This guest post was written by my good friend, Lyndsey Wells of Kismet Public Relations & The Stationery Place.
As a PR consultant, the question I hear most often from clients is “What’s a media kit?” Media kits can seem intimidating, but they’re a vital tool that can (and should!) be part of any business strategy or marketing plan.
A media kit is your introduction to the world — think of it as an interactive, colorful resume — and can be used for any business, large or small. Media kits with relevant information, consistent branding and cute packaging demonstrate that you take your business seriously while showing off your unique style and personality.
Media kits should always contain a few key things:
- Product and price information
- Images on a disk or USB drive, or at the very least include a link to find images online
- Social media handles — shop, blog or website URL; Twitter and Facebook links
- Contact information so people can make a purchase, ask you questions, get more images
Those are just the bare bones, though — sky’s the limit on what else you can include!
Here are a few other suggestions of what you might incorporate:
- Product samples, fabric swatches or other tangible pieces of your work
- Catalog or order sheets
- Customer reviews, press mentions, awards & recognition
- Personal background information
Media kits can be hard copies of documents, or you can put all the information on a USB drive or CD and give those out instead. Add a business card and you’re good to go! You’ll definitely want to have them on hand at places like trade shows or craft fairs where you exhibit your work — use them to network with buyers, bloggers, magazine editors, potential advertisers, or anyone who might be interested in working with you. Media kits will become your secret weapon to taking your business to the next level – how will you use them?
*Image of Moglea Studios press kit by Lyndsey Wells
About the author. Lyndsey Payzant Wells is the founder of Kismet Public Relations and teaches PR classes for bloggers and small business owners via Kismet Workshops. In her free time, she blogs her favorite stationery finds at The Stationery Place.
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[…] wondered Why YOU Need a Media Kit? Papernstitch shared an awesome guest post that explains the answer in […]
Link Hype 7-20-2012RT @designcoyote: Find out what a good media kit consists of & why you need one via the @papernstitch blog: http://t.co/qTznFon9 #pr
minna (@karuski)RT @designcoyote: Find out what a good media kit consists of & why you need one via the @papernstitch blog: http://t.co/qTznFon9 #pr
(@papernstitch) (@papernstitch)Why YOU Need a Media Kit http://t.co/wAy83XwE via @sharethis cc: @ImeldaDulcichPR
Kyle Chicoine (@KyleChicoine)Find out what a good media kit consists of & why you need one via the @papernstitch blog: http://t.co/qTznFon9 #pr
(@designcoyote) (@designcoyote)“@JustBAustralia: For Bloggers > Why YOU Need a Media Kit | papernstitch http://t.co/CK9avwj8†great advice!
Rosemary Hamilton (@rosemaryrosemar)RT @SocialCallout: RT @JustBAustralia: For Bloggers > Why YOU Need a Media Kit | papernstitch http://t.co/lJ7bcYX5
Little Paper Trees (@littlepapertree)Why YOU Need a Media Kit http://t.co/Ns7ESTPv via @sharethis
Diet Schmiet (@Schmiet)RT @JustBAustralia: For Bloggers > Why YOU Need a Media Kit | papernstitch http://t.co/lJ7bcYX5
SocialCallout (@SocialCallout)For Bloggers > Why YOU Need a Media Kit | papernstitch http://t.co/mMysEDro
(@JustBAustralia) (@JustBAustralia)Why YOU need a media kit http://t.co/NK8TrENn
Shaylee Carmona (@shaycarmona)So heplful! Thanks for this.
TabassumWhy YOU Need a Media Kit | @papernstitch http://t.co/LE5IUwU7
(@MeetJNewell) (@MeetJNewell)OK, now I understand what a media kit is. All this is normal to have with me. I just didn’t know it was called that. 🙂
Julieall about media kits and why YOU need one! i’m guest posting on @papernstitch today 🙂 http://t.co/U050gECz
(@paperlyndsey) (@paperlyndsey)RT @EtsyNY: Do you have a media kit? (Do you know what one is?) http://t.co/jlLTWb6Q via @papernstitch and @paperlyndsey
(@paperlyndsey) (@paperlyndsey)Why YOU Need a Media Kit http://t.co/pk2Tgw1C I will be working on a media kit for my business. I love the helpful advice in this article!
Going Places 2 (@GoingPlacesToo)This is so useful, Thankyou so much.
Mrs BertimusThanks for this post! Definitely cleared up the what and why of media kits for me.
Now I understand the importance of having one for a professional business!
Looks like I’ll be adding another project to my list 🙂
jb
Jordan BrantleyVery helpful article on @papernstitch: the what + why of media kits / http://t.co/VKB2M7NB I’ll be adding one to my to-do list for sure!
Jordan Brantley (@jordanbrantley)RT @EtsyNY: Do you have a media kit? (Do you know what one is?) http://t.co/jlLTWb6Q via @papernstitch and @paperlyndsey
Isabelle Stolar (@istolar)This is so so helpful to me. My fiance and I are going to eventually start a business and tips like this are priceless. Thank you for posting!
JessicaRT @papernstitch: Why YOU Need a Media Kit: This guest post was written by my good friend, Lyndsey Wells of… http://t.co/lVrb0sQD
(@HalmoniVintage) (@HalmoniVintage)RT @papernstitch: Why YOU Need a Media Kit: This guest post was written by my good friend, Lyndsey Wells of… http://t.co/lVrb0sQD
Dale Ocasio (@ocasiocasa)RT @EtsyNY Do you have a media kit? (Do you know what one is?) http://t.co/JZCntVNb via @papernstitch and @paperlyndsey
(@RoriStories) (@RoriStories)Do you have a media kit? (Do you know what one is?) http://t.co/jlLTWb6Q via @papernstitch and @paperlyndsey
(@EtsyNY) (@EtsyNY)RT @papernstitch: Why YOU Need a Media Kit: This guest post was written by my good friend, Lyndsey Wells of… http://t.co/lVrb0sQD
(@hardydanielle) (@hardydanielle)