Press Kit, What Exactly Is It?
What Is a Press Kit or Media Kit?
A media kit, sometimes called a press kit, is simply an information packet about a business or product. It is called a media kit or a press kit because many times potential advertising mediums will ask for more information on the potential advertiser. Since most of this advertising is press- and media-related, the term media kit was adopted.
A press kit is like a resume for your company. In it is a collection of company information and articles put together to address questions from the media, investors, potential clients and others. The goal of the press kit is the same as all other marketing that a company does. It should grab the reader’s attention, make a lasting impression and create enough interest that they will contact you for more information.
What’s in a Press Kit? There are many items that can go into a press or media kit, depending on the situation, the audience or the use. Amedia kit for potential investors is much different than a kit for potential clients.Although a press kit should be comprehensive, everypromotional item or piece of marketing collateral ever produced by a company should not be included.
- Letter of introduction:
Provide a table of contents or a brief description of the items enclosed in the actual press kit. - Information on the company: This includes your company’s history, a company profile, and profiles of the chief officers, senior management and ownership. Include bio sheets, if appropriate.
- Product and service information, including a product, service or performance review: This will let editors see what others are saying about you or help the editor write his own review. This should also be supported by product or service fact sheets, sell sheets or company brochures that are specific to your product or service.
- Recent press publications and articles: Copies of recent press coverage is very appropriate for a press kit. After all, what other media have done will be of interest to current media targets. This can include article reprints and printouts of online press that a company might have received.
- Press releases: Many times, these are what instigated and caused the printing of the articles described above.
- Audio and video files of radio or TV interviews, speeches, performances, and any other media-covered event: Hard copies will suffice if the actual media is not available. Today, some companies are now putting online audio clips on their Web pages and in online media kits.
- A sample news story: This is your chance to guide the media or your reader. Some editors will even print it verbatim, as they view ready-to-print articles as an easy way to fill up space with little effort on their part. They do, of course, usually edit these stories, so be prepared.
- Since many media kits are put together for investors, any news related to the industry, financial statements or any other investor-related news is very appropriate for the press kit.
- List of frequently asked questions: This helps the editor determine what questions to ask you in an interview or what to include in the article.
Other items to include:
- Nonprofit and community-service involvement
- Recent awards Photos
- Factual background material and/or white papers
- Specific information and schedules of upcoming promotions and events
- Significant statistics specific to your industry, demographics and target audiences
- Feature article material, such as articles written by company officers or senior management
- Missions, goals, and objectives
- Samples or examples
- Camera-ready logo art
- Giveaway information
- An order form
- The Key to getting noticed
- Busy editors sort through piles of press kits each day
Source: www.entrepreneur.com