Building an Author's Media Kit

By Kenneth Eaton

Much has been written about media kits and on what should be included in them. When I started putting mine together, I searched for information high and low. What I found was as many different opinions as I had questions. So I did what I could to take the good examples, throw out those which didn't apply to my target group, then added suggestions from proven sources. After a bit of mixing and matching, the result was a kit I was comfortable with. Time will tell, and since I'm an unknown and have no expectations of calls from media giants, I chose to go electronic and make mine available in PDF format. I can easily have it professionally printed, packaged, and ready for delivery in literally a few hours should a request for a hard copy be made. Until then, it is readily available for download via my website.

The basics:

Here's a list of the things which should be included in your media kit. Mine consists of 8 pages and I'll use it as an example. It is important to note that because I have no way of knowing who will download my media kit, I did not include a Pitch Letter in its electronic form. I do, however, include one for every printed kit I send out.

Page 1: Table of Contents

As the name implies, it lists the pages to follow.

Page 2: Pitch Letter (Personalized)

This is your sales pitch and should be modified and personalized for the intended recipient. You should know who will read this letter and address it specifically to that person. You should also tailor each pitch letter to meet the role of the organization you're sending it to. For instance, pitch letters addressed to TV stations will not be the same as those addressed to radio stations, or online interview sites.

Page 3: Biography

Include the full version. This is where you let the reader know who you are. Make the reader like you as a person and he, or she may be more inclined to move on to page 4. Be sure to include anything that will authenticate you as an authority on your book's subject.

Page 4: Book Excerpt.

Just about everyone agrees that whoever wants to see your media info will also want at least a sample of your writing.

Page 5: Q and A

If people have written you asking questions about your book or article, include a sampling of those questions, along with your answers.

Page 6: Reviews

Include any positive reviews your book has received. This is not the place to let your sense of fair play enter the picture. Forget balancing the good with the bad. Include only the good stuff here.

Page 7: Press Release

Include your most recent press release. As you issue new press releases, be sure to modify your media kit as well.

Page 8: Author Photo

Include, if possible, a print-ready photo. It can be color, black and white, or both. If that is not possible then provide a way for the reader to get a copy. Make sure whatever process you have for readers to obtain copies of any material included in your kit is as easy as possible. If a reader has to 'work' to get info from you, then he or she is more likely to just move on to the next candidate rather than waste time on you.

Page 9: Book Cover Photo

Provide a full scale, print-ready photo of your book cover. Follow the same rules for distribution as you would for your author photo.

Now that you know what to include, how do you put it together?
This is where you decide on which method of distribution is right for you. If you're an established author and get frequent requests from the media, you'll want to have a few hard copies bundled and ready to go. Do not, however, seal the packages. One of the most important things to do prior to sending out a media kit is to personalize at least the pitch letter to the person that requested it.

Create an electronic copy of your media kit. If you have a website, make it available for download. If you don't have a website, you should seriously consider getting one. Find a local printer and work together to come up with a method for bundling the kit for hard copy distribution. The day will come when you're asked to send in your information and you'll want to make a good impression.

Speaking of good impressions, creativity is good, but to a point. Your media kit should be all about information and the ability of the reader to read it. Consider the fact that most people who request media kits receive many of them daily. Make it easy for the reader to read. Use standard typefaces on non-colored, or neutral paper. Using "funky" fonts and brightly colored paper may have negative effects. Know who you're sending your kit to and make your decision for flare based on that.

So now you know what a media kit is and how to construct one. Use this article as a guide, but gather more information until you get a combination that's right for you. Remember, pertinent, up-to-date information should be considered ahead of flash and flare. Good luck!

