What is Google Maps Local Guides Program and what is it for 2022

What is Google Maps Local Guides Program and what is it for

Google Local Guides is a program that seeks to motivate your collaboration to rate and review places and establishments on Google Maps. We could say that Google Maps wants to compete with alternatives like TripAdvisor or Yelp! by having the possibility to mark some sites as your favorites and places you want to go to in the future.
We know that geolocation, reviews, and sharing information are very important in today’s world. That is why we will explain to you what precisely Local Guides is and some features that you should consider. Also, have the next few days.

Now, what are Google Local Guides Program?
How do Local Guides work?
Local Guides Connect – Communities
google events

NOW, WHAT ARE GOOGLE LOCAL GUIDES Programs?

Local Guides is the platform that Google set up in 2016 as a global community so that explorer users who share their discoveries on Google Maps do so. This Google program seeks that all Google Maps users help debug the information on this Google product.

It is achieved by helping other people find the best places in town. We could say that it is the main objective of Local Guide Google: making new friends and obtaining exclusive benefits from Google.

On the other hand, Google Maps implements features to explore the city you are in. Do you not know how? Easy: Showing you nearby restaurants, cafes, attractions, and more so you can make plans or find where to dine. And of course, as do other services such as TripAdvisor or Yelp!, it is essential to have the opinions of users who have been on these sites so that whoever wants to be informed can take into account the experience of others.

So, the program with which Google manages these ratings and encourages and rewards you are Local Guides. With it, please create a profile in your Google account, and add to it the different points they give for each contribution you make so that these points earn you a level up.

The Local Guides program is available, and the Google Maps service (Google Maps is currently available in more than 40 countries and languages). The benefits offered by the program may vary by location, as Google is continually improving this service.

WHAT CAN YOU DO AS A GOOGLE LOCAL GUIDE?

In the Google Local Guide community, you can share photos, answer questions about places locally, add or correct locations, and write reviews on Google Maps. Millions of people trust your input on Google Maps to decide where to go and what to do.

WHO CAN BE Google LOCAL GUIDES?

The Local Guides program is offered where Google Maps is available. Depending on where you are located, the benefits provided by the program may vary since Google is continually improving Local Guides.

You must know that the #LocalGuides program is aimed at people, not companies. Therefore, all contributions made by companies or from company pages will not be taken into account when calculating levels or benefits for the Google Local Guides program.

Participants must be over 18* to participate in Local Guides. We suggest that you consult the terms and conditions of the Local Guides program for more information.

HOW CAN I BE A LOCAL GUIDE?

Google Local Guides is a global community of users who share their discoveries on Google Maps. To join Local Guides is simple. You have to enter the Local Guides program; consider this Google program offered where Google Maps is available.

WHY SHOULD I SIGN UP FOR THE LOCAL GUIDE COMMUNITY?

Registering with the community allows you to take full advantage of it, as you will be able to:

Post new messages and reply to messages from other members.
Receive an email when another person replies to a specific message or topic.
Exchange private messages with other members.
Personalize your community experience.
Post comments on blogs that do not allow anonymous comments.
Post ideas, vote for the ideas you like the most, and post comments.
Receive badges for your contributions.
Be a community moderator.

Consequently, if you do not register, you can only browse, search for information and read posted messages. You won’t be able to give compliments, vote for posts, interact with other community members, or set personalization preferences.

HOW DO LOCAL GUIDES Program WORK?

First of all, and as we mentioned before, you can make contributions that have different scores with your profile on Google Maps. Depending on what you contribute, a score is added that allows you to reach levels.

In this way, the more reviews you make, the higher level of Local Guide you have. The important thing is that your Local Guide level is shown to users when they read your reviews and ratings. In this way, the idea is that when they read your opinion of an establishment, they know that you are reliable since a high level of Local Guide implies many contributions, so in theory, you have a higher criterion.

It is not a completely reliable index since anyone can give their opinion on sites they have not been to. But at least it helps to distinguish the opinions of those who review several sites from those made in a specific way of a particular area to speak well of it out of friendship or criticize it unjustifiably.

To raise your level as a Local Guide, Google gives points for rating sites and writing reviews, uploading photos of these sites, and adding or editing new sites to Google Maps. To answer other users’ questions about these sites that you have rated and verify the data of the descriptions of the places that appear in Maps.

It should note that from level 4, you start to have a badge of distinction on your profile so that other Google Maps users know that a Local Guide has made your opinion.

HOW IS THE LOCAL GUIDES POINTS SYSTEM

We mentioned earlier that you would be rewarded with points by making contributions to the program. Here we will tell you the value of each share:

Contribution on Maps	Points Earned
Review	10 points
Review of more than 200 characters	10 bonus points
Assessment	1 point
photo	5 points
tag photos	3 points
Video	7 points
Answer	1 point
Q/A Response	3 points
Edition	5 points
add site	15 points
add via	15 points
check date	1 point
Fit List Posted	10 points
Description (in the list)	5 points

WHAT ARE THE LEVELS OF LOCAL GUIDES Program?

Leveling up as you earn points with your contributions is possible. To do this, you must have an accumulated number of points described below.

LEVEL 1 – 0 points
LEVEL 2 – 15 points
LEVEL 3 – 75 points

These first three levels do not have any insignia.

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 – 10,100,000 points

Starting at level 4, the badge will be a star with the number of points of the level where you are. If the star has 10 points, it means that you are or that person is at level 10.

