Promoting Your Walk and Talk

Press releases

Promoting Walk and Talks by sending a press release to your local newspaper, news websites or other local organisations can be a great way to raise awareness and promote what you are doing.

Our Press Release Template could be used for launch or adapted for regular updates. These could include great stories, case studies, pictures and quotes from Walkers and Talkers – subject of course to their agreement to share this information.

Social media

Social media is a great way to promote your Walk and Talk and spread the word. Below are some top tips on how best to use social media and a link to a further guide on how to get started and set-up your own Facebook and Instagram page.

Social media top tips

Regular Facebook and Instagram posts in the weeks leading up to to starting a new Walk and Talk should promote your launch as well as the wider benefits of Walking and Talking together and opportunities to become involved. Don’t forget to keep mentioning the launch date, time and place!

As well as posting your own content, don’t forget to share it on other local Facebook pages and to use hashtags on Instagram that enable local people to find you (e.g. #basingstoke or #lambeth) and that demonstrate what Walk and Talks are all about (e.g. #community #greenspaces #mentalhealth). You can also tag other people or organisations in your posts if you want them to see what you’re doing.

Examples of relevant local Facebook groups or Intagram pages might include:

• Groups for a particular town or village, that share information
• Other local walking groups, running clubs, parkrun
• Groups for dog owners
• Local parents’ groups
• History and heritage groups

You can also look out for relevant hashtags to include such as #mentalhealthweek to bring the walks and talks to a wider audience.

Once a Walk and Talk is set up then it is important to remind people where/when/what is happening each week so they can see where to meet, the time and details about where you will be walking.

This will increase awareness and participation in a welcoming, friendly and inclusive way. Here are some tips for when you post.

1. Try not to overthink your posts – they should just be regular, friendly updates.
2. What to post about? A couple of sentences about where you plan to Walk and Talk or have Walk and Talked to, with 2 or 3 pictures. What would you find interesting to read about if you hadn’t been on the walk – such as “Delighted to have spotted the #firstcrocus of the year on #Tootingcommon on our #walkandtalk last Saturday. Have you spotted any more yet?”
3. Photos and videos – Remember to check anyone in your photos gives you permission to use the photos on social media. Photos should be colourful, clear and in focus. Use photos that ‘tell a story’, these will be informative and popular. Remember to thank or credit others for use of their photos for example: ‘Thank you to Jane for sharing the great photos of our walk this morning’.
4. Community walks should be inclusive so posts should be as open and friendly in tone just like when you speak to walkers in person.
5. Hashtags – 3-8 per hashtags per post are ideal. include your area for example #WimbledonCommon and any words associated with your walk e.g. #wellbeing, #nature, #community, #healthy, #greenspaces #ThewalkandTalkMovement or #gowalkandtalk
6. Tags and @Mentions – Tag organisations or venues you visit out on Walk and Talks where possible, especially if they have been good hosts. Avoid controversial, political or organisations that polarise opinion, focus on inclusivity and equality values.
7. Emojis and Gifs – Emojis can be misinterpreted so it’s best to use only ‘middle of the road’ emojis for example – smiles, rain, sunshine, tea & cake, walking etc.
8. Capitalisation, Sentences and Grammar: Avoid typing just in caps as this is interpreted as shouting. Use capital letters and punctuation as you would in emails.
9. Negative comments – the policy should be to ignore them but you can also hide or delete them.

The Walk and Talk Movement

The Walk and Talk Movement runs it’s own social media accounts to promote the benefits of walking and talking and to highlight the great Walk and Talks and stories happening around the UK.

Do tag us into your posts and we can then share what is happening and promote your Walk and Talk.

Social Media Handles:

Main Facebook Page – @wewalkandtalk

Main Instagram – @GoWalkandTalk

Main Twitter (X) Page – @WeWalkandTalk

Centrally posted Content

We aim to post centrally around three times per week across The Walk and Talk Movement’s central pages including:

• Information and stories we can share about local Walk and Talks. Please keep us updated so we can share your great stories.
• New launches and great Walk and Talk progress.
• Thought pieces and blogs about the benefits and impact of Walking and Talking together.
• Please also regularly send us your great stories, case studies and quotes via social media or via e-mail to info@thewalkandtalkmovement.org so we can promote these for you.

Click here to see our simple and easy guide on how to set up your own social media pages:

WhatsApp groups

Since the pandemic, many communities use WhatsApp groups – often at a street or road level. Ask your friends and colleagues if their road has one and if they’ll post publicity about your Walk and Talk. Make sure you have a post they can easily share that has all the details on.

Community radio

Local radio stations are always on the look-out for engaging contact – so see if you can get an interview slot!

Physical spaces

Putting up banners with all the details of your Walk and Talk all around the place where you’ll be Walking and Talking can be a great way to attract participants, especially as they could be people walking around your location in any case and are looking for a fun and friendly community to join.

Similarly postcards and posters can be a great way to spread the word. There are no limits to the places you can distribute postcards and/or posters to: local cafes or shops, health providers such as GPs pharmacies or physios, charities (e.g for carers, mental health, older people; retirement housing); churches, mosques, synagogues and temples; libraries… even door to door if you have lots!

We provide templates for posters, postcards and banners that you can adapt for your Walk and Talk and, if you wish, get printed locally or using online services.

Talking to local groups

If you can go along to other groups that happen locally to share postcards and chat to people in person then this is a really positive way to promote Walk and Talks and also to gain volunteers. These can include residents associations, places of worship, baby groups, local Age UK and so on. If you can take time to visit them they are more likely to try a Walk and Talk as they have ‘met’ someone which makes it easier for them to come along.