Okay, Write Nonfiction in November readers, I’m going to ask you this month to stop working on whatever nonfiction projects you have and make time to do something a bit different. Here’s why: If you don’t do it now, you’re likely not to do it at all. Plus, according to PR expert Annie Jennings, who was my guest blogger twice in November during the challenge, I’d be remiss not to advise you to take on this project.
She said I must encourage you to create a bio that tells the media what they need to know about you – author – in a nutshell. Whether you are building your platform by trying to land radio, TV or print interviews or trying to do the same to publicize your book, you need a media bio that does its job well. (If you don’t know what a platform is, look under the category by this name for posts on this topic.)
If you don’t remember Annie, let me refresh your memory: Annie serves as a national publicist through her company Annie Jennings PR, and she is known as “America’s leading publicity intelligence expert.” Annie’s vision and insight has revolutionized the publicity industry as many of the publicity techniques, tools and strategies in widespread use throughout the industry today have been developed by Annie Jennings PR. Today, Annie will teach us all how to create a media bio that can help us get a media placement.
How to Create an Outstanding Media Bio
By Annie Jennings
National Publicist
The purpose of a professional bio for use in the media is to give them a snapshot of your expertise and your platform so they can determine if you qualify as the expert for the segment or article they have in mind. Follow these simple steps to creating a powerful media bio designed to get you booked on the media of your dreams.
- Your bio should always begin with your credentials, academic achievements, professional and academic affiliations.
- If you are the author of books, papers, and/or studies, note those next along with the names of the papers and studies and where they appeared, etc., so the media can document them.
- List your areas of expertise.
- List the years you have been active in these areas and your fields.
- List any involvement in any association, achievements or awards you have received in your field.
- List media appearances – TV or radio and quotes in magazines or in newspapers.
- Information has to be absolutely accurate, up to date, and easily verifiable as the media has resources to check out your information.
- Be sure the bio on your website is exactly the same and consistent with the bio that you are presenting to the media. You can always offer an expanded version on your website. However, you should not be inconsistent with your bio. You can certainly have other info on your website, but the bio must remain consistent with the one you present to the media.
Do not include the following items in your media bio:
Your personal family history, personal triumphs or tragedies unless they are tied into your area of expertise, or your birth place. You can include the location where you currently reside or practice, as this can be important if the media would like to book you for a radio or TV segment.
Other things to have ready for the media:
In addition to the bio, have a professional .jpg (photo) of yourself in your professional capacity and .jpg of your book cover ready to email to the media upon request.
Demo tapes are requested by the media. Have professional quality tapes ready to be sent to the media and, of course, better yet, include a video link on your site so the media can check you out without waiting for your demo to be sent overnight. As you send your demo out to the media, be sure to restock. The media moves fast and needs the information immediately and cannot wait for copies to be made or compiled, etc.
Create a media website packed with your publicity information:
You are encouraged to develop a separate website for the media (see yesterday’s Write Nonfiction in November post). This website should have contact info, your bio, your picture, your book (but not presented in a sales way), articles you have written, developed segment ideas that include talking points and a list of questions you would like to be asked along with an introduction the media can use.
About Annie Jennings and Annie Jennings PR
The National PR firm Annie Jennings PR specializes in promoting authors and experts to the media and boasts of having over 35,000 author experts as clients. Annie Jennings has been an invited guest lecturer for NYU’s Publishing Program and for the American Society Of Journalists & Authors. Annie Jennings PR has provided over 500 smash hit publicity teleseminars for consistent standing room audiences, reaching hundreds of thousands of author and experts. Annie is the premier publicity expert in the country with her knowledge sought out by professionals and organizations everywhere. Annie created the concepts of media websites and online press kits, defined how to create a powerful platform, and developed the most advanced branding concepts known to the industry, created the HOT 35! & HOT 50! Radio campaigns where you are only booked on top shows in major big city markets and on regional and nationally syndicated shows and crafted the revolutionary Pay For Placement Publicity Program that has helped thousands of authors and experts build powerful platforms and land six-figure book advances. Annie has made it her practice to freely share her publicity strategies with authors and experts so everyone can have access to PR strategies, both the basics and advanced PR thought, so they can share their messages with millions for the betterment of all.
For more information, contact Annie at:
Annie Jennings PR
http://www.anniejenningspr.com/
908-281-6201
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