[Edited for clarity]
Thinking about rewards
I’ve been thinking about #localguides, again, it seems like I always do. Today I was browsing through Ideas Exchange, which is always very intriguing. The quality and practicality of suggestions varies - some are possible, some are not compatible, but no matter what, they reveal something about our fellow #localguides, what drives them, what annoys them, what frustrations they have, and what they are trying to do about it. It runs the whole gamut from how to use this forum, how to submit reviews, how to fix map addresses, how to get more rewards, etc.
I have always been so frustrated with the dual identity of “Google Maps”, vs “Local Guides”. Most products are very straightforward - eg your Instagram.com account is you, your profile, and your IG posts are what makes IG it is. The understanding, and incentives are very well aligned on both ends, raising your profile is good for IG platform and vice versa. Other platforms like Facebook, Twitter, are similar.
Unsplash is another platform that I always think about - it’s loved, has great photos, lots of interactions, send stats to their members on how many times their photos are downloaded, actively promote their member’s content.
But in our case, “Google Maps” is an original mapping utility, which is a core part of the world, and people’s lives. We can’t mess with it so much. “Google Maps Guides” is too big a jump - we’re not official guides for Google Maps, nor are we professional tour guides. Having a direct link from Google Maps product into Local Guides is also apparently too much (note there’s no easy way to click through), because that billion user Google Maps is just too precious to mess with.
So how do we promote Local Guides standing, presence, and reward our top contributors who spend so much time and effort fixing map errors, data, reviews, photos, streetview, and other content? It’s a tough question and I’m glad at least now we have this program and this platform over here to have some of our thoughts heard out.
Physical gifts - fun, and great. keep it out. But we can agree it’s not going to reach millions of deserving LGs around the world. Budget and logistics.
Discounts, promos - hit and miss. Hard to tailor it to a wide audience, work to find partners, etc. also costs.
Real badges, certificates - I was really surprised to see some requests for certificates. People just want recognition, and acknowledgement. It doesn’t have to have a monetary value! But it would feel good. Being seen and noticed by Google feels good.
Socks - I put socks as a category in itself because it’s so awesome and loved. Also, I didn’t get one. #barefootclub.
What I think is a great direction by the Google LG Community team so far:
- Using LG googlelocalguides Instagram account to feature beautiful LG contributed photos
- Using regular LGC posts to feature contributions like "Photo of the Week: Melaka Straits Mosque by Local Guide Satine ", “12 amazing photos taken by Lagos Local Guides”, etc.
- Using LG twitter account to feature reviews
- Emails newsletter and monthly stats.
Why it works:
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Using of official accounts, whether @localguides or Google branding, to promote, feature and raise awareness of top quality (or just fun) photos and reviews
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These featured content are content (photos, reviews, etc), that contributors have put into Google Maps on their own accord.
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These featured content are not localguidesconnect content. ie people did not submit this on purpose to the forum. Remember that Maps contributions is the whole point, not forum contributions. And I really don’t see the point of forum contributions.
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It raises awareness of great content. Regular browsing of Google Maps only surfaces average quality snaps, real life pics, but not droolworthy magazine quality pics. Life isn’t glamorous, this keeps Google Maps authentic, but we all need to be inspired and wow-ed.
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It is marketing and raising awareness of Local Guides program.
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When I see these posts I think to myself “I need to get out more”, “I need to take better photos”, “wow this place is beautiful I should go there.”
What I think can be done more to Acknowledge and Inspire:
1. Expand IG and Twitter shares
Instead of just having LGC forum posts, can we have the “12 amazing photos by Lagos Local Guides” also featured on IG and Twitter? in an easy to consume and accessible manner. Linking to a forum post might not be the most easy to consume. esp an interface like LGC.
IG and Twitter are great platforms, keep it going!
2. Keep Email newsletters
Email stats is great. I saw a local Singapore half-celebrity recently remark on his photo view counts. https://twitter.com/mrbrown/status/1128630857890066432
I am sure he is not really into #LocalGuides #LetsGuide #Connect or whatever, but that struck a cord with him. People like this, people appreciate this. They might never ever touch www.localguidesconnect.com but they enjoy doing the reviews and photos. We need to encourage this without needing them to get into LGC. The friction of LGC causes people to drop out like flies.
3. Suggestion: Show featured reviews and photos inside Maps
I guess this is the main suggestion of mine: Explore tab in Maps is great, I want to find out more about new restaurants and popular restaurants. But can we also feature top quality reviews and photos like above, in some form of Explore or other feed inside Google Maps itself?
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This way we (partly) solve the problem of the disjointed identity and moving back and forth between Google Maps and LGC.
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We get to showcase top quality photos and reviews to other maps users. This attracts them to browse new places. This inspires them to contribute. This educates and guides them on how to contribute.
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Lots of my peers have huge problems with spam, poor quality reviews. I know this is a frustration, we have high standards here! But I don’t advocate the ban hammer on ever new noob account, I want to show, educate and inspire them to contribute better. That is the only practical and scalable solution.
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This raises the profile of the LG contributor, it is like a boost in acknowledgement, reward, recognition, points etc.
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It also boosts the profile of the business or place, introducing people to a new restaurant or park or destination.
Feel free to put out your own ideas and comments here on in your own posts!
[cross linked into Ideas Exchange https://www.localguidesconnect.com/t5/All-Ideas/Acknowledge-Reward-and-Inspire/idi-p/1756248#M26694]