To put together a nice press kit, you'll need to account for a few key ingredients. Let's go through the basics of a press kit:

• Company Backgrounder: A company backgrounder includes the details of how your company started and what your company is all about. It should be about 2-4 paragraphs long depending on how long you've been in business.

• Product Fact Sheet: A product fact sheet includes all the pertinent details about your product(s), including a description of the product, key benefits, price, where to buy, sizes, colors, etc. Also include a picture of your product on the fact sheet so it's clear what product you're referencing.

• Founder Bio: Include a short 2-4 paragraph bio on the company's founder or owner. The bio should describe the founder's background, and how she started the company or invented the product. It should also include any relevant personal information like where the founder lives, awards won, community involvement, etc.

• Picture Sheet: Each press kit should include a sheet that shows off the various press-ready photos you have available of your product (both stills and lifestyle photos) as well as a headshot of the company owner. If you have a CD or website link you can direct press to for downloading such pictures, even better!

• Press Release: If you're launching a new product, don't forget to include your latest press release in your press kit.

You can give your press kit out at tradeshows and include them when sending product samples to press.

Other tips:

• Go Green! Make your press kit electronic and put all the materials in a nicely put together PDF.
• Ease Up! Put all your press materials in your website's Press Page and direct reporters to it for easy downloading and self-service.
• Get a Folder. When going to tradeshows, put your materials together in folder so they are organized and easy to carry.
• Branding is Key! Your press materials are a representation of your company. Make sure you brand them with your logo and company colors.