How to Set Up Your Social Media

How to create your new Walk and Talk Facebook Group

In order to create a Facebook group, you must already have your own personal Facebook profile.

Depending on whether you are setting this up from a desktop or mobile, the instructions will vary and Facebook updates their instructions frequently.

Click here to see how to set up a Group and follow our guidance below:

1. ‘Create new group’
   When you reach the screen to ‘Create new group’, you should enter the name of your Walk and Talk eg your ‘area name’ followed by ‘Walk and Talk’ for example Wimbledon Common Walk and Talk’.
2. Privacy: After naming your group, you will be asked to select privacy options. As you will want people to be able to search and find your group, you should select ‘public’ rather than ‘closed’.
3. Going live – Click ‘create’ and the basic set up is done!
   You can then add people to your Facebook Group, for example the people you are starting the group with, family or friends. Facebook may show a list of suggestions from your Facebook friends.
   You then have the option to ’share your group’ which you can do this via Messenger, WhatsApp or on your personal Facebook feed. You do not need to share at this point through if you are not ready.
4. Personalising your group page with a Cover Photo
   Next, you need to upload a photo that reflects your group so an ideal image would be an appealing one of your local area or green space. The ideal image size for your cover photo is 1640px by 856px. Your uploaded image will be cropped as the way it is displayed varies depending on the devices people use.Remember you need to ensure you have permission to show pictures of any people on any social media before these are published.
5. Adding a Description of your Walk and Talk Group.We would recommend something like the following:
   “Welcome to (insert name) Walk and Talk. Our free, fun and friendly Walk and Talk group is run by the local community for the real benefit of the community. We Walk and Talk together every Saturday at 10.30am from xxxx. No bookings or reservations – just come and join us any Saturday.”Please note if you want to add our logo to your social media, or have your social media page and Walk and Talk promoted by The Walk and Talk Movement you need to add the following to your group description:This Walk and Talk was inspired by The Walk and Talk Movement (www.walkandtalkmovement.org) a national movement that encourages the great benefits of walking and talking. For the avoidance of doubt, The Walk and Talk Movement does not run, and is not responsible for, any Walk and Talks. Any information and comments about this Walk and Talk are the responsibility of the participants of this Facebook group and not The Walk and Talk Movement
6. Create a post – this is just an initial post to explain why you have created the group.For example you could adapt your description above and add your launch date so that people know when you are going to start walking and talking together.
7. Facebook Group Admins and Moderators
   It is advisable to have more than one Facebook Group admin in case you are ever locked out, to post as an admin or to delete posts. To add someone as an admin or a moderator, they must first have joined the group page so you can speed this up by inviting them to the page (point 3 above). Once they have joined, you can decide the level of management you would like to allow and how many admins you need.
8. Maintaining your Facebook Group
   To help you maintain and grow your online presence please see our social media top tips in the Promoting section of our website.

How to create your new Walk and Talk Instagram account

You do not need to have already set up your Facebook Group, to create your Instagram business account but if you have, you can link the two afterwards.

Click here to see how to set up an Instagram account and follow our guidance below:

Below is a simplified step by step guide to setting up a new Instagram account.

1. Download, install and open the Instagram app.
2. Tap ‘Create new account’ and enter your email address or mobile number.
3. Next, enter the confirmation code Instagram sends to your email address or mobile number.
4. Create your password.
5. You will be asked to enter your own birthday (even though you are creating this for your walk and talk).
6. Enter your name.
7. Create your username – Your username should start with ‘gowalkandtalk’ and clearly represent your location (maximum 30 characters).
   For example, @gowalkandtalkyourlocation
8. Read Instagram’s terms and policies, then tap ‘I agree’, to create your account.
9. Add a profile picture for example, the Walk and Talk logo or you can add a profile picture later, in which case you should tap ‘Skip’
10. Create a short bio (maximum 150 characters).
    For example, ‘Fun, free & friendly community led weekly walks on ‘Your Location’ meeting at 10.30am every Saturday. Everyone is welcome; no need to book’.
11. When you’ve finished, tap ‘Done’.

Once you have created your account, you can choose other accounts to follow.
If you follow too many accounts in one go, Instagram will view your account as ’spammy or insincere’ so your account may be blocked.
There is no fixed number that would be ‘too many’, but it is best to follow a few relevant accounts when they peak your interest rather than 20+ in one day.

Linking your Facebook and Instagram Accounts

This is a good idea as it will allow you to share content to both platforms.

To start, make sure you’re an admin of the Facebook page you wish to connect with your new Instagram account.

From Facebook:

1. Go to your Walk and Talk Facebook group
2. Click ‘Settings’
3. Select ‘Linked Accounts’ in the left column
4. Select ‘Instagram’, then connect your account.

From Instagram:

1. Log in to Instagram and go to your profile.
2. Go to ‘Edit Profile’
3. Under Public / Business information, select ‘Page’.
4. Choose the Facebook Group you wish to connect to.

Maintaining your Instagram Account

To help you maintain and grow your online presence please see our social media top tips in the Promoting section of our website.