The sample content collection provides a "start here" introduction to asset management for media kits and the media kit building process. The sample content collection and the assets it builds are not intended to show off the actual creation process of media kits.
For example, when you create a media kit, you might edit images, create font packages, assemble video clips, and build media kits.
A media kit is a collection of media content (links to pictures, documents, videos, etc.) that can be used for public distribution (submitted to the media, sent to newspapers, etc.). If you want to use your press release as a media kit, it’s as simple as you can imagine: first, you make the release available to the media.
Then, you add the media kit to the release and send it. That’s it.
As I mentioned in my article about “writing for bloggers” (which can be found here), we live in the digital age. You can’t do anything without an online presence, so why not create a media kit?
We need a website for it, but apart from that, we need a website with a media platform to add media content to our releases.
This content collection will provide a starting point for creating a media kit. The content collection can design and create a media kit for a job in an agency or a creative, brand-building campaign.
Here are the basic steps:
Find assets that describe the audience (individual or group), organization (organization description or logo), project (which project is the one for which you are creating the media kit, the position the media kit fills in the life of the product or project), and products or services (title, description, design).
Look at the asset you just found, define what information is important for a media kit, and then construct a list of key points for a media kit that serves a purpose in the project's life. You can also edit an asset you just found and revise the content you have created.
Create a basic layout for the media kit with the list of key points in the top left.
Get more assets that can help define a media kit's purpose and fill in the gaps. Create a media kit layout with all the key points in one image or list that looks interesting and is easy to edit.
Create a layout for the media kit with a list of key points and a product image in the header.
Create a layout that includes products that can fill in gaps and improve the media kit's functionality. A good example is images of project management tools.
With the basic layout created, you can get even more assets. What are the products or services in the life of your project?
Your media kit layout and the assets you collected should reflect your understanding of the project and your needs.
This step, and the steps that follow, are designed to be a jumping-off point for the design process. An idea for a media kit is an inspiration to create the assets.
Make a list of the information and topics you need in a media kit. Could you keep it to 25 to 30 items?
Think about how your audience will access your media kit.
Is it going to be emailed to an entire company? Go directly to a customer?
Is it going to be printed and distributed? Some of the items on your list can be better represented in images or graphics, so the information needs to have some visual weight.
Create a basic layout for the media kit with the list of key points in the top left and a design of products and services relevant to the audience.
The assets you collect should answer the key points in the list you made in Step 1. Just think about the information you want in your media kit. Then, in this order:
Make sure the content that you want to put in the media kit is complete. Also, review each asset you collect.
Is it sufficient for your project? Is it the right size for the media kit?
Would adding additional information make it more useful?
Move the assets from Step 1 to your media kit layout. Again, you can use an image editor if you don't have an existing media kit layout.
Find related assets that you can add to the media kit, such as:
When you find the assets you want to put in the media kit, note the URL of the source. This URL is a contact for any promotional or marketing materials that include the image.
Once you have identified the images you want to put in your media kit, you need to do some additional editing.
For each image or graphic, consider:
For each image or graphic, make sure the list of item needs from Step 2 is complete. You may need to make some minor changes or add an image or two.
If there are items that need to be on each page, decide which are best on the first, second, or fourth pages. For example, for a caption that needs to go on each page, you may decide to create two or three versions: a caption that goes on the first page and all subsequent pages, and a caption that goes on the first and second pages and all subsequent pages.
One way to build a media kit layout is to start with a table of contents and then create the list of items on each page in your media kit layout.
No matter if you want to write press releases for local publications, get your company’s press releases to the public, or advertise your services on online media, creating a basic media kit is a must.