Kenneth R. Eaton is a published author and web columnist. He writes suspense/thriller fiction novels. To learn about his latest works, or to just read more articles and writing tips, visit his company website at [http://www.eatonbooks.com]

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/expert/Kenneth_Eaton/13334
http://EzineArticles.com/?Building-an-Authors-Media-Kit&id=72567

More Resources

Unable to open RSS Feed $XMLfilename with error HTTP ERROR: 404, exiting

More Book Marketing Information:

Related Articles

Creating a Book Poster
Posters can be a great and inexpensive way to promote your book. But don't rush right out until you know the key items to include on your poster.
Secrets to Selling Books by Mail
This is intended for informational purposes only. Selling books by mail is one of the "ideal" spare-time business ventures that can be operated from your home, and with minimal investment.
Marketing for Writers When Writing Just Isnt Enough
Many writers write for the experience. Others dream of having a number one best seller.
Top Ten Ways of Why and How to Write your Books Sales Letter - Part 2
Authors/publishers are great at getting their books written. But after the initial one-year honeymoon, sales slow down.
Dont Clone your Book or Business Marketing
Remember that the miracle of cloning sheep has its drawbacks. The main one--dying young.
19 Ways to Secure Non-Returnable Book Sales and Sell More Books
Surprisingly, book stores are not always your greatest source of book sales. Most authors and publishers do want their books to be available in all of the book stores, and rightly so.
How to Create an Amazing Author Website
Without a website, an author is unknown.Without a website, an author sells fewer books.
Raise Your Hand If Youd Consider Giving Up The Rights To Your Book Forever
If Random House pulls up to your house with a U-haul filled with millions and wants to buy your book, maybe you'd consider giving up the rights forever. But, let's come back to the real world.
How To Promote A Book
Nowadays it's no longer a matter of whether or not an author should promote his or her book, but how aggressively one should go about it. The sad truth is that publishers often fail to promote books, and if we, the authors, don't promote your own book then it may be destined to a lifespan between that of butter and yogurt, to paraphrase Calvin Trillan.
Book Marketing 101- Book Publicity for Authors -- Creating a Book Publicity Campaign
Publicity is that elusive thing that can make or break your book - in all sorts of ways! Learning to promote you and your book is something that can take a bit of "re-training" for most new authors (and many old-timers too). Publicity is really all about selling your idea (and you), but all too often the word "selling" brings up images of polyester clad used-car salesmen, telemarketers, and strong-arm sales strategies that do nothing but alienate your intended customer.
Three Powerful Tips on Selecting a Book Topic that Sells
The topic of your book or eBook counts-big time. Which would you buy-The Art of Kissing or The Art of Courtship? The kissing book sold over 60,500 while the other sold only 17,500 copies.
28 Reasons Why Publishers Will Buy Your Book
Editors will buy a book for one or more of the following reasons. By knowing what these reasons are, you can then design a marketing plan with those features in mind.
Best Sellers Aren't Written - They're Made - It's All About Promotion
Writing a book is becoming more and more of a trend these days. In fact, an estimated 5,000 mystery books were published last year in the United States alone, and that number is expected to grow.
How To Get The Most From Your Free eBooks Marketing Campaign
First, your ebook needs to have an attractive title.The title should grab the attention of your intendedtarget audience.
Publicity for Buzz Marketing for Authors
Congratulations, you've written a book and even gotten it published! Now, all you have to do is get people to buy it.Getting people to actually enter a bookstore with the purposeof buying your book is not easy because you're not a "brandname" yet.
Discover 3 Easy Ways to Promote Your Articles
Are you using these methods to promote your articles?If not, you are missing out on some easy ways to get more traffic. Ways that require no additional work on your part once they are set up.
Book Marketing 101
Francine Silverman. Book Marketing from A-Z (InfinityPublishing.
Your Book Marketing Plan - Winning Strategies and Tips
Many authors hit a roadblock when it comes to putting together and implementing a book marketing plan. You know you need to have one, you have a vague idea of what it needs to include, but pulling it all together into a step-by-step plan of attack is not nearly as easy as it sounds.
Self Publishing Success Starts With Marketing
Self-publishing is not for the faint of heart. The publication process is lengthy, involves a considerable number of detailed, administrative tasks and can be expensive.
Media Events for Book Promotion
"How do I set up a media event?" -- As a publisher, that's a good question to have an answer for.Media events and public appearances can fall into any number of categories and include any number of venues (book stores, radio interviews, television interviews, writing group speeches, presentations, chat room interviews, online book tours, public forums, and more).