How to Compile A Press Kit

Press Kit is a compilation of specific information that you give to the media. Just like a resume, press kit is the first impression that you create for your company. Whether you are a SME business owner in need of media presence or a college student who need publicity for her charity car wash, you need to have a press kit. The good news is, you do not have to be a PR practitioner to be able to come up with a press kit. Press kit is simple, clear, consice, and not complicated. The following list the press kit items and description.

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Computer
• Microsoft Word
• Printer
• File to compile your press kit
• Peer reviewer

1. Press Release: Press release (or news release) is basically the most important piece of information in the press kit. It is structured like a news piece. The objective of a press release can be to announce your new product, announce a new event, or anything that are newsworthy and you want to make public. For more information about how to write a press release, refer to "How to Write a Press Release for Beginners"

2. Backgrounder (Fact Sheet). Backgrounder is a document that explains the history of the company. It is normally not more than two pages long and is written in point form. If you have a new product to announce, you can include features and other information about your new product.

3. Speeches. Next essential item on the list is speeches. Include speeches of the CEO, the guest-of-honor of your event, and other VIPs who made a speech during your event.

4. Executive Profiles: An executive profile is a short write-up/bio of the important people in your company (usually the CEO and other spokesperson of your company/event). Executive profiles is for the journalists to know the person behind the company, the speech givers, and the people who are quoted in the press release. The objective for Executive Profile is for the journalist to get to know the key people in your company better, so that they can write the news better. Moreover, journalists can always dig out the executive profiles should they need to write a story or interview opinion leaders about the industry.

5. Name Card: Name card of your company/event media representative. This is important so that the journalists know who to contact if they have follow-up questions.

6. Pamphlets, Coupons: You can also throw in pamphlets, promotional coupons, company profile into your press kit to 'fancy' it up. There is no hard and fast rule as to what you can or cannot put into the press kit as long as you have the essentials: press release, fact sheet and speeches. Your bases are covered.

7. Soft copy of the press kit: CD compilation of the press kit items and high-quality photos. If you have great photos, chances are it will get published

8. Other internal documents related to press release: If you are having a press conference/launch, you need to write a media invite and have a media signing sheet ready for your press conference.

Tips & Warnings

• Spell check, spell check, spell check. Your sentence should not be hard to understand.
• You can spice up your writing with more adjectives and increase the desire to buy your product or to go to your event.