10 Years of Trail_blazing 🗺️

[Trail_blazer]

Hi all,
Completing 10 years as a Local Guide has been an incredible journey. My mapping story began even before the Local Guides program officially started. I was part of the first Mappers Push Program by Google in 2013, where I received a certificate and a T-shirt — back when Google used to gift phones to top contributors! Since then, my journey has been relentless, marked by ups and downs.

Initially, it was just about uploading photos and editing maps, but over the years, mapping has become more organized and categorized, making it easier and more engaging. Google has introduced several exciting features to keep contributors motivated, and I’ve been fortunate to receive perks from time to time for my consistent contributions. Today, there is hardly a lane in my city of 2 million people where I don’t find at least one of my contributions. My first big surprise came in 2016 when I saw my 263 photos hit 1 million views.

Since then, I’ve uploaded around 16,000–17,000 photos (being a photo buff helps!), and I now focus on making meaningful and clean contributions, occasionally trimming poor ones. Through the Local Guides Connect community and the Top100Local Guides group, I’ve made many friends — and this sense of community keeps me motivated to keep contributing.
These days the views have been little different but videos definitely click high than photos in Feb 2025 I got 2.6 Millions

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Milestones Over the Years

175 Million Views on Contributions
Some top Photos hitting 2-3 Million each
400 Videos hitting 2 Million views
Making 14 edits each day in 2024

Future Goals

Adding more videos
Covering high priority and new places
Quality over quantity means adding just 2-3 media per place
Right now my Photo Per Place is 4.24 I would like to bring it down to 2 or 3

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The journey from 1 million views to nearly 175 million has been remarkable. From exploring every lane in my city to connecting with fellow contributors worldwide, being a Local Guide has truly shaped the way I engage with the world.

Happy Mapping
Trail_blazer (DK)

[Mafuz]

Hello brother

[PrasadVR]

Hi friend @Trail_blazer , your post tells an amazing story. The milestones you’ve achieved as a Local Guide are so impressive and super inspiring. It’s great to see how Top 100 system played a part in your wonderful journey . I wish you the best of luck in achieving your goals.

[Ssiddharth2000]

Incredible achievement @Trail_blazer
All the best for new milestones

[Trail_blazer]

Thanks @PrasadVR coming across you in the connect has been inspiring, the track you lay everyday is so much that I myself can’t track them all . Well jokes apart in roading you are an absolute juggernaut

[Trail_blazer]

Thanks @Ssiddharth2000
And hello there @Mafuz

[AdamGT]

Congratulations on your amazing Local Guide journey @Trail_blazer

@Trail_blazer

Today, there is hardly a lane in my city of 2 million people where I don’t find at least one of my contributions.

That’s amazing! By the way I like your goals and especially love the cover photo. Keep guiding. Keep contributing and keep achieving.

[Annaelisa]

Sagenhaft @Trail_blazer herzlichen Glückwunsch und weiterhin alles Gute

[Trail_blazer]

@Annaelisa Danke schön.

[Trail_blazer]

@AdamGT thanks the only thing I am missing here is Aussie multi floor camping
Mo must gift some to us.

[PrasadVR]

@Trail_blazer

Thanks @PrasadVR coming across you in the connect

I am glad we connected on Connect.

@Trail_blazer

in roading you are an absolute juggernaut

Thank you @Trail_blazer for your kind appreciations.

[TerryPG]

A big congrats @Trail_blazer on your great post and your wonderful meaningful contributions. You are a very welcome part of Google Maps and Connect, Please keep contributing. The name Trailblazer suits you perfectly.

[Trail_blazer]

Well thanks @TerryPG for kind words. We all encourage and inspire each other somehow which keep us busy contributing. Your contributions are top class too

[tony_b]

Absolutely amazing!! You certainly live up to your name - blazing a trail.

[Trail_blazer]

Thanks @tony_b just result of gradual and consistent mapping.

[JustJake]

Great post, man. Congrats on hitting your Decade as an LG! You should be an inspiration to LGs new and old with your evolution as a Guide.

[Trail_blazer]

@JustJake Thanks bud