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3 Ways To Make Your Media Kit Rock
(Plus a Template for Ninjas)

April 11th, 2012 by Shannon

Anytime you request an interview, you use it.
Anytime you contact a blogger, you use it.
Anytime you solicit a review, you use it.
Anytime you create an online dating profile, you use it.

Okay, maybe that last one was a stretch…but the first three and a long list of others are all situations in which you will need an updated, well designed, engaging media kit. When properly executed, your media kit should work for you like a hired Hollywood publicist, promoting you and your books. It should leave potential interviewers, reviewers, and bloggers impressed by and interested in your work.

So the question is, does your media kit get the job done?

If the answer is no, you’re not alone. Upon conducting an honest review of their media kits, most authors find that their promotional package is not actually promoting them very well. Why? Well, there are a number of reasons, but in most cases we authors struggle to answer two critical questions about our media kits:

1. What in the world do I put in it?

2. How am I supposed to use it?

 

Does that strike a familiar chord with you? If so, I have good news. By the end of this blog post you will have the answers to both of those questions and access to a detailed sample of what a good media kit looks like, which will put you well on your way to creating a successful media kit.

So let’s get down to it. Here are Duolit’s three easy steps for building a media kit that rocks! (more…)

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Do You Have a Media Kit? [Discussion]

April 9th, 2012 by Toni

Picture it: you check your email and find a message from Matt Lauer! Jackpot! You’ve finally landed that big-time interview, but there’s a catch: they’re requesting a bunch of info about you and your book before your interview.

No biggie, just send over your media kit! You *do* have a media kit, right? Or do you figure all of the same information is available on your website? We’re curious — what are your thoughts on media kits? Tell us:

  • Do you have a traditional media kit? If not, why not?
  • What was your process for putting together your media kit? Did you have difficulty deciding what to include?
  • How often have you used your media kit? Did someone request it or did you send it out?
  • Is there a particular piece of information in your kit that gets used/requested more than others?
  • Do you have a schedule for keeping your media kit updated?
  • Are media kits outdated in this digital age? What do you use instead?

We can’t wait to hear your responses! To join the discussion, please leave a comment below addressing any (or all) of the above questions. Also, mention the discussion to your indie author friends — we’d love to hear from everyone!

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Easter Fun! [Friday Funday]

April 6th, 2012 by Shannon

Our favorite non-Irish drinking holiday of the spring is finally upon us!

I've got my Easter centerpiece ready to go!

Easter is this Sunday and Toni and I are both excited to celebrate with our families. My tradition involves a big meal with my parents, siblings and other close family and friends (this year it’s ham, squash casserole and green bean casserole–aw, man! Now there’s drool on my keyboard…and probably yours, too!).

Toni also gets together with family and still (at the tender age of 27) has her mom hide Easter eggs for her and her husband to find in the yard. Since she’s going to be three days shy of childbirth this Easter, this might be her husband’s first year as Easter egg hunt champion…maybe.

But we want to know, what are you doing for Easter? What special holiday traditions does your family share? What great dishes will be passed around your table? Will you win top prize at the family Easter egg hunt?

Whatever you’re planning for the Easter holiday we hope you enjoy the special day with your family and friends.

Happy Easter Duoliters!

(Ed.’s Note: I’m so sorry this post went up a little late! Toni is busy getting ready to welcome her little one into the world and she’s set the bar very high for an easily distracted procrastinator such as myself. I promise I will work hard to keep up with the blog and our social media accounts in her absence, but bear [bare?] with me in the meantime! Thanks guys.)

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Double Your Traffic: 8 Steps to Becoming a Guest Post Rockstar

April 4th, 2012 by Toni

You’ve conquered the mocking cursor and those blog post ideas are coming fast and furiously. You finish typing just a few more words annnnd…hit ‘publish.’ 

Now, lean back and smile. This post was a winner. Perfectly suited to your target market, engaging, topical, all that jazz. You’re ready to watch the visitors (and, thus, the comments and book sales) roll in.

Several hours pass. Then a day. Then a week. There’s no spike on Google Analytics,  no comments, no additional book sales. Your heart sinks.

We’ve all been there, our minds asking the same questions: “Is my blog a total failure? Is this even worth it?” (more…)

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How Do You Choose a Professional Editor? [Discussion]

April 2nd, 2012 by Toni

I know, I know, it’s one of our “catch phrases” that you’re probably sick of hearing, but that doesn’t make it any less true:  you need to have your book professionally edited! Proper editing can make all the difference between a book that makes a splash with readers and one that goes over…well, like a lead balloon.

But, how do you go about doing that? Where do you find qualified editors? How are you sure you’ve chosen the right one? Like many things in the self-publishing world, a little bit of common sense (and wariness) can go a long way — there are all kinds of unscrupulous folks out there ready to take your money, but we want you to be able to choose an editor with confidence.

With that being said, we turn to our indie author friends. Since many of you have experience with editors, we want to open up this discussion to the self-publishing community!

We want to know:

  • How and why did you choose your editor?
  • What services did your editor perform (proofreading, copy editing, content editing)?
  • Did you feel the cost was reasonable? Would you choose to work with this person/team again?
  • Is it important to have a good personalty/genre fit, or is editing relatively universal?
  • What advice would you give to other indie authors seeking editing services?

We can’t wait to hear your responses! To join the discussion, please leave a comment below addressing any (or all) of the above questions. Also, mention the discussion to your indie author friends — we’d love to hear from everyone!

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