Table of contents
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INTRODUCTION
Local Guides is a global community of explorers who write reviews and give ratings, share photos and videos, answer questions, add or edit places, add or edit roads check facts and publish lists on Google Maps. Millions of people rely on contributions to decide where to go and what to do. As we all know that Google Maps is a web mapping platform and consumer application offered by Google. It offers satellite imagery, aerial photography, street maps, 360° interactive panoramic views of streets (Street View), real-time traffic conditions, and route planning for traveling by foot, car, bike, air (in beta version) and public transportation. These all are contributed to the maps by the local guides community.
HOW TO BECOME A LOCAL GUIDE
Sign up with your Google account in Google Maps and select your current location. Every place you review, photograph, add, edit, or provide additional info for on Google Maps earns you points toward unlocking something new.
TYPES OF CONTRIBUTIONS
Reviews- you can review the places which you visit by giving accurate information.
Ratings- you can give ratings from 1 star to 5 stars for a place according to your experience.
Photos- add as many photos of the places you visit with quality
Videos- you can also add videos provided they must be of quality
Answers- you can answer the questions asked by the people and clarify their doubts regarding a particular place.
Edits- you can edit the information about a particular place.
Places added- you can add new places to the maps
Roads added- you can add new roads to the map
Facts Checked- you can check facts regarding a particular place by giving yes/no answers.
Lists- you can add lists by including a minimum of 4 places and the list must be custom and must be shared publicly.
BADGES
Reviewer Badge
Photographer Badge
Trailblazer Badge
Fact Finder Badge
Director Badge
All these badges have 3 different stages- Novice, Expert and Master which will get unlocked according to the points you earn.
POINTS CALCULATION
| Maps contribution | Points earned |
| Review | 10 points per review |
| Review with more than 200 characters | 10 bonus points per review |
| Rating | 1 point per rating |
| Photo | 5 points per photo |
| Photo tags | 3 points per tag |
| Video | 7 points per video |
| Answer | 1 point per answer |
| Respond to Q&As | 3 points per response |
| Edit | 5 points per edit |
| Place added | 15 points per place added |
| Road added | 15 points per road added |
| Fact checked | 1 point per fact-checked |
| Eligible list published | 10 points per published list |
| Description (in the list) | 5 points per description added |
LEVELS
| Level | Points | Badge |
| Level 1 | 0 points | No badge |
| Level 2 | 15 points | No badge |
| Level 3 | 75 points | No badge |
| Level 4 | 250 points | 4 STAR BADGE |
| Level 5 | 500 points | 5 STAR BADGE |
| Level 6 | 1,500 points | 6 STAR BADGE |
| Level 7 | 5,000 points | 7 STAR BADGE |
| Level 8 | 15,000 points | 8 STAR BADGE |
| Level 9 | 50,000 points | 9 STAR BADGE |
| Level 10 | 100,000 points | 10 STAR BADGE |
REWARDS AND SWAGS
Google Maps may provide you with exclusive socks and t-shirts for recognising your valuable contributions. They may also provide you with free voucher codes for learning and much more.
GOOGLE LOCAL GUIDES SUMMIT
To apply to attend the Local Guides Summit, you must be an active Local Guide Level 5 and submit an application that includes a 1-minute video. Successful local guides will be shortlisted by Google and will be called to Mountain View, California to attend the meeting at Google Headquarters. Entire expenses including your VISA will be funded by Google. You can spend maybe 5 days enjoying the events and yeah you'll receive awesome swags too post-event.
GOOGLE LOCAL GUIDES COMMUNITY (LOCAL GUIDES CONNECT)
It's the community of local guides who share their ideas and thoughts and do valuable contributions to the Maps. It's a platform to share ideas and knowledge to spread the importance of contributing to Maps. You can simply join by signing up with your Google account. It's also available in Play Store to download.
LOCAL GUIDE STARS
Each year most active member, as well as the local guide who shared awesome ideas and thoughts and did tremendous contributions, will receive such an award from the Local Guides Connect Community. It's a token of appreciation for the hard work that they did to grow the community. it's known as the Guiding Star Award.
CONCLUSION
These are the importance of contributing to Google Maps and becoming a part of the local guides community.