Now that you have published your book, you can relax and wait for the praise to start coming in, right? Only if it was that simple!
Making a professional author media kit for your book is an important task to market and promote through media professionals. It is an effective tool for building an author brand, increasing your visibility, and boosting sales.
The following post explains in detail what a writer media kit is, how to make one, and why it is important for authors.
Key Takeaways
- Essential for Promotion: An author media kit is a must-have tool to market your book. It makes it easier for journalists, reviewers, and bloggers to understand and promote.
- Comprehensive Content: Include an author bio, book details, high-quality images, reviews, press mentions, and contact information in your media kit.
- Boosts Visibility: A professional media kit helps you create a strong first impression, increases your credibility, and ensures accurate representation of your brand and book.
- Easily Shareable: Use online file-sharing platforms like Google Drive or Dropbox to distribute your media kit to media professionals and influencers.
What Is an Author Media Kit?
You can say an author media kit is the resume of your book. For example, what would you bring if you had to apply for a job as a best-selling author? Obviously, it’s not your “I love writing” speech, right? Rather, you would bring well-prepared documentation that determines your credibility. Similarly, your media kit is an organized, expert compilation of all the information and promotion materials media professionals might possibly need about you and your book.
How to Create an Author Media Kit Folder?
An author media kit can be shared with bloggers, reviewers, interviewers, potential readers, and other media professionals through a physical folder or the most common medium on an online folder like Google Drive or other file-sharing services such as WeTransfer, Dropbox, etc. But what should you include in that folder, and how? Read the following checklist to find out what to include and how to create one:
1. Author Bio
This is a one-page-long informative author biography. On this page, you can add your background, writing experience, awards or recognitions, some of your best sellers, and mention the current book you want to promote. Tell readers something interesting about your writing career.
2. Book Details
Include key details about your book, such as the title, genre, publication date, ISBN, page count, available formats, and a brief description to give a clear overview. Here, you will have to be a little creative and write persuasive marketing content to draw readers in.
Remember to add professional graphics to enhance your media kits, like banners featuring the cover image, quotes, or other visuals you’d like the media to utilize. To prepare material for this section, you can hire an affordable book marketing firm.
3. Professional Images
Add high-resolution images of the author, book cover, and any other relevant ones in three sizes (landscape, portrait, and square) so that media professionals can adjust them in their articles, reviews, posters, and promotional materials. You can include solo images and even images of you interacting with an audience. If you have merch of your book, take professional photos of interacting with them.
Wondering how to manage an extensive photo collection? Organize them into a separate folder within your main media kit folder.
4. Book Copy or PDF
Many authors hesitate at this step, but it’s essential to share your book in the author media kit. Media professionals need access to the entire book to provide meaningful coverage, ask insightful questions, and reference quotes accurately.
Upload a complete PDF of your book without password protection. Rest assured, this link is shared exclusively with industry professionals who respect copyright and won’t misuse your work.
5. Previous and Upcoming Projects
Include details about your past publications, such as brief descriptions, publication dates, and where readers can purchase them. This gives a clear overview of your writing career and increases your credibility.
Sharing a sneak peek of what you’re working on next in the author media kit also keeps the media professionals engaged and eager to follow your future projects.
6. Reviews and Press Releases
Include any positive comments you have already received in your kit! Influencer or critic reviews offer further social evidence that your book is worthy of media coverage.
Moreover, you can include any press mentions you have received, even if they are local, to highlight your accomplishments. You can add a press release announcing the book’s release or other noteworthy events pertaining to the writer or their creations.
7. Contact Information
Add a page that contains your name, contact information, and the title of your book. Provide links to your social media accounts, website, and your email address. This information helps media personnel reach out to you, so don’t miss out on this one.
Why Is a Media Kit Important for Authors?
An author media kit is a supporting tool for availing of the benefits of book promotion companies. It helps make a strong first impression with journalists, reviewers, and interviewers. With a well-prepared kit, you can control the author’s brand narrative by defining and sharing your story on your own terms. This ensures your message is communicated accurately.
It also provides all the essential information about you and your book in one place, making it easy for media professionals, bloggers, and influencers to feature your work. For example, if a journalist wants to write a feature about your book, a well-organized media kit ensures they have everything they need without delays.
Conclusion
Creating an author media kit can get your book noticed and build your brand. It gives journalists, reviewers, and influencers everything they need to cover your work in one organized package.
However, your work doesn’t end after putting a kit together. Keep it updated with new reviews, press mentions, and details about upcoming projects to keep the media engaged.
You might also consider working with book advertising services online to boost your reach and make sure your book gets the attention it deserves. The more you stay on top of it, the better your chances of success in getting your book read by readers worldwide!
FAQs
What is the purpose of an author media kit?
An author media kit is a professional tool that attracts and provides journalists, reviewers, bloggers, and other media professionals with all the necessary information in one organized package. This helps them promote your book and build your author brand.
How much does a book marketing company cost?
The cost depends on the services provided. Basic packages may start at $500, while more comprehensive campaigns can range from $2,000 to $10,000 or more. It’s essential to research and compare packages to find the best ones.
Who should I share my author media kit with?
Share your media kit with journalists, bloggers, book reviewers, interviewers, podcasters, and influencers who can help promote your book. You can also provide it to event organizers or anyone requesting materials for publicity purposes.