The meaning of the phrase ‘press kit’ has evolved. As recently as a decade ago, it meant literally a package of information in a folder sent out to reporters to try and generate interest in a company. The kits were an easy way to share a comprehensive look at a business/brand, but were notoriously burdensome; a litany of suitcases and papers carrying information to put up with. A reporter attending an industry trade show could walk away with suitcases full of packets of information from a dozen different companies in a mess of envelopes and loose papers. Most of it ending up lost in the recycling bin.
Over time, individuals, companies and promoters got more resourceful. Press kits have been transformed into elaborately designed electronic versions of their former self.
These days, a press kit has been economized down to digital bytes, making it easier to handle for both reporters and public relations teams. In addition to saving money on printing and mailing costs, the modern Electronic Press Kit (EPK) gives media and the public instant access to photos and videos featuring your music/business/brand that they can download and use immediately. The emergence of social media has further enhanced the handling of press kits.
Athletes and Press Kits
In the increasingly competitive world of sports, marketing yourself is a central part of your potential success. College basketball student-athletes pursuing a professional career in the states and or overseas face a demoralizing task of standing out and achieving their dreams. Part of this pursuit includes being able to effectively market oneself to professional scouts and agents. Athlete Press Kits empower athletes by providing a multimedia marketing kit which efficiently demonstrates an individual’s sports skill set in a unique manner that appeals to coaches, scouts and agents.
Undeniably, one of the most important things you can do as an athlete is to create a press kit, also known as a media kit. These kits are designed to limelight you, your achievements and your skills in the best light possible. Usually, press kits are given to various media outlets that might be interested in doing a story on you; press kits are also given to potential sponsors, etc.
From high school students looking to secure a college athletic scholarship, to college students looking to make it into the pro-sports realm, a press kit is vitally important.
Essentials of an Athletes Press Kit
- Presentation: Choose a good quality professional looking presentation for your Electronic Press Kit. Remember the first impression a reader will have is how the kit looks visually.
- Biography: A general information section near the top of your press kit is essential. This should include a biography that showcases your accomplishments and achievements. When writing your biography, begin with your athletic highlights, but include other, less well-known facts about yourself. When reporters are doing a story, they often want to introduce personal anecdote into their piece.
- Photographs: Add multiple photographs to your Electronic Press Kit so that people that receive it do not only read about you, but can also identify your face with your name. It’s generally a good idea to include a headshot, as well as an action shot or compilation of shots of you playing your particular sport.
- Statistic Sheet: Include a fact sheet or a link to one that highlights your game and career statistics. If you’re a football player, you’ll want to include important statistics, such as average yards gained or points scored. Basketball players will want to include items such as free throw percentage, 3-point percentage and average points per game.
- Press Clippings: Include excerpts from any press coverage featuring you that has been printed in newspapers, magazines or on the web as well as links to the full article or images of the piece (for local newspaper coverage pictures of the article are acceptable when a digital version is unavailable). Ensure the articles you provide showcase you and your skills in the best manner possible. Also, provide good, clear copies of any press clippings you include in your kit.
- Instructions: List your specific contact information so reporters and/or prospective sponsors have a way to contact you for further information. Both day and evening phone numbers and e-mail addresses will usually suffice. This is a crucial step, as you don’t want them to hesitate making a final favorable decision because they can’t reach you for additional information.
Your ultimate goal is to use your Electronic Press Kit to market yourself effectively and secure an offer or a niche as the case maybe, as a result of the impression your press kit has sent out. Therefore, make it a worthwhile endeavor when creating your Athletes EPK.
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