Call it the case of “the shoemaker’s children going barefoot.â€Â I’m a marketing consultant for self-published authors and have only recently started building a “real†website that wasn’t a Yahoo template. Still to finish: my press kit. I suppose my excuse could be that I’m shy and hate to brag.
Shy or no, every business website should have a press kit. I’m no exception. Here’s why we both should have one:
You should have information on your website for the press and others to learn about you and your business. Consider these questions:
- Do you ever try to get free publicity for your business or services? (If you don’t, well, that’s an entirely different article.)
- Do you get involved in your community, and do good things that the world should know about?
- If there was a problem or a wonderful event that would cause a reporter to come calling, do you have well-written basic information that they could use in a news story?
- Would you rather a reporter’s use your information about your business or find it elsewhere and risk having that information be wrong?
An press kit is basically a resource area on your website for reporters to learn about your business, products, and you. Here’s what could be found there:
- Current press releases
- Short history of your company
- Your biography and other key members’ bios
- Sample interview questions
- Quotes from you and other
- Link to company ezine
- Pictures of you, and others in your org, pictures of your products
- List of other media appearances/links to video
- Contact info
Once you’ve got this page done, keep it updated. Don’t be caught unprepared when the press comes calling!
Mary Walewski is the owner of Buy The Book Marketing LLC, specializing in online promotion for self-published authors. Her website (in progress, including the press kit) is www.buythebookmarketing.com.