WHAT ADDITIONAL BENEFITS DOES EACH LEVEL OF Google LOCAL GUIDE HAVE?

1st level

– Receive internal information with the monthly newsletter.

– Participate in workshops and hangouts organized by Google.

– In some countries, participate in exclusive contests for Local Guides.

– Join the conversation on Local Guides Connect.

2nd level

– Access Google products and features before their public launch.

– Promote your hangouts on the Local Guides calendar.

3rd level

– Be seen with the Google Local Guides badge on Google Maps.

– Receive promotion from unofficial communities.

4th level

– Receive free Google Drive storage for one year.

– Appear on our official online channels: Google+, Facebook, Twitter, and others.

5th level

– Take advantage of the opportunities of the confidence testing program: access to Google products and features before they are published.

– Request a place to attend the level 5 Google Local Guides summit.

LOCAL GUIDES CONNECT – COMMUNITIES

Local Guides Connect is the online community created in August 2016 aimed at local Guides from around the world. The purpose of the community is to share experiences to learn more about the program and get to know other local Guides in the world, regardless of whether they are in the same city or another country.

This community is moderated by Google employees, local guide team members, people who work on Google Maps or other Google teams, and local guides like you and us.

So, Local Guides is the community to share discoveries on Google Maps and help others find the best places in town. While Local Guides Connect is a community of Local Guides from all over the world, hence its difference.

WHERE CAN I SEE ALL THE LOCAL GUIDE COMMUNITIES WORLDWIDE?

Take a look at this personalized map of supported communities managed by local guides like you.

GOOGLE EVENTS

DO YOU WANT TO ATTEND EXCLUSIVE GOOGLE LOCAL GUIDES EVENTS?

Google holds exclusive events in cities with the most active contributors (Level 5 Google Local Guides). Therefore you can attend unofficial or informal events. In addition to that, you can from the Local Guides community organize your get-together. This will be your opportunity to meet people, interact and discover the cultural offer of your locality.

HOW DO YOU PARTICIPATE IN THE GOOGLE LOCAL GUIDES SUMMIT? I WANT TO KNOW THE SELECTION CRITERIA.

Finally, only Google level 5 local guides will be able to participate; as we indicated before, there is a previous registration. For them, you must register, but the application periods already closed on April 30, 2019. However, you can follow the event with the following information:

The local guides’ summit will start from the 12th to the 15th of November.
Follow along on social media using #localguidesconnect
More details on the official website of Connect Live 2019

Other selection criteria:

You must create a one-minute video in English, indicating the reason for the request.
Google searches for active local guides in the Google Local Guides community and Local Guides Connect.
You must be able to communicate in the English language.
Google Summit attendees must be at least 21 years old before the summit.

WHO WILL PAY FOR THE TRAVEL EXPENSES TO THE GOOGLE LOCAL GUIDES SUMMIT?

The organizer (Google) will cover the costs associated with visa, flight, stay (hotels), and meals during the summit of local guides will be covered by the organizer (Google). Local guides who wish to extend their stay will be able to do so but must cover their expenses.

HOW WILL YOU KNOW IF YOU ARE SELECTED? TO THE ANNUAL GOOGLE LOCAL GUIDES SUMMIT?

Google will contact you privately. We suggest you follow the official Google Local Guides social channels on Google+, Twitter, and Facebook. In the same way, it will send you weekly notifications by email.

LATEST GOOGLE LOCAL GUIDE CONSIDERATIONS

For leveling up as a Local Guide, Google will not give you money, but occasionally you can have some reward. For example, you’ll get early access to Google features like the Google Maps beta and special discounts, partner offers, event invitations, and more.

The Google Maps Local Guides program allows users to register and add comments, reviews, ratings, and photos within Google Maps – an application that has already become a complete social network – of all those businesses, places, and monuments visited.

Being a Google Maps Local Guide offers users some privileges such as early access to new features of the application.

It is a community of “preferred users” since Local Guides and the possibility of adding reviews and ratings to businesses have “monitoring” functions. That is, they can correct reviews, comments, and ratings. Likewise, Local Guides who have their business listing on Google My Business can report fake or spam comments,

At the same time, they can answer common questions about businesses so that Google compares the information and has a more realistic perception of the information that users create in Google Maps business profiles.

In addition, Local Guides have access to a points and badge program, with which they obtain a series of rewards and advantages for the Local Guide profile.

How Local Guides Program works

Registering as a Local Guide is free, and to do so, all you have to do is have a Google account and be of legal age. Any user who meets these requirements can register from the following link.

Once registered, it is already possible to enter and start leaving reviews and uploading photos. Local Guides can also add new places and venues to Google Maps and verify the information they find published.

As we have said, every time a Local Guide acts, they receive points in their profile. For example, a review is 10 points, but you get ten more points if the review exceeds 200 characters. Ratings give 1 point and photos 5.

On the other hand, uploading a video is 7 points and answering questions is 3. The maximum score is obtained by adding a place or a route, which awards 15 points. These points allow you to unlock ten levels and a series of badges displayed on your profile. In the following image, you can see what the Google Local Guides level badges look like:

In addition, reaching new levels offers some rewards such as extra storage space in Google Drive, early access to new Google Maps features, access to exclusive contests and workshops, invitations to special Local Guides events, as well as discounts on Google products.

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