Your online press kit and how to put together the essential elements youll need for your media contacts. When you get that, a press release for your book can be a game changer for your sales and authority not just a pride metric like many use it for. This kit makes it easier for media outlets to gather quickly and efficiently information about your book and you as an author. For this reason, book press kits are really important to your book marketing efforts.
In the case of an indie author media kit, it tells people the basics about you, the author, and your books primarily, the book youre currently promoting. This is a sample press release i wrote that landed me an interview on the midday news show and several mentions on the radio. In the old days, you would have to print a physical copy, and some still do that today, but the majority or festivals would be fine with a digital press kit. Your author media kit is important for your book marketing efforts. A digital media kit, also known as a press kit, electronic press kit, or media kit, is an information packet about a business or product. Sep 26, 2014 here are seven things indie authors shouldnt do without in an author media kit.
A press kit, also known as a media kit, is a page on your website that contains resources and information for reporters and publishers. Rightclick the link and select save as to download it, then doubleclick the file to open it. Whether youre drumming up business for your band or trying to win new clients for your company, adobe spark page lets you create an electronic press kit. How to create a stunning media kit for you and your book. Why having a media kit could increase your press coverage. Selfpublished book press release template book hub press. A media kit is a basic document containing information about your latest book being released. Think of an author media kit as a dynamic business card on your website. Decent book publicity often equals sales and one of the best first steps you can take to help yourself get the attention of the media is to have a comprehensive and catchy digital press kit.
A press kit is the official document representing your film, which would be sent to, well, the press or any institute interested in featuring or presenting your film. Using a standard package from pr web, we created a generic press release by pr web for an incredible book by pamela hodges called how to be a cat. How to create an author press kit wordserve water cooler. When shes ready to pound the pavement, she prints off her highres pdf, grabs a sample print copy, and off she goes. It includes simple guides to create your author bios, book onesheet, book announcement, and more. Then, out of the blue, a journalist asks you for a headshot, bio, and sell sheet. Think of it as a supercharged business card that explains who you are.
Here are suggestions for what you should include in yours. Folk hogan this bands press kit is two pages and includes the bands bio, members, contact information, and a list of performances. If you have upcoming events, it might be a good idea to omit them from your press kit press release. Make a list of interview questions and responses about you and your book. If you receive an award or accolade for your work, by all means add it to the credentials in your bio. Your name or publicists name business phone email local author jane doe discusses gardening book at village books. Jul 07, 2011 your author bio is an important book press kit element because it is pretty much the only tool you have to make the case that you are the best person to write this book and to write it well. Is a press release still a good book promotion tool. Empire publishing will create an eyecatching electronic press kit for you. About the author short bio gretchen mcneil is the author of the standalone ya horror novels possess, ten yalsa top ten quick pick for reluctant young adult readers a romantic times top pick, a booklist top ten horror fiction for youth, a finalist for washington states 2015 evergreen young adult book. Here is a sample of the press release i used to promote my writers of the future signings. What the book is about, why it is significant, and how it came to be written are all important components of a press release.
He also has a large assortment of photos of tim ferris to choose from. Sample press release for immediate release september 24, 20 media contact. Marketing a book create an author press kit chatebooks. How to write an author bio posted on july 7, 2011 by sandra beckwith comments your author bio is an important book press kit element because it is pretty much the only tool you have to make the case that you are the best person to write this book. Want to make an author media kit and dont quite know where to start. This book is so fun and catchy that some of my favorite authors.
You ought to glance at yahoos home page and watch how they create article titles to grab viewers to open the links. A wellstructured press kit template is essential if you want to succeed in your approaches to get press for your company, or if you want to include it with any press release. The best way to tell people what your book is about is to create a press kit for the book and author as soon as the manuscript is complete. This is an example of a longer press kit that includes a biography, relevant events and services, clients, testimonials. In a nutshell, an author media kit is an assortment of information for anyone who wants easy access to further details about you and your book. The press kit becomes the basis for all of the following vitallyimportant tools in the authors or publishers marketing kit. Create a designated folder on your hard drive and call it press kit. I just finished a rather long post on book advertising in it i mentioned a mediocre book promotion blog making a lot of money on book advertisements. When they responded asking for my press kit, i panicked. How to create a professional press kit in 8 easy steps writers. How to create a professional author media kit writers edit.
