ‘presenting’

How to design a speech that helps you achieve your objectives

How to deliver a speech with impact

How to conquer your nerves

What should be included in your speaker kit?

How to successfully secure speaking engagements

Chapter 9: Using PR to open doors

The different types of PR available to you

What the media is looking for

How to organise your PR campaign

How to successfully pitch your article to the media

What a press release is and why you need it

How to get yourself regularly called by journalists

How to get yourself on TV or radio or have your own column

Monitoring your media coverage

How to use PR to win business

Should you do it yourself or employ a PR professional?

Chapter 10: Successful seminar selling

How events help you generate more leads

The different types of events available to you

The key stages in planning, marketing and running an event

Part 4: Turning leads into clients

Chapter 11: Managing your sales pipeline

Building your tactical marketing plan

How to spot a potential lead

What is my sales pipeline?

How to follow up with a lead without being pushy

How to get a face-to-face meetin