What is Google Local Guides?
Google Local Guides is a points and recognition program for those that write reviews and contribute to Google Maps.
How to join
Joining is simple, just sign up for free on Google Maps. Anyone with a Google account can join, even if you have never contributed to Google Maps before.
The Local Guides program is not selective, and reviews by Local Guides are not necessarily more detailed or helpful.
Earning points
Contribute to Google Maps in pretty much any way to earn points. Writing reviews, uploading photos, answering questions, and adding new places will all earn you points at different rates.
15 points
- Add a place
- Add a road
5-10 points
- Write a review
- Review is longer than 200 characters
- Add a photo
- Add a video
- Submit an edit
- Publish a list of places
- Add description to a list
1-3 points
- Rate a place
- Add tags to a photo
- Answer a question
- Respond to Q&As
- Check a fact
Note: all points are subject to edit or contribution being approved
Leveling up
After earning enough points, you level up. You start at level 1, and it only takes 15 points to hit level 2, and it ramps up from there:
- Level 1: 0
- Level 2: 15
- Level 3: 75
- Level 4: 250
- Level 5: 500
- Level 6: 1 000
- Level 7: 5 000
- Level 8: 15 000
- Level 9: 50 000
- Level 10: 100 000
What do levels do? Not much, just a way to show off how much you have contributed. You get badges starting at Level 4, which get displayed on your profile and on your reviews. Here are the badges for levels 4-10:
What do I get from being a Local Guide?
In terms of tangible monetary benefits, basically nothing. If you’re reviewing in hopes of a real reward, you’re better off making a Youtube channel, creating video reviews, and hoping you get popular enough to get sponsored. But if you’re looking for recognition, small perks, or a community of like-minded reviewers, the Local Guides program can give you that.
Rewards and perks
If you are an active reviewer, Google may periodically send you little perks or rewards. In the past, this has included:
Your eligibility for these rewards may depend on how many contributions you make and how recent your contributions were, but other factors may also affect your eligibility, such as your location. There is no formula or milestone that determines when or if you receive a reward. You can get a reward after just a few reviews, or you may not get one even if you are level 10.
Recognition
Google will also periodically send you updates on how many people your reviews have helped. They will track and share with you all sorts of contribution milestones:
- how many contributions you made
- how many points you earned, and if you’re ranked highly in your city
- streaks of contributions
- how many cities you contributed to
- how many views your photos or reviews received
- how many people found your reviews helpful
Community
Local Guides Connect is a platform for Local Guides to post more of their work, get recognized, and socialize.
They recognize top contributors as “Guiding Stars” at the end of each year, across categories such as local businesses, sustainability, community building, and creativity.
They also organize Local Guides meetups around the world, share tips for photography, travel, and food, and celebrate each others’ achievements.
Bottom line
If you’re a review writer…
Google Local Guides gives you recognition for your contributions, and maybe some small but nifty perks on top. If you weren’t someone inclined to write reviews or submit photos in the first place, this program won’t sway you on its own. It’s not meant to be a way to earn rewards, just something nice for contributions you would likely make anyway.
If you’re a review reader…
Google Local Guides can help you identify prolific reviewers, and perhaps find recommendations that you trust or find particularly helpful. They are also a big reason Google Maps has up-to-date information such as accessibility, hours, and menu photos.
If you’re a business…
Google Local Guides is one of the reasons users are motivated to visit your business and take photos, write nice things, and help keep your info updated.