But for the sake of ease and simplicity when kimbretta is doing inperson marketing, we kept the press kit to one page. Your name or publicists name business phone email local author jane doe discusses gardening book at village books bellingham, wa first paragraph should be catchy, and should also share the newsworthytimely information. A press kit refers to the promotional materials that are distributed to the press to generate publicity for a person or business. Seeds of evidence has won a holt medallion for best book by a virginia author, as well as an award of merit from virginia romance writers. Heres a list of items to include in your speaker media kit or speaker press kit ive compiled a list of typical items a speaker may include in their speaker media kit. Use our free press kit template to appeal to media and standout among the.
Learning how to create a student book is simple with our 6 easy steps. For instance, tim ferris of the 4hour workweek fame, has a full media kit with press release, book summary and sample interview questions. Every author needs a press kit that looks like this paper. If i dont find one, i put the book on my bookshelf. How to make a press kit plus a free press kit template. A full sample chapter to your book that includes links to buy a complete copy on amazon. Choose from stock covers, submit a custom cover, or use our cover design assistance. The sole purpose of which is to sell you to the media and provide them with bitesized nuggets of information for their journalistic endeavors. The main purpose of a media kit is to present yourself and your book as. What really knocks me out is a book that, when youre all done reading it, you wish the author that wrote it was a terrific friend of yours and you could call him up on the phone whenever you felt like it.
Return to book promotion tips printmobilefriendly version. We will let you know the terms and conditions after our editors recommend your works for publication. How to create a professional press kit in 8 easy steps. There are many templates for press releases online. But after doing quite a bit of research, i found that a i already had most of the materials and b its pretty simple. Check out these ecommerce press kit examples and learn how to create a press kit. Indie authors will ask me if theres any merit to having your press release online which is what happens when a press release is sent through a wire service. There are a lot of things you can do in book promotion that will bring weight to your efforts but putting having a press. The ultimate book press release template free download. An electronic press kit or epk is a digital solution for showcasing the services or products of a business or individual.
How to write a press release for authors that actually sells. A press kit is essentially an easy way to share your information and your books information with a media outlet. Its the media relations tool that tells reporters, producers, bloggers and other media gatekeepers that your personal history gives you the perfect credentials for this novel or that your professional. Jun 03, 2017 a media kit is an information packet that informs everyone not just members of the media about you and your author brand. Imagine it as a resume for your company that aims to.
Lets take a look at exactly what a professional author media kit entails, why you need. I encourage you to look for that hook when writing your press releases. A press kit makes it easier for journalists to write about your company with the information and pictures you want out there. How to write a bio for a press kit pen and the pad. May 29, 2017 how to build your author pressmedia kit kristen martin. A digital press kit is the first step when it comes to pr basics for authors. Whether youre drumming up business for your band or trying to win new clients for your company, adobe spark page lets you create an electronic press kit that will set. New books, new photos, new press releases, new events.
An author press kit can be a single sheet that covers the basics about you as an author or. How to write a press release for a book launch made for. Sep 05, 2014 even if you do not plan to pitch your book to traditional media, a press or media kit is both a useful addition to your website and a valuable exercise. Remember that the press kit is like a detailed pitch. Marketing, entrepreneur the ingredients of a press kit. An author press kit is a package of information about a particular writer. Its your author media kit, also known in the printfocused world as an author press kit. Jan 07, 2016 after launching my social media and online book campaigns, i decided to reach out to local libraries and schools about shelving my indie book. The good news is media kits are very easy to put together, and they can save you a lot of time when it comes to marketing your books. I think the biggest influence in the tv interview was the community events angle.
