How to Create an Online Media Kit
By Annie Jennings - Feb 05 , 2008
What Is an Online Media Kit?
An online media kit is similar to a traditional media kit and has many of the same pages. However, an online media kit is in PDF format and is attached to an email to be used when a producer or journalist asks for more information about you.
The benefit of having an online media kit ready to go is that it saves time in the booking process. Rather than waiting for a traditional media kit to be mailed out and delivered to the correct person, your media contact can open your PDF immediately.
Have a Consistent Design on Each Page of Your Online Media Kit.
Each page should have a header containing the following info:
• Name of expert or author
• Name of your book
• Media contact info, direct contact info
Showcase your talent.
The point of any media kit is to SHOWCASE your talent, your platform, and your area of expertise with the objective of securing the media opportunity, media segment, or your speaking event.
So create a compelling media kit! Your media kit should set you apart from competitors and showcase your professionalism, credentials, areas of expertise, and your platform. Your online media kit should be designed to make you the best choice for the media opportunity under consideration. Your online media kit should give the media an idea of your vast knowledge and create certainty that you are their best choice.
What is certainty?
The knowledge that a producer has when he or she knows you will be an excellent expert—you know what you are talking about and you proved it in the pages of your media kit by providing them with the evidence they need to feel confident in booking you.
So imagine this: A competitor of yours sends their info via email to the media as just a normal, everyday email with perhaps a signature line. And your info arrives completely packaged with everything the media knows to book you. Lots of work with the first expert – not lots of work with you. Plus you can tailor your media kit to fit the needs of the media at any time.
On the phone, you can guide your media contact through your kit and point out certain areas that you especially want them to notice. Many times you can close the deal right there on the phone.
Pages you will need in your Online Media Kit:
- Cover picture of your book
- A color picture of yourself
- Author bio written especially for the media
- Interview topic ideas – fully developed with talking & message point, along with pertinent questions
- Suggested interview questions that are relevant to the topic
- Facts that support your segment (example: A recent AARP study stated that a many as 44 million Americans provide elder care)
- Sample quiz – if your material can be made into a quiz format, then prepare a fun quiz. Print media loves this format. A quiz works well for lifestyle, love, relationship, losing weight, and workplace, all presented in a light-hearted way.
- Testimonials from any other producers etc. that said you were a great guest.
- Media Page: Showcase the media you have already done, listing the most important first.
- Link back to your site if you have a demo or audio demo on your site.
- Scanned in pictures of your book cover and of yourself, in either a business look and/or upscale casual.
Hints:
- Go for a look of crisp and clean, use color where you can.
- You might want to learn how to insert a text box so you can jazz that up a bit and be sure your contact info is either in header format or in the lower right-hand corner of every page, including your FAST Contact info.
- If they print out your PDF, some of the pages can get separated, so be sure to have your contact info on them all!
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To learn more about the world of publicity, you can listen LIVE to my teleseminars in MP3 format.
Annie Jennings of the National PR firm, Annie Jennings PR, promotes authors & experts to the most prestigious media in America. A free CD, “The Making Of A Million Dollar Expert,” is available.
