Every business needs a media/press kit (the two names are interchangeable). Your media kit is a go-to guide for others to learn about your business. It should be enticing and informative. It should provide viewers with a good snapshot of your company, and make them want to learn more about your company, products, and services. You want your media kit to shine and stand out amongst others.
Traditionally a press kit was used to pass to journalists and media outlets to give them quality information about your company. Many times this was used as filler information for their stories about you. It also helped when you pitched them on a story because you already had all the information they need to know. Granted a good reporter will verify your information, find supporting evidence, and back it up (or refute it, if that’s the case).
Today there are vast ways you can expand your media kit’s reach and expose it to larger numbers of individuals. A key medium to tap into is the Internet and your website. Your website is already an important tool for marketing your business, now you can add to it. You can include a press section on your website, and provide these resources for your customers and your prospects with the click of a button. Having a press section on your website provides easy access for your clients, prospects, business associates, etc. to get needed information any time of day.
Key features to include with your press kit:
- Backgrounder: this is a short biography of your company
- Company timeline: this can be a brief, bullet-point list of the major happenings your company has experienced over the years
- Key facts: include important, and relevant, information that consumers need to know about your products & services, and your company.
- Price sheets: use this for your products and services
- Staff biographies: if you have key employees that you want to spotlight or all of your employees – this is a good way to put a face with a name
- Product and service sheets: keep it concise, but this is your chance to showcase what you have to offer
- Recent press releases: you want to show you are generating buzz
- Testimonials: ask your customers to share some kind words about you and how you’ve helped their business
- And more: add items that you feel are pertinent to your company and what will showcase your offerings.
It’s always good to have “paper” versions of your media kits so that you have tangible items to pass out. Don’t forget to tap into the resources you have and get that kit on your website. The exposure it will get is unmatched. A good design company will be able to help you integrate the new press section into your existing site fairly easily.
One reminder: once you get this press room open on your website, don’t forget to update it. There’s nothing worse than old news!