Do You Need a Press Kit?

A press kit may sound like something that only celebrities and big-time authors need, but that’s not true. Everyone who has a book, blog, or ministry to share with others can benefit from creating a press kit. It’s really not that difficult.

Here’s why you want to have one, and what you need to include:

Why do I need a press kit?

A press kit is a collection of information that helps others quickly and conveniently find key things about you and your work. It’s created to help media professionals and others, by providing them with the kind of information they need in one easy-to-find place.  

A press kit helps you in several ways:

• Makes it easy for journalists to find you and see what you’re about
• Provides consistent and correct information for others
• Helps you describe yourself and your work/ministry in a concise way
• Helps interviews go more smoothly
• Shows that you act like a professional

Who is a press kit for?

• New media, from your local paper or radio to national TV
• Event planners (Especially if speaking is part of your ministry)
• Podcast hosts
• Book Bloggers, BookTubers, etc.
• Book clubs
• Teachers (Anyone interested in school visits?)
• Others who might want to interview for any reason

What items should I include?

Press kits come in all shapes and sizes, but these basic elements are all you need to get started.

Images

• A high-res author photo. A professional-quality photograph. You want to include a high-resolution version (300 dpi) for print use in print media (newspapers or event fliers). If you have more than one, you may include several options.
• A low-res author photo. The same photo in a lower resolution version for internet or social media use, when people want an image with a smaller file size.  
• High-quality images of your book covers or other key products. If you have lots of titles, choose the newest or most important ones.

Text

• A brief author bio. Two to three sentences that provide a brief introduction to you and your writing or ministry. Don’t forget to mention your website.
• Suggested interview questions. These help journalists, podcasters, and bloggers ask you key questions that will allow you to get your message out. They also give interested parties a better idea of what you’re about and if you’re the right person for their article, podcast, or event.
• Contact information. Always make it easy for potential interviewers to contact you! If they can’t easily contact you, they may skip to the next person.

Optional things to add

• An extended bio.
• A list of awards you have received
• Links to recent articles or interviews that feature you
• Audio or video of you speaking or teaching. This proves to event planners that you are a proficient speaker.  
• Links to download relevant pdfs. For example, a pdf version of your press release, or a pdf version of a book for interviewers to access.  
• A list of your books with key info.

Where do I put my press kit?

If you have a website, create a press kit page. Include links to your press kit page in your About page, and on the footer, plus anywhere else that makes sense.

It’s also a good idea to create a pdf version of your kit, which potential interviewers can download. You can store your press kit in a dropbox or similar accessible place so users can easily download it any time.

Your Turn!

That’s all there is to it. Make it easy for people to find the correct information about who you are and what you do by creating a simple press kit.  Do you have a press kit? If not, why don’t you begin creating one today.

If you want to see an example, you can check out my press kit here.

An engineer-turned-mystery-writer, Lisa E. Betz infuses her novels with authentic characters who thrive on solving tricky problems. Her debut novel, Death and a Crocodile, won several awards, including Golden Scroll Novel of the Year (2021). Her second novel, Fountains and Secrets released January 2022, from Redemption Press.

Lisa combines her love of research with her quirky imagination to bring the world of the early church to life. She and her husband reside outside Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, with Scallywag, their rambunctious cat—the inspiration for Nemesis, resident mischief maker in the Livia Aemilia Mysteries. Lisa sorts book donations at the library, directs church dramas, eats too much chocolate, and experiments with ancient Roman recipes.

In addition to writing novels, Lisa blogs about living with authenticity and purpose. Visit her website: Quietly Unconventional. Or visit her social media: Facebook , Twitter, Instagram, Pinterest, Goodreads.