A New Beginner Looking To Get Started

Google Maps tips & tricks
1

Wow! What a fantastic, interactive, and creative site this is!

I am relatively new to using Google Maps, and only just recently started posting my own Photos and Reviews as a Local Guide. Even newer to me, is this Connect site which I only learned about a few days ago…I had no idea such a community even existed. I feel like I opened the door into Narnia here!

I am so fascinated and intrigued by the many fellow Guides here! Not just the beautiful photography and skills exhumed, but the sheer quantity of it all. Many, many Posts, Reviews, Photos, Comments, Tips…it is all so impressive, BUT…also slightly intimidating… :see_no_evil: :disappointed_relieved:

Maybe there are others who are just like me?

Who are just starting out, and are excited and eager but also feel a tad overwhelmed?

Like, what am I even doing here?!?

This is my first post on the Local Guides Connect site, and maybe I’m not utilizing this in the correct way it was intended? I guess for me, part of the initial intent of this post, would be to show support to others who are new here, who may feel out of place or incompetent somehow, and to let them know that they are not alone.

I feel completely out of my league here! :grimacing: I wouldn’t particularly consider myself tech-savvy in any way. I am certainly no Professional Photographer, esteemed Food Critic, nor a reputable journalistic author. To be perfectly honest, I began in this journey a few weeks ago because I saw a few nearby locally owned places to me had outdated photos, unfairly poor reviews, and inaccurate information depicted on their Maps page. My angle for starting out, was merely an attempt to show support for these local businesses - to defend their reputation “in the name of justice!” :statue_of_liberty:

As I attempt to wrap up this babble here, ultimately I was curious to know…

What were some of the reasons in how many of YOU got started as a Local Guide?

What have you learned along the way?

And, what tips or recommendations would you suggest to those of us who are just starting out?

10 Likes
2

Hi @nicholas_james15

A Warm welcome to Connect. Nice to meet you!

To make you feel at home I suggest you take a look at Your Guide to Connect (it’s a quick introduction to our community).

It is perfectly normal to feel a bit overwhelmed in the beginning. And trust me Connect is not organized in a super intuitive way, so getting lost or not knowing where to post is perfectly normal. Just ask and someone will be happy to answer your doubts.

It is great that you already started posting based on your experiences and your wish to help others. That’s the spirit.

My motivation is the joy of knowing that I’m helping a lot of people and businesses. Also, making new friends here on Connect can be considered a great peek. I find it very rewarding being a Local Guide.

All the best and welcome again.
Morten

4 Likes
3

hello @nicholas_james15 welcome to the form, first of all, thank you for your nice words, yes, there are many places here, all people is trying to share both examples and important and beautiful things . My advice to you is to talk about yourself in the introduce yourself section in your , I leave the link below, you can introduce yourself to us from there.

İntroduce yourself

4 Likes
4

@nicholas_james15 Just want to add what others have mentioned above, I think the most important is for you to have fun :slightly_smiling_face:

Don’t worry about utilization for now. Just take it one step at a time, look around see what others have done, and try a few things out yourself.

Just want to add what others have given above, below are some posts that will help learn you what this community is all about

14 helpful tips for using Connect

These two posts will help you to create engaging posts here in Connect

How do I write a post on Connect?

How to choose a topic for your Connect post

Don’t hesitate to post in this board if you have more questions in the future!

3 Likes
5

Hello @nicholas_james15

A warm and friendly welcome to connect like others have greeted you. I can feel your excitement in your post. I felt like that when I discovered connect by chance as well. it’s a very knowledgeable and inspiring forum. I enjoyed and am still enjoying it now. There is no limit to the fun you can catch here and the friends you can make and the interaction you can get.

  • I discovered connect during the Covid-19 lockdown when practically the whole world was bored. We had all the time and didn’t know what to do with it. Connect was a great place to come and it’s still a great place to come when all that is over now.
  • I have learnt lots of communication skills and even improved my IT skills in trying to post on connect and trying to organise meet-up etc. I have learnt so much about Google maps that I have never dreamt of learning. I have also been recognised by Google as a guiding star 2022 which was far beyond my wildest dreams. I have improved on my photography skills. I am not a professional or anything like that but I am learning lots of new things.
  • My suggestions, please look up the links other local guides have proposed to you in their replies before mine here and learn as much as you can. Make friends by reading posts and commenting, Interact all you can,get closer to local guides in person if you get a chance and lastly keep active. Nice to E-meet you.

Cheers

2 Likes
6

Hey, @nicholas_james15 , welcome aboard! I knew before I finished reading that you’d have links to some Connect guides provided by the community.

I will add to the already awesome suggestions by including the Welcome to Connect Card by our resident World’s Nicest Dude/Guiding Star @SholaIB .

4 Likes
7

@JustJake

Hahaha! Nice that you have surfaced again and thanks for always adding fun to connect. I wonder if there will ever be a role of a guiding star tittled fun givers on connect. You will qualify for one Lol ! Thanks for the welcome card you gave to @nicholas_james15 I just wasn’t going to praise myself seeing there already lots of links.

That welcome card might be my best post yet !

Cheers

2 Likes
8

Hi @nicholas_james15 welcome!

All of the informative links have been added above. I feel the same emotion like you when I first joined the community in 2016, yes it’s 7 years ago! I think we have our beloved Connect Moderator who lives in Miami as well, @SP31 . Again, welcome to the club!

2 Likes
9

Thank you for the guide intro link and the warm welcome!! :raised_hands:t3:

1 Like
10

Hey there @nicholas_james15 - Welcome to Connect. Yes, it can definitely feel like you’ve entered another world!

I see many others have already shared links to helpful posts, so I’ll take this opportunity to respond to your questions.

“What were some of the reasons in how many of YOU got started as a Local Guide?”

I started sharing photos to Google Maps after an email encouraged me to do so. I was intrigued and decided to indulge my curiosity. My first photos were not that good and I used it more like a social media app. However, one photo I shared of a pizza from Farinacci’s became the Featured Photo and I started noticing how many views it was getting - I was hooked at that moment!

“What have you learned along the way?”

A lot! I had grown pretty comfortable with sharing to Google Maps after a good bit of trial and error. I was happy with what I was sharing but felt I could do better. I came across Connect and started out with similar feelings to you - overwhelmed. I will say that your first post is much better than mine was!
But as I interacted more and learned the “ways of the road” I realized what amazing resource this forum truly is. I have gained new friendships. I’ve learned to take better photos and write better reviews. I’ve grown comfortable in sharing the knowledge I’ve acquired with others. The highlight of my journey with Maps and Connect was being named a Guiding Star :woman_singer: for 2022 :smiling_face:

“What tips or recommendations would you suggest to those of us who are just starting out?”

Ask questions. Read posts. Share. Be yourself. Always think of how what you’re sharing/posting will best benefit the end user.

You’re already off to a great start. I see your 7 eleven photo is Featured and your Lincoln Eatery review has almost 1200 views in a month - Congrats :tada: You’re making an impact and guiding others.