Book Media Kits

Having a book launch is a rather large undertaking.  The plethora of details that have to be taken care of can feel overwhelming. The good news is there are some things you can do to help streamline things. One of those nifty little streamlining tricks is to set up a Book Media Kit.

A book media kit is a way to disseminate information easily and with the least amount of effort. You’re going to have so much going on that the more organized you are, the more you can get done. You’ll most likely be doing interviews and blog tours and sending out press releases; the list just goes on and on. The media kit is your one stop source for those frequently asked questions. You gather all the information in one place so you aren’t scrambling to send them various files, links, emails, etc. to give them the info they need, you can just send them to one place and be done. The old adages “work smarter not harder” and “don’t reinvent the wheel” both come to mind.

So here is what you should be putting into your book media kit:

  • Book DescriptionIf you’re just doing an ebook (not print) then make sure you include the longer version description similar to the book description you’d use for the Amazon/Kindle Store.
  • You will want to include both a long (back of the book cover length) and short (2-3 sentences) description of your book. Include them both so they user can pick the option that works best for them.
  • Author BioAgain be sure to include a long one and a short one as well so the user can use whichever one works best for them.
  • Make this as compelling as possible. Use the same one you use on your Amazon Author Page and your author website.
  • Contact Info
    • Author Name
    • Email
    • Physical Address
    • Phone Number
    • Social Media Info
    • Website
  • Be sure to include the following:
  • Book CoversConsider including:
    • Front Cover
    • Full Cover (front, back, spine)
    • 3D Book Cover
  • Make sure the file is easy to download. You can include images that are sized specifically for websites and social media shares.
  • Author Headshots
  • Include several sizes so they can download the one that works best for their purposes.
  • Blurbs and TestimonialsBlurb = endorsement from someone famous/well-know,.and;
  • Testimonial = endorsement from us “regular joes.”
  • These are those nice little quotes you see on the back covers or inside dust jackets sometimes. In case you’re unsure of the difference:
  • Sample Interview Questions
  • Let’s get real here for a moment. You’re going to have some people who will give you great press on your book who just won’t have the time to read the book. It’s just one of those dark secrets of the publishing industry. But because you don’t want to miss out on a chance for some good press on your book, it’s good to include 5-10 potential questions that someone could use during an interview with you. They may not use them word-for-word or maybe even at all. But it will give them an idea of the important aspects of your book if they don’t have the time to read it.
  • Shareable Media
    • Easily Shareable Links (short links to your author page or book purchase page are very helpful so users can just copy and paste and be good to go.)
    • Images of Quotes
    • Pictures get more interaction than just words. More people click, share, and comment on pictures then they do on other types of social media posts. Look at Instagram if you don’t believe me. The whole platform was created because pictures are so powerful. So take some good quotes from your book and turn them into pictures or info-graphics. Then include them in your media kit.
    • Other Shareable Media
    • Get creative and create, create, create. New things are being shared on social media all the time so get creative. Videos, sketches, fan art, contests, get out there and create the media just don’t forget to include it in your media kit.
  • This is anything that is geared towards social media. The easier it is to share the more likely someone is to share something. So think about the social media avenues people use most and create content with those platforms in mind. Here are some examples:

So that should get you started on building your media kit. I recommend putting it all into a Google Doc. It’s easy to share the “document” with others and that way you can send everyone to one place to get all this killer info. It will take a while to put it all together but if you plan on doing a lot of promotion for your book it will be worth the effort down the road.

Do you have any other ideas of what should go in a book media kit? Please comment below and let us know. We’d love to hear your ideas.

Until we meet again.