How to Create a Media Kit for Your Book
A professional media kit (also called a press kit) is one of the best ways to market your book. Here are some tips for how to prepare your kit:
Presentation Folder
Your press kit should be housed in a high-quality presentation folder with the front cover of your book centered on the outside front. Make sure the color of the folder complements your cover. For WinePress authors we use a beautiful, glossy, full color presentation folder—it looks incredible!
Inside the media kit, include the following collateral materials:
- Overview of the book
- Author bio
- Endorsements
- Suggested interview questions
Book Recap
The book overview or recap should include some brief sales copy that lists the benefits and what the reader can expect. Oftentimes, when you are on a radio or TV interview, the host will use this data to introduce your book in the intro to the program, so make sure the copy is compelling.
Author Bio
Your author bio should be written in the third person and include all credentials and life experiences that show you are qualified to write about your topic. Be sure to include any other books you’ve written and had published. The host will typically use this information to introduce you to the viewing or listening audience at the start of the program.
Endorsements
An endorsement sheet is always good to include, because it lets the journalist, host or producer know that you are worth interviewing or writing about.
Interview Questions
The suggested interview questions (8-10 questions) should be written in a clear, concise manner that lead the listener through the important points of your book. Do not cover everything in your book or there will be no need for any of the listeners to buy a copy.
Hosts really appreciate having suggested interview questions ahead of time. Many hosts interview five or more authors a week and don’t have the time to read every book (or even, to glance at it), so you are doing them a service by providing this guideline for the interview.
A set of interview questions also increases the likelihood that the host will ask pertinent questions, and gives you the opportunity to prepare concise sound bites ahead of time.
Other items you can add to your media kit include:
- Your brochure
- Your business card
- A press release
- Your full cover
- Clips of positive articles or reviews from newspapers articles, etc.
- Copies of magazine articles you have written on the same topic
Professional Media Kits from WinePress
Several of our publishing packages include top-of-the-line media kits, prepared by our professional public relations team.
Our press kits include:
- Press release written with a professional, journalistic slant.
- Your press release sent over the nation’s leading international newswire to media contacts of various kinds including radio, internet, and newspapers.
- Full color interview one sheet used for media.
- Campaign strategy developed based on author questionnaire and phone consultation with publicist.
- Full color press kits in PDF format (includes professionally-written author bio, book recap, and interview questions)
- One time slot in exclusive tri-annual publicity catalog. (October, February, June issue depending on release date of book.)
- Listed on web database for Media Only (your cover, author photo, bio, catalog description, and possible interview topics). Media only can log on and find authors for their venues.
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I found this very informative. I have a book coming out in the new year and this info is good.
Great! Congrats on yoru new book! –Carla