Blog Media Kit

If you are new to blogging, or even if you have been blogging for a while now, you might ask yourself, what is a blog media kit and why do I need it. Depending on which country you are in, blog media kits might not even be popular or necessary, but for majority of bloggers in the US and even EU, blog media kits are a must in order for companies to know more about you and to see if you are what they are looking for.

At every serious blog conference, serious companies looking for new collaborators will ask for you blog media kit. I am certain that many of you have no idea what it is nor what information should be in the kit itself. So, let me start with the what then why and in the end what to include. This blog post might be a two parter, I will decided that at the end of the post.

What’s a Blog Media Kit?

A blog media kit (aka press kit) is not intended for your readers but rather for brands and PR companies. This will kick out the in between people and let you control what you tell others about your blog. A blog media kit can range from one page to a few pages long. Its intended for brands, sponsors or PR companies. For bloggers, this is a great way to tell potential advertisers about your blog and you.

So a blogger media kit is something like a resume for your blog. It tells brands about your readers, stats, accomplishments and what you are offering and looking for. It’s important to let brands know what you are offering in return for their partnership. You need to showcase that in various ways. Don’t forget to keep your media kit up to date. You will refresh your media kit depending on if any dramatic changes occur.

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Why do you need a blog media kit?

So now that you know what a blog media kit is, let’s focus on why you need a blog media kit. First of all blog media kits make you stand out and look serious. Brands want to work with serious professionals. This will help you open doors and establish partnerships which will lead to serious partnerships and collaborations.

Here are a few situations as to why one would need a blog media kit.

• Response to brands who have reached out to you: Bloggers will get contacted by various brands from time to time. When you send them back your reply make sure to attach your media kit. Brands never ask for them but they will appreciate it and you will seem professional. First impressions matter.
• Pitching to brands: From time to time, you will want to work with a certain brand. It’s best to write up your idea and attach your blog’s media kit.
• Encourage request for media kit: Encourage brands to request your blog’s media kit when they are contacting you through your website. For example, on your website under contact me or advertisement page, tell brands to request your blog’s media kit.
• Blog conferences: Make sure to print out your blog media kit and bring it with you on blog conferences. Do not pass out your media kit as if it were a business card or flyer. If you manage to sit down and have an actual conversation with brand’s rep and you would like to work with them in the near future, then hand them your media kit along with your business card.

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What to include in your blog media kit?

What should you include in your blog media kit? I will be writing up a follow up post, making a blog media kit, showing you ideas of making eye catching media kits and building one from scratch since including that in this post would make this post way too long.

Here are the basics ideas on what to include in your blog media kit.

• You logo: it’s important to include your blog’s logo in your media kit. If you do not have one then use the header you have on your blog.
• About: Make sure to add an about section where you will include what your blog is about. Keep it simple and get to the point fast.
• Bio and Headshot: Not everyone uses a headshot on their blog so a logo might do the trick here, but in general people like to see who they are communicating with. Make sure to write your short bio so that they not only see your face but know who they are communicating with.
• Stats: When it comes to stats, make sure to include important stats from your Google analytics. I will write more about this in my follow up post making a blog media kit.
• Your audience: Make sure you write about your audience. Brands want to know who is reading your blog. This is why they want to work with you in the first place.
• Blog content: Make sure to write what your blog content focuses on. You can share a few of your popular posts.
• Partnership opportunities: This is the part where you tell brands what you offer (reviews, tutorials, sponsored posts, ad space…etc). They need to know what they can get.
• Past partnerships: If you have any, you can add testimonials of past advertisers or brands you have worked with in the past.
• Contact information: Make sure to add how they can reach you.

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Putting together a Blog media kit is not easy, you really have to think hard about what brands and PR representatives want and need to know. This is why I have decided to write up a follow up post, making a blog media kit, for next week so that you get more of a step-by-step instruction as to how to get it right details.