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.
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karina fabian, media rooms, press room, book marketing, book promotion, website promotion, Catholic writers
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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.
Showing posts with label press room. Show all posts
Showing posts with label press room. Show all posts
Tuesday, September 02, 2008
Thursday, May 15, 2008
You Have a Bedroom, a Workroom, a Playroom. How About a Media Room? And Not in Your House!
Most rooms we think are essential -- even bedrooms -- we could easily do without.
Look at all the people who live in studio apartments! The one room everyone seems to think they can do without (and shouldn't!) is a media room.
I'm not talking about a room in your house with a screen, stereo and a popcorn machine. I'm talking about the room on your website that makes life so easy on an editor, agent, blogger, reviewer or publisher that you'll have an edge with them over those who don't have one. Some people call them press rooms, but that's sort of slaps at nonprint media like web editors and radio hosts. So, if you have a "press room" you may want to change its moniker so you look like the professional you are in front of those who can make a difference for you.
But that isn't all you should do. Take a minute to look at this article to see if you're making your media room (aka press room) into the Clydesdale it should be rather than a little pink (and possibly useless) pony.
The media room is an integral part of your website but it is not a place for your readers. It's only for that list of gatekeepers above and it's all business. Meaning no cutsie stuff. Just simple, easy-to-download media kit(s) and a few other possibilities I've listed below. If you think of something else to add to the list, ask yourself, "Will this feature help those who need information access it more easily and save them time?" and "Will this feature only clutter my media room like so much unused furniture and make it harder for editors to find what they need." If the feature is not suitable for the media room, save it for somewhere else on your site.
Because this room will not have music or graphics or any other gee-gaws, you may need to duplicate some information that you have in your media room elsewhere on the site for the casual visitor. Your list of awards is a good example. They'll be in your media kit but you'll probably have a separate page or area for them elsewhere.
The best way to give editors and others who visit your media room is to have a downloadable .pdf of your media kit. Include in that kit:
1. Contact information on every page of the kit and on the media room's home page.
2. A cover letter that's relatively generic so that it will work for most any kind of person who downloads the kit.
3. Your book cover image(s), in high resolution in case the editor needs to use it for print purposes.
4. A professional head shot of you -- also in high res.
5. Two author bios, one very short that editors can pick up and use as a tagline without rewriting it and one that's longer to give them a better flavor for possible feature stories, etc.
6. A page of your publishing credits and experience similar to what you would use in a resume. Keep it simple. Bullet it if possible.
7. A synopsis of your book. A strong, short pitch is even better. Or both.
8. An assortment of endorsements or blurbs.
9. Two sample book reviews, one long for print media, one short for use on the Internet. Both should be available to reprint at no ch * rge and you should say so on the review pages.
10. At least one sample Interview, though you may use several, each with a different focus.
11. An awards page, both publishing and writing awards.
12. A first person essay available for reprint with permission to do so.
13. A list of available seminars or keynotes for your speaking appearances. You might also include ideas for feature stories.
14. A fellow experts page. This makes it easy for an editor or moderator to put together a panel and include you, of course.
Your Media room should also include or have links to:
1. Your Media Releases for news and events, most recent first.
2. Transcripts/audio recordings/video clips and podcasts.
3. Downloadable aids like business cards and sell sheets.
4. Sample chapters of published works or snippets of works in progress. Nonfiction works should have your Contents page available for perusal.
5. FAQ or a facts file.
Don't even ask why you should do this. You don't have time. It is essential this very minute and if it isn't, it will be the minute you have a book, set yourself up as an expert, have a business, begin to consult or whatever work you plan to coordinate with your writing career. You need a media room at least as much as you need a website.
A media room will do for you what you can't possibly do for yourself and what your publicist can't do for you either. It makes your book, your business available to everyone and puts you upfront and center where you'll be on their minds.
You'll find this list with the complete details of writing a media release, putting together a media kit, etc. -- right down to the correct font, structure and indentations -- in The Frugal Book Promoter: How to Do What Your Publisher Won't http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/193299310X/. You'll find a sample media room (with several media kits each with a different focus) on my website at www.howtodoitfrugally.com.
PS: The photo is one taken by Nancy Cleary, author and publisher. It is of her well-used copy of The Frugal Book Promoter.
