About SharingwithWriters Blog


Named to "Writer's Digest 101 Best Websites," this #SharingwithWriters blog is a way to connect with my readers and fellow writers, a way to give the teaching genes that populate my DNA free rein. Please join the conversation using the very tiny "comment" link. For those interested in editing and grammar, go to http://thefrugaleditor.blogspot.com.

Tuesday, September 02, 2008

Karina Fabian Guest Blogs on Your Website's Media/Press Room

Often overlooked by authors is a media room on their website. I cover that in The Frugal Book Promoter: How To Do What Your Publisher Won't but I thought this article by Karina Fabian (with her permission, of course!) would remind those of you who have the book to go back and review the stuff on websites I've given you there. I figured it would be especially useful for those of you who don't have the book. (-: )

The Woefully Overlooked and Neglected Media Room

By Karina Fabian

A media room is a marketing tool for you and a research tool for folks who want to write about you--reporters, bloggers, or reviewers. It's your place to brag, to advertise, to really promote your book and yourself.

It's part of your website, but not necessarily for the casual reader. This is not the place for the "bells and whistles" like glitter graphics, your favorite song streaming or pop-ups. This is the working part of your site. Here's where people go when they have a definite purpose. They're looking at you as a potential interviewee, and expert they can question and quote, a "new find" they can impress their editor with.

In order to reach them--and keep their attention--you want a media room that's easy and full of easy-access information and ideas. The easier you make it for a reporter to write about you, the more likely they will. The more useful you make yourself, the more likely they'll come back when they have another topic.

In some ways, an on-line media room can mimic the kind of media kit you may have already prepared for advertising your book. On the other hand, the ease of the Internet (and the fact that you can add or change things for free) means you can do a whole lot more. Media rooms can contain any and all of the following. The ones marked * are pretty much mandatory, though they may already be on your website and you can just link to them.

* Contact information

* Author bio

* Publishing credits/experience (can be part of bio)

* Book summary/blurb

* Book cover image

* Media Releases and/or News and Events

* Downloadable Press Package (either PDF or .rtf or both)

--Book Reviews

--Sample Interviews

--Awards and Publications

--Essays/Articles for Reprint

--Available seminars, speaking appearances

--Transcripts/audio recordings/video clips

--Ideas for story angles

--Fellow experts

--Downloadable items--business cards, sell sheets, etc.

--Sample chapters of published works or snippets of works in progress

--FAQ or Facts File

Why bother? (I'm not published. I’m not well-known. My publisher handles publicity…)

More and more people are turning to the Internet for their information. Students use it for homework. People surf it just for fun. Reporters turn to it as their first line of research.

Because of that, a web presence is very important for writers. The world has gotten simultaneously too small and too big for us to rely on verbal word-of-mouth to get our names out to readers. A website will help you with that. A media room on your website, however, gets more than your name out--it gets you into the hearts and minds of your readers or potential readers.

A media room complements your media releases; gives your publisher or publicist a link to direct others to; makes it easy for reporters to get what they need for the story, and can draw in the casual surfer. In this technological, information world, it's a must-have for your marketing arsenal.

Technorati Tags:
, , , , , ,



-----
Guest blogged by Karina Fabian. After being a straight-A student, Karina now cultivates Fs: Family, Faith, Fiction and Fun. From Nuns in Space to a down-and out Faerie dragon working off a geas by St. George, her work takes quirky twists that keep her amused--and others, too. Winner of the EPPIE award for best sci-fi and the Mensa Owl for best fiction. In addition to juggling the stories from at least three different universes, Karina is President of the Catholic Writers' Guild and teaches writing and book marketing seminars on-line.

Karina's Websites:

www.fabianspace.com, where you'll find info about her, her writing and her eclectic writing/homeschooling/humor/just-gotta-say-it blog

www.virtualbooktourdenet.blogspot.com, where she'll gladly advertise your book if you'll return the favor to someone else

www.dragoneyepi.net, where you can learn more about the fantasy noir dragon detective Vern, his partner Sister Grace, and the world of Dragon Eye, PI.

8 comments:

  1. As always, very helpful info here, Carolyn. I checked my own Media/Press Room (http://www.prillboyle.com/media.html) and,using your handy list, saw some changes I could make right away.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Truly enjoyed Karina's article and will implement quite a few items into my own kit. Thank you for sharing.

    Lea Schizas

    ReplyDelete
  3. Anonymous4:10 PM

    Great blog -- a media room makes life a lot easier -- it's all there and ready to go, so when you do get a query, you can just provide a URL and it's all there. The hardest part is keeping it all updated. I'm thinking of sticking in a twitter box or something where the latest news can go -- just something professional and not too chatty with the latest publications and information. I'd be interested in hearing how others keep their media room up to date (specially if you're really active). Mine is here:http://www.compulsivereader.com/html/images/MediaRoom.htm

    ReplyDelete
  4. Maggie, I just have a separate page where I post new releases. It's not really hard as long as you're doing some copying and pasting to the media release disseminators anyway! BTW, there is a list of media release disseminators on the Resources for Writers page at my site, www.howtodoitfrugally.com

    Best,
    Carolyn

    ReplyDelete
  5. I'm printing this article and going to check out my media room tomorrow.

    I've read recently that we need to stop converting these types of documents into pdf files. Any thoughts on whether it's better to have a pdf file or to use a regular webpage?

    ReplyDelete
  6. Allyn, .pdf files are better because editors can download them easily AND they don't fear getting a virus that way. And, yeah. One does have to replace it occasionally with an updated version. Mine needs updating right now. You can see my media room at www.howtodoitfrugally.com. Click on "Media Room" among the rectangles at the top of the page.

    Best,
    Carolyn

    ReplyDelete
  7. Anonymous10:18 AM

    Thanks for posting Karina's guest post. I was wondering what a media room was and it seems to just be a new term for the publicity page. Nice to see some new things are there with the name too.

    ReplyDelete
  8. Amber, really not such a new term. Maybe the major difference between a plublicity page and a media room is that the term media room will let the media (meaning all media from TV to the Net to pint) will see you as a sprofessional. Publicity is just one part of marketing and no more important (though it is my favorite because it is FREE!) than any of the others.

    Hope this helps.

    Best,
    Carolyn

    ReplyDelete

Thank you for commenting on posts at #SharingwithWriters blog, a Writers Digest 101 Best Websites pick at
www.SharingWithWriters.blogspot.com. You might also find www.TheFrugalEditor.blogspot.com full of resources you can use and
www.TheNewBookReview.blogspot.com, a free review site will benefit your book or increase your reading pleasure.