Are you an author who is looking to build a media kit? If so, you have come to the right place! In this guide, we will walk you through the process of creating a media kit that will help you promote your work and connect with new readers. Whether it is a new book launch or valuable content to add to your author website, you can become a master of the media kit.
First thing, we’ll start by discussing what goes into an author media kit, then we’ll provide some tips on how to create one that is both professional and effective. Let’s get started!
If you need to create a professional author press kit for your new book, then this guide is for you. We’ll discuss what goes into an author media kit and how it can help promote your work as well as connect you to new readers.
What is an Author Media Kit?
Before I explain how to create one, do you know what a media kit is? It’s basically a collection of materials intended to help you promote your book and connect with new readers. You can think of it as an unofficial resume for authors; the information included here should provide potential fans or journalists all they need about yourself as well as any upcoming projects you may have in development.
What’s in a Media Kit?
A list of books (with blurbs and release dates) that have been published or are coming soon, a picture of the author (which should be professional looking), an author bio that describes who they are and why their books matter, an “About the Author” section which contains credentials like education or awards received, and contact information (email address, phone number, social media accounts), which can include links to websites where readers can purchase copies of your novels if applicable are all things that should be included.
Why is this author press kit so important?
Position yourself to readers, agents, and even book bloggers
There are different reasons to create an author media kit and different people you may want to share it with. Book reviewers who are interested in reading and reviewing your books can use this kit to more easily learn about you and share with their readers.
Book bloggers may want to write blog posts about your books or do an author profile piece on you. This will help position you to new readers and can be very valuable in building your brand.
Journalists can use the information contained in your media kit as well; they may want to interview you for a story, or perhaps write about upcoming projects.
In addition, agents who are looking at pitches from writers might find it useful too! If someone is interested enough to read through everything then that’s an indication of how much potential there is for you to work with them. Help make their job easier by creating an easy media kit they can refer to.
So now that we’ve got some context, let’s look into how you can create one for yourself.
Getting book reviews
One reason I love author media kits is that they can be very useful in getting reviews for your books. Because you provide all of the information about you, the author, and the book in your press kit/ media kit, it makes it easy for someone to do a review for you. Getting book reviews is hard enough, so don’t make it harder on yourself by not having a professional author media kit. It’s one of the most important tools you can have in your arsenal as an author.
Creating Your Media Kit
Now that you know what should go into a media kit and why it matters, let’s take a look at how to create one for yourself. Remember your target audience as you go through the process.
And think about if you were being interviewed by the press. What kinds of sample interview questions do you think there would be? Think about these questions and then try to answer the most important ones in your media kit.
How do I create an author media kit?
Start by gathering all of the information you want to include in your kit and organizing it into a cohesive document. Make sure that everything is professional-looking and well written- this will be the first impression potential readers will have of you and your work. You may also want to consider hiring a designer to help create an attractive media kit that will stand out from the competition.
What goes in an author media kit?
There is no one-size-fits-all answer to this question, as the contents of your media kit will vary depending on what you want to promote. However, a good rule of thumb is to include any information that would be relevant to potential readers or journalists. This might include:
- Author bio
- Book synopsis
- Book cover image
- Press release
- Sample chapter
- Contact information
- Book reviews/ excerpts
- Photos
Once you have gathered all of your materials, it’s time to put them together into a cohesive document. As mentioned before, it’s important that this kit looks professional and well written- after all, you want to make a good impression on potential readers! If you’re not sure how to put everything together, you may want to consider hiring a designer or editorial consultant to help you out.
The author media kit can also include a picture of the author, which should be professional looking, an author bio that describes who they are and why their books matter (this is usually written in third-person), an About the Author section which contains credentials like education or awards received.
How do I display my media kit?
Once you’ve put your kit together, what is the best way to display it and share it with media outlets or other people who need to see it?
There are a few different ways to do this- you can create a PDF version and send it as an attachment via email, or post it on your website or blog. You could also print out hard copies if you prefer. However, the most common way to share media kits is by posting them on social media platforms like Twitter or LinkedIn.
Indie authors have to do all of their own promotion and without a publishing house backing your work, it’s important to know how to create hype for yourself. You don’t have to have a degree in public relations to do a good job of creating an author media kit or book promo kit.
Creating great author photos
How do you create an amazing author photo for your media kit? This is one of the most important parts of your kit, so it’s worth putting some thought into what makes an awesome author photo.
The first step is to think about who you are and how that should come across in any photos taken for the media kit. Consider whether a professional photographer’s services will be necessary or if DIY would work. Remember that this is your first impression so you want to make it a good one.
Set yourself apart by having an author photo that is not only professional looking but also portrays you accurately. This could mean wearing something like a suit or dress shirt instead of jeans and a t-shirt. In the end, it really depends on your personal style and your brand. If casual suits your genre, then don’t be afraid of going more casual.
Using Media Kit Templates
If you are looking for an easy way to put all of these materials together, you might consider a media kit template. This can save you a lot of time and stress at getting everything just right.
A media kit template will make it easier to format your information and get it ready for printing or sharing online. Templates are also great because they allow you the opportunity to see what other authors have done, which can help inspire some new ideas on how best to present yourself as an author.
Quick tips for using a media kit template
Here are some additional things to keep in mind if using a template:
- Write it in third person
- Include a professional-grade photo
- Provide social media links
- Include your contact details
Members of the media can then use your press kit to write about you or your books, to reach out to you for interviews, and more. Book bloggers can use this to promote you on their sites, which can bring in new readers, and event planners can use it to invite you to book and author events or speaking engagements.
There are so many good things to say about having an author media kit. Even if you don’t think you’re big enough to need one yet, it pays to get the jump on it and have it ready in advance. It also helps you present more professionally as an author.
Conclusions to Building an Author Media Kit
In this blog post, we have explored what an author media kit is and how to create one. We also looked at some examples of professional photos taken for the kits as well as tips on taking your own DIY photos if needed!
The next steps are:
– Start by gathering all of the information you want to include in your kit
– Decide what format you would like to use for your kit (PDF, hard copy or online?)
– Once you have all of your content, design it in a way that looks professional and polished. Use a template if needed.
– Share your media kit with journalists, bloggers, agents, and other publishing professionals.
From new releases to seeking a literary agent, there are a lot of situations in which you may need an author media kit. It’s easy to see why it’s such a good idea. This can be an integral part of presenting your author brand.
The important thing is to promote successful book marketing with a complete professional author media kit. Are you ready to create yours today?