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Carolyn Howard-Johnson edits and consults on issues of publishing. Find her The Frugal Editor: Put Your Best Book Forward to Avoid Humiliation and Ensure Success on Amazon. Learn more about her other authors' aids at www.howtodoitfrugally.com.
Look at all the people who live in studio apartments! The one room everyone seems to think they can do without (and shouldn't!) is a media room.
I'm not talking about a room in your house with a screen, stereo and a popcorn machine. I'm talking about the room on your website that makes life so easy on an editor, agent, blogger, reviewer or publisher that you'll have an edge with them over those who don't have one. Some people call them press rooms, but that's sort of slaps at nonprint media like web editors and radio hosts. So, if you have a "press room" you may want to change its moniker so you look like the professional you are in front of those who can make a difference for you.
But that isn't all you should do. Take a minute to look at this article to see if you're making your media room (aka press room) into the Clydesdale it should be rather than a little pink (and possibly useless) pony.
The media room is an integral part of your website but it is not a place for your readers. It's only for that list of gatekeepers above and it's all business. Meaning no cutsie stuff. Just simple, easy-to-download media kit(s) and a few other possibilities I've listed below. If you think of something else to add to the list, ask yourself, "Will this feature help those who need information access it more easily and save them time?" and "Will this feature only clutter my media room like so much unused furniture and make it harder for editors to find what they need." If the feature is not suitable for the media room, save it for somewhere else on your site.
Because this room will not have music or graphics or any other gee-gaws, you may need to duplicate some information that you have in your media room elsewhere on the site for the casual visitor. Your list of awards is a good example. They'll be in your media kit but you'll probably have a separate page or area for them elsewhere.
The best way to give editors and others who visit your media room is to have a downloadable .pdf of your media kit. Include in that kit:
1. Contact information on every page of the kit and on the media room's home page.
2. A cover letter that's relatively generic so that it will work for most any kind of person who downloads the kit.
3. Your book cover image(s), in high resolution in case the editor needs to use it for print purposes.
4. A professional head shot of you -- also in high res.
5. Two author bios, one very short that editors can pick up and use as a tagline without rewriting it and one that's longer to give them a better flavor for possible feature stories, etc.
6. A page of your publishing credits and experience similar to what you would use in a resume. Keep it simple. Bullet it if possible.
7. A synopsis of your book. A strong, short pitch is even better. Or both.
8. An assortment of endorsements or blurbs.
9. Two sample book reviews, one long for print media, one short for use on the Internet. Both should be available to reprint at no ch * rge and you should say so on the review pages.
10. At least one sample Interview, though you may use several, each with a different focus.
11. An awards page, both publishing and writing awards.
12. A first person essay available for reprint with permission to do so.
13. A list of available seminars or keynotes for your speaking appearances. You might also include ideas for feature stories.
14. A fellow experts page. This makes it easy for an editor or moderator to put together a panel and include you, of course.
Your Media room should also include or have links to:
1. Your Media Releases for news and events, most recent first.
2. Transcripts/audio recordings/video clips and podcasts.
3. Downloadable aids like business cards and sell sheets.
4. Sample chapters of published works or snippets of works in progress. Nonfiction works should have your Contents page available for perusal.
5. FAQ or a facts file.
Don't even ask why you should do this. You don't have time. It is essential this very minute and if it isn't, it will be the minute you have a book, set yourself up as an expert, have a business, begin to consult or whatever work you plan to coordinate with your writing career. You need a media room at least as much as you need a website.
A media room will do for you what you can't possibly do for yourself and what your publicist can't do for you either. It makes your book, your business available to everyone and puts you upfront and center where you'll be on their minds.
You'll find this list with the complete details of writing a media release, putting together a media kit, etc. -- right down to the correct font, structure and indentations -- in The Frugal Book Promoter: How to Do What Your Publisher Won't http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/193299310X/. You'll find a sample media room (with several media kits each with a different focus) on my website at www.howtodoitfrugally.com.
PS: The photo is one taken by Nancy Cleary, author and publisher. It is of her well-used copy of The Frugal Book Promoter.
-----
Carolyn Howard-Johnson edits and consults on issues of publishing. Find her The Frugal Editor: Put Your Best Book Forward to Avoid Humiliation and Ensure Success on Amazon. Learn more about her other authors' aids at www.howtodoitfrugally.com.
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