Author Media Kits: What They Are, What's In Them, and How To Build Yours
If you've ever been asked for a media kit and panicked a little, this one's for you. Media kits are one of the most underutilized tools in an indie author's marketing arsenal—and they're not as complicated to build as you might think. We're breaking down exactly what a media kit is, what goes in it, and how to build one that works as hard as you do.
SEO complete. Let’s get into it!
We can't tell you how many times we've been asked about media kits. What are they? What do they need? When do I use them?
We're here to answer all of your burning questions in as entertaining a way as possible.
If you're new here, hi! My name is Ivy, founder of Hawthorn & Aster, a pre-publication and marketing studio catering to self-published and indie authors (especially romance). We publish blogs weekly to answer all of your publishing questions, from rough draft to backlist boosting.
What Is A Media Kit?
A media kit is a document or website page that compiles your stats and story at a glance. Think of it like your authorly Pokémon card.
What Is A Media Kit Used For?
Media kits are used to quickly relay useful information about you as an author and your body of work. They're a marketing tool used to pitch yourself to vendors, bookstores, bookish events, and more.
What Is Usually Included In A Media Kit?
Media kits can take a few shapes. The most common is the "overview" media kit, which includes information about you as an author (headshot, socials, a short bio) and your bibliography at a glance.
A fuller media kit can include book-specific sections or pages: the book's blurb, a few attention-grabbing quotes, links to purchase, or a list of where it's available. For prolific authors, these can also include series sheets listing the series name, books (in order), taglines, tropes, and keyword-related language.
How To Build Yours
Like anything, we encourage you to start by researching your options. And yes, reading this blog absolutely counts as research.
So, here are your choices:
DIY
Hire a service
Add it as a page on your website
DIY
If you decide to go the DIY route, there are countless resources on Canva, Etsy, and online in general. A quick Google search will pull up examples so you can see the general lay of the land.
We'd encourage you to strategize before you start building. Focus on the essentials first, then build around those.
Essentials:
Author Page
Series Page/Book Page
Accolades/Testimonials Page
Add-Ons:
Individual Series/Book Pages
Hiring a Service
Hiring a service can do a lot to take the pressure off and if it's within the budget, we really think you should go for it. First, because they're professionals who already know what a media kit should include. Second, because most authors don't moonlight as graphic designers, and making everything look shiny and polished might cost more on your mental health than your wallet.
You can find professionals on Fiverr and Upwork—or you can work with companies like ours!
Website Page
Now, this option isn't for everyone. We know some of you would rather individually pluck nose hairs than touch your own website. That said, a digital media kit is easily updatable, easy to keep evergreen, and easier on the budget. All you need is a business card with a QR code to hand to physical vendors and you're off to the races!
Don't want to build it yourself? There are plenty of web designers who would be happy to build an easily updatable page for you—Upwork, Fiverr, or even us!
Our Greatest Piece of Advice
Do everything you can to ensure your media kit is as evergreen as possible. Especially if you paid for it. You want to be able to use it in as many places as possible without needing to constantly update it. Think of it like your authorly resume.
That's why we encourage you to overbuild at the beginning. For a first point of contact, share the smaller kit. If there's interest, you can show them the rest.
Want More From Hawthorn & Aster?
Subscribe for blog updates, publishing insights, and behind-the-scenes content.
Authors can also opt into our Author Newsletter for marketing promotions, service updates, and exclusive deals—just select the appropriate option when signing up!