Promotional Tips

Tips for Promoting Your Group

It's important to let people in your community, region and even provincially know about your walking group. Once you've created a group on our website, our users can find you and you can proactively invite others to join by e-mail, but if you want to go further than this, the extra ways you choose to promote your group will depend on your own creativity, communication skills, schedule and comfort level. Here are a few ideas:

• Word of Mouth - When you're excited about starting your group, you'll want to tell everyone and a personal invitation is often more welcoming than receiving a standard e-mail. Your excited walkers will then start telling and inviting their family, co-workers, friends, dogs and others. They begin to spread the Walkabout fire. This form of promotion is invaluable for attracting new walkers as we know that a referral is an acknowledgement that you're doing a great job with your group.
• Media - Engage local newspapers, bulletins and radio stations with public service announcements (PSAs) to let community members know about your group. These free opportunities help spread the word of your group quickly. Use the sample PSA below to guide your announcement.
• Community Events - Use community events such as church fairs, guest speaking events and other points of gathering in your community to talk about your group and how much fun you're having! Happiness is contagious and soon, many community members will be joining you.
• Organizations and their networks - In your community or region, contact the municipal office to find out if there is a recreation director or physical activity coordinator. These people may be able to help you promote your walking group through their networks of people, programs and promotions. In your workplace, ask if there is a workplace wellness committee or someone in human resources who could help attract participants.
• Heart&Stroke Walkabout Groups - add your group to the Groups Directory on Walkabout with public membership and invite others to join!

Sample PSA (Public Service Announcement)

One crucial component for any successful walking group is having members. Whether you've just started a new group or are interested in recruiting new faces to your group, here is some information to help you step in the right direction. Modify the information and use it in community newspapers, newsletters, or bulletins to help promote your Heart&Stroke Walkabout group.

Recruiting Feet for our [Street/Community/Trail/Name of group]

[Insert name of walking group] is looking for new members to join its walking group. No experience is required - just an interest in walking. Be active, meet new people and see some of the amazing sites the community of [name of community] has to offer.

The group meets [details of where and when]. [Name of walking group] can also be found online through the Heart&Stroke Walkabout^TM website where we track our steps, discuss and post routes, plan activities, and post events. Call [your contact information] for more information or join us online at www.walkaboutns.ca. Register and search the Groups Directory for [list group name as it appears on the Groups directory].

Heart&Stroke Walkabout^TM is an initiative led by the Heart and Stroke Foundation of Nova Scotia and supported by the Nova Scotia Department of Health and Wellness and the Ecology Action Centre.