Did you ever feel that the Google Maps listing for your favorite restaurant was missing important details or maybe the pictures just didn’t capture the mood of the place? Well, Google’s Local Guides program allows you to do something about this and improve how people can see places on Google Maps.
Google’s Local Guides program is an excellent initiative aimed at getting ordinary people like you and me involved in building the world’s biggest and most inclusive mapping platform. But before we proceed, what is it?
What is the Local Guide Program?
Local Guides Program is a group of passionate individuals who provide information and experience to make Google Maps more complete and useful. As a local guide, you will be able to share reviews, photos as well as make edits on different locations on Google maps. Your contributions such as adding a missing footpath, updating opening hours of business premises or even giving an elaborate review of a local treasure help enhance millions’ experience with google maps worldwide.
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How to Join the Local Guide Program
The way to become a local guide is very easy. Anybody with an account on Google can just sign up and begin contributing towards Google Maps. For you to join the Local Guide program, follow these steps:
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Why Become a Local Guide?
There are several plausible reasons why one would want to join the local guides program. Some of them include:
Make an impact– Your contribution has direct effects on how other people perceive their surrounding. Sharing your knowledge could help individuals discover more places make informed choices and enjoy themselves while exploring.
Earn Recognition– By contributing to Google Maps, you receive points, levels and badges for your effort. It also helps as way to appreciate the progress made over time based on rewards given against efforts made.
Unlock exclusive benefits – Eventually when reaching certain levels some privileges become available only for LGs such as earlier access to new functionalities with Mapping functionality or special events invitations among others.
Connect with Community– The program brings together people who share passion for discovery therefore engendering community spirit among them. You may meet fellow local guides for ideas sharing and experiences’ exchange within this organization.
Earning Points, Levels, and Badges
As a local guide, every contribution you make on this platform earns you some points. As one continues earning more points, he/she may move on to higher levels as a local guide. There are many different types of contributions that earn points like writing reviews, rating businesses, uploading photos/videos, answering questions, editing information, and adding new places/roads. Below are some of the contributions made by Local Guides and how their points add up:
- Write a review – 10 points
- Write a 200+ character review – 20 points
- Rate a business – 1 point
- Upload a photo – 5 points
- Tag a photo – 3 points
- Upload a video – 7 points
- Respond to Q&As – 3 points
- Edit information – 5 points
- Add a place – 15 points
- Add a road – 15 points
- Check a fact – 1 point
- Publish an eligible list – 10 points
- Write a description (in list) – 5 points
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Through accruing more points through accumulated contributions made; users get promoted to various levels within the Local Guide program. When leaving comments or responding questions at Google maps your name will always have new badges attached which represents each level passed . These levels include:
- Level 1 – 0 points
- Level 2 – 15 points
- Level 3 – 75 points
- Level 4 – 250 points
- Level 5 – 500 points
- Level 6 – 1,500 points
- Level 7 – 5,000 points
- Level 8 – 15,000 points
- Level 9 – 50,000 points
- Level 10 – 100,000 points
The Role of Local Guides on Business Entities.
Local guides greatly contribute to the success or failure of businesses as they are listed in Google Maps. Through their reviews, ratings and photos; local guides play a significant role in shaping how businesses appear online. In the local search results page positive reviews from Local Guides can improve visibility and increase foot traffic to stores.
According to Google, high quality positive reviews from customers can increase a business’s visibility within its service area. By actively participating in the Local Guide program, businesses can leverage the influence of Local Guides to build their online reputation and attract more customers. Responding to reviews left by Local Guides is also an essential practice for businesses to demonstrate their engagement and commitment to customer satisfaction.
The Benefits of Being a Local Guide
Being a Local Guide has far more benefits than assisting others; here are some perks:
Level Up and Earn Badges: Points awarded to your achievements help you climb higher levels in the program. Each level unlocked also awards new badges which indicate the expertise and commitment of local guides like you.
Early Access to New Features: At times local guides get exclusive access to new features or improvements made on google maps leading edge functionalities.
Connect with a Global Community: The Local Guides program cultivates community spirit among alike-minded explorers who love discovering new things together. You can engage with fellow local guides around the world sharing experiences with each other while learning from them too.
Shape the Future of Google Maps: Indeed, the changes you bring about in Google Maps are what they make and develop them. As a local guide, you have the ability to help make Google maps become more reliable and indispensable for everyone.
Tactics for companies to engage with Local Guides
Here are some ways that businesses can take full advantage of the Local Guide program:
- Reply reviews: Make sure you comment back to all comments from Local Guides in appreciation for what they have submitted and provide solution where necessary. This proves how committed you are towards making your clients happy and building a good rapport with Local Guides.
- Inculcate reviews: Try encouraging your customers to leave reviews on Google Maps mentioning the existence of “Local Guides” campaign. Highlight how such feedback informs potential visitors who are searching for goods or services like yours.
- Offers great experiences: Enhancing customer’s experience helps in receiving positive reviews from local guides’. Push yourself past boundaries set so as to create memories which tourists will want to share through word-of-mouth and online platforms like this.
Keep the Local Guides informed about any updates, promotions or special events in your business; this can encourage them to visit and share their stories thereby enhancing your online presence.
The Future of the Local Guide Program
The future of the Local Guide program will depend on Google’s various improvements and innovations. In the era of user-generated content and local search relevance, greater emphasis will be placed on contributions by Local Guides to improve the accuracy and relevancy of Google Maps.
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Google could come up with new features and rewards which will motivate Local Guides more. The program is likely to continue being grounded on community engagement and collaboration, fostering camaraderie among its members as well as a sharing culture through Forums.
Conclusion
However there is much more than meets the eye when it comes to being a local guide even though basic functions include reviewing, photos and editing. There are challenges and competitions exclusive to local guides; they get asked questions by other users; contribute towards future of google map development through feedback provided for instance.
With emphasis on community, exploration, and shared knowledge, Google’s Local Guides is an advantage to all involved. You are able to add value while getting connected to others with similar interests in life besides that one also gains some recognition out of their hard work done when exploring new territories around them. So why wait? Download Google Map today and start Local Guiding!
