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Learn all of the Elements of a Press Kit!

The elements of a press kit are the essential items needed in order to provide all of the useful information a marketing or media source will need to properly serve you, whether in the form of an announcement or a marketing campaign.

Your press kit will grow as your book becomes more and more popular, and you should always add to it as you get more information. You must also ensure all of your information contained in your press kit is up to date.

The key elements of your press kit are as follows:

1. A cover letter describing you, your book, and your anticipation for your book - best seller, first novel, first of a series...

2. A full author biography.

3. Your Press Release.

4. A photograph of yourself.

5. A copy of your author brochure.

6. Copies of book reviews for your book or other books you have.

7. Newspaper or other media excerpts.

8. Two copies of your business card.

9. A copy of your Question and Answer Sheet.

10. An electronic copy of everything within your press kit.

All of the elements of a press kit are important, but the Question and Answer sheet is something that you must include to help people understand why you wrote the book. This helps a lot with submitting your press kit to media sources.

A Question and Answer sheet should include the following questions (this information was obtained from www.lulu.com):

1. Why did you write this book?

2. How did you become interested in the topic?

3. What did you hope to accomplish by publishing your book?

4. Who is your intended readership?

5. When did you realize you wanted to be a writer?

6. How did you research your book?

7. What surprised you about the process of writing your book?

8. What do you like to do when you’re not writing?

9. Are you working on another book?

As you can see, these Questions and Answers will help with the interview process if your press kit is picked up by a media source. They may not even have to interview you with this included in with your elements of a press kit. All of your other elements are equally important as they all work hand in hand with your marketing and sales efforts.

So, who do you send the elements of a press kit to? Like I said before, your press kit should be contained in an envelop or folder that can be easily addressed and mailed or handed to someone on short notice. You can also create an electronic press kit to email to potential marketing and media interests very quickly.

You should always include a query letter with your press kit in order for the intended party to get an introduction to your book. This is an interest gathering tactic to help make people read the rest of your information in your press kit.

You should also send your press kit out to anyone you can think of in your network as well. Start off local and work your way national. A mailing list is essential for marketing success. You should also send the press kit to local newspapers, city or regional magazines, local radio and television stations.

There are many sources of media and marketing you can use this approach with. Learn how to market a fiction book with your elements of a press kit.