The Value of a Media Kit

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If you are a blogger I have this question to ask you.  Now that you have your disclaimer written, how do you promote your blog?  Are you blogging as a business? Do people know the value of contacting you?  How will you answer people when they contact you wanting you to add a link to their blog on your site?

I know I’ve had this a lot over just this past week, and I had a friend asking me how to deal with such people. It brought to mind the need for a media kit.   Of course, you may be asking yourself, like I did, when I first came across this term in relation to blogging.  What is a media kit?  And what is the value in having one?

What is a Media Kit?

A media kit is a document containing information about your business, product or event. You put them on your blog to give businesses a reason to pay you to promote their material (as long as it fits within your niche).  It’s basically a customer orientation into who you are and what you are all about.  Gives you a place to put your stats in, showcase your talents, and to give people a reason to contact you in a meaningful way. Blogger media kits also typically list  prices for the services you offer and how people might collaborate with you.  Here are some samples to help..

Why do you need one?

There are several reasons to have a media kit for your blog.

1. Shows you are serious about your blog.
2. A polished, well thought out, professional media  kit can lead to better brand collaboration which means more money in your pocket.   Also work that is more exciting.
3. It showcases that work that you do.
4. It gives you something that you can give to people who reach out to you for promotion.  It makes you look more professional in your response.
5. Having a media kit gives you something to show businesses that you do want to work for.
6. It is something you can print off and take with you to conferences and get togethers.
7. You can have two different media kits…one that is longer and more comprehensive, and one that is basically a one page short form that touches on the basics.

How does one put one together?

Figure out what your blog is truly about.  What do you really like to write about?  How can you best describe yourself and your blog.   A media kit is an chance for you to show off the best of your blog: your personality, your style, and what makes your blog unique.  It’s a selling point, so sell yourself!  🙂

What do you need?

Images:

Oh, you do want to use your images well.  Consider the need for the following. 

1. A photo of yourself.  A good one. Smile, make yourself look nice.  
2. Your blog logo.  Preferably one you can print (remember how you can use a short form one as something to pass out at conferences?)
3. Photos from your blog.  Make them the best photos you have.  Showcase your skills and abilities.  Photos aer worth a thousand words!
4. If you have advertising space on your blog.. take a screen shot and show it!

Statistics

If you have been growing your blog, then you should be seeing an increase in your visitors.  Use that. 

1. Do you know how many unique visitors you have to your blog?  How many monthly visitors?
2. How many page views over the past three months?
3. Where people come from who visit your site?
4. Subscribers to email and social media sites. 

Now write it

You’ll need the best introduction you can come up with.  Write a personal introduction that tells a bit about yourself.  People love a good story, so tell them a good story about you.  Give highlights of your career if you have highlights.  🙂  Where your work has been featured.  Anything you can do to promote yourself and the good things you have done. 

Promote your blog.  What do you write about? Do you have specific things you talk about on a given day?  A pattern of information that can draw people in?  It’s okay to have a blog that covers different aspects/themes, but talk about them.  Talk about the readers who come visit you.  It helps business know how you can help them and who you can reach on their behalf. 

When you have this important stuff present your stats.  Showcase your reach as best you can. Make sure you keep these stats current.   Statistics from year ago won’t help you, statistics from the past three months will.   If you don’t have impressive numbers, show the growth you have gained. 

Outline your policies.  What are your rates?  If you give ad space, what will you charge?  If you write a blog post what’s the fee?   What if they write the post, is the fee different?   Do you have the right to refuse a post?  How will they pay you? When are fees due?  What word count will you provide?

Testimonials go a long way in helping you promote yourself.  If you go here you can find out how to get them.  I know, I know… that might totally intimidate you…but go, find them.  🙂

Don’t forget to add your contact information.  Use a real email service (not a gmail, yahoo, or Hotmail account).  

Are there free helps?

Of course there are!  🙂   Isn’t it wonderful how helpful the online community is?   Simply FANTASTIC!

Canva has some templates you can use. 

There’s a whack of them on Pinterest. 

Beautiful Dawn. 

Creative Market has 20 templates. 

Dana Nicole Designs. 

Find one you like and work with you.  Make a long form that has everything you need on it that you can encourage companies to send for. Have a shorter one you can use as a calling card for business you want to work with. Do whatever you can to make your efforts on your blog to pay off.  

I even put together a checklist for you to help you remember the details.  Click image below.