Its become common for authors to maintain their own media kit on their. Authors sabotage their books in two very common ways, both of which are symptoms of the dunningkruger effect. They vary somewhat in context, complexity, and appearance, but most will include basic information about the writers. A media kit is an information packet that informs everyone not just members of the media about you and your author brand. Author book electronic press kit empire publishing. As david meerman scott asks in his classic bestseller the new rules of marketing and pr. Press kits are an excellent way to gain interest in your book and stand out above other authors vying for book sales. Your students will be so proud of their selfpublished book.
In many cases, public relations specialists write bios and put together press kits. A year later, when im dejunking, your book ends up in a. Prepare your pages press ready, so pages are designed how you want them. Your press kits will vary based on what youre promoting and the type of media that will be receiving your press kit. A media kit, also called a press kit, is a package of key information about a product, business or event. Theres no rule book on creating press kits that specify what components you must include. While other authors are struggling to create their author media kits. If you have more than one book, then create a different press kit for each book, within the parent press kit folder. A selfpublishers companion media kit the book designer. Sample chapterwhy selfpublishing is entering a golden age. How to really write a press release that actually sells books, plus some free pr templates this article is older, make sure you read this new one about a more recent press campaign. As a special gift to you, chris if giving you a free set of author media kit templates.
Media kit for indie authors selfpublishing advice is a little plain. Often these materials are contained in an attractive folder and accompanied by a cover letter. They vary somewhat in context, complexity, and appearance, but most will include basic information about the writers services or recent projects, as well as contact information. Why you need a media kit for your book and a sixstep. Jan 21, 2017 many authors have no idea what these are or how to use them.
For indie authors, media kits are particularly helpful when setting up blog. Here is a link to the entire media kit in one jumbo zip file. Your book s press release headline or titlethis is probably the most important part of your book s press release as it is the first thing the readers will see and thus it will determine if they continue reading or not. A lot of marketing has moved online, but author press kits still matter. If your ebook sales soar, write a new press release. Books weve published student authors morris publishing. Imagine it as a resume for your company that aims to answer questions from media, investors, potential clients, and others. Sep 28, 2018 how to build a rocking author media kit. Think of it as your companys greatest hits compilation, because you want the media to know about you and your products and services in one tidy package.
Click here to find agents who are currently seeking writers. He also has a large assortment of photos of tim ferris. How to really write a press release that actually sells. Livvy takes the long way, lost and found girls, the awkward womans guide to dating, still here, and the writers romance.
When you start hitting the selfpublished book publicity trail you can use the following tips to grab attention to your book s press release. If you only have a few samples, create a tiered press kit. A press kit is a collection of written materials designed to introduce an expert or a company to the media. To arrange a book signing or interview, contact scott nicholson at xxxx or nicholsonatemailaddress. How to write a press releas e fo r a book launch august 19, 2015 for authors seeking that elusive bestseller status, selfpromotion can be your best tool for driving laser sharp traffic and increasing book. This costs no money, but its a worthwhile investment of time because the kit will be used from prelaunch throughout the full life of the book. Dec 26, 2019 b efore an author gets that allimportant magazine, newspaper or radio interview, an interviewer will probably spend time perusing their author media kit. That includes poetry books, picture books and memoirs.
As you issue new press releases, be sure to modify your media kit as well. Approach media contacts with carefully designed press releases. Use our free press kit template to appeal to media and standout among the competition. Why a good press kit is essential and how to make one. Update it more often if you have exciting news to share. The publishing kit includes our publishing guide and sample book.
Media kit templates for indie authors faqs the publicity. Here are 7 reasons writing a novel makes you awesome. May 24, 2018 the thing to remember is that a press release is a story. Doing so will keep you from having to continuously reedit your kit to keep it timely.
Jun 11, 2019 what you include is very important because a press kit should be an easy way to spotlight you or your business. Its important to note that, as her book designer, i had direct access to her original design files. How to write a press release author scott nicholson. One of the most effective strategies for book marketing is to create a press kit.
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