I registered for the Connect Forum and Top100 Leaderboards on April 3, 2023. I had recently hit 30,000,000 photo views and I became interested in how that compared to other Local Guides on Maps. My search led me to the Top100 Leaderboards and the Connect forum. I was so excited - finding that there were people I could “talk” to about my “Maps Hobby” and not only did their eyes not glaze over or ask me if I was out of my mind; but they actually liked doing it too and were very encouraging and welcoming. I jumped in with both feet and I still feel grateful for having found these two groups.
But my interest in Google Maps dates from fall of 2015 when I installed the app on my Android phone. I traveled a lot for my work and I was terrible with directions. Google Maps seemed like a godsend, at first. For the first couple of years I really only used it for driving directions. On a trip to Decatur, GA I added my first Maps review: Java Monkey on Nov 8, 2015.
During 2016 I noticed that Google Maps wasn’t as accurate as it could be. I live in Brattleboro, VT, which is the biggest town in the area. However we share a zip code with Guilford, a small town to our South. Maps showed every address in Brattleboro as being in Guilford not Brattleboro. I submitted an edit for this which was accepted on Oct 2, 2016. I thought “how cool is this, I can make Google Maps more accurate”, and I joined the Google Local Guides program the next day.
Then I started adding photos and by Oct 11, 2016 I had posted 3 photos. It didn’t seem like much, but the next year Google was cutting the amount of free storage space, but Local Guides could get extensions on the existing storage by adding photos to Maps. I was very motivated by this and went from 18 photos in January 2017 to 171 photos in April 2017: with my photo views going from 5,000 to 50,000 in the same period. By August 2017 I had 250,000 photo views. I have to say I was very skeptical of all these views, especially because when I used Maps I never read reviews or looked at any photos. But nonetheless I was hooked on adding photos to Google Maps.
I want this article to be about my love and appreciation for this community, not just a review of my history.
- See this comment for Connect posts about my early Maps history
- See this comment for stats about my early Maps history
I am very grateful for having found this community. I’ve learned so much about being a Guide and about the world at large. Early on I read an article by @Stephanie_OWL titled: Cleaning up my google maps profile (Aufräumen meines google maps Profil und welche Auswirkungen es) and what an impact it had- a true light bulb moment. I became a much more thoughtful LG than I had been for the previous 7 years. When I joined Connect I had over 3,300 photos with an average view of 9,120. 5 months later I had reduced the number by 53% and my average views was at 24,976.
Joining the Top 100 Leaderboards not only has let me see how my experience compares to others around the world, but helps me track my own changes. Thank you @AdamGT for all your incredible work on this.
Getting to know other guides and seeing them grow has also been very satisfying. @Annaelisa has blossomed as a guide, become a more confident and active member of the community and reached level 10. My friends @TerryPG and @Mikeinthefalls have both joined the exclusive billion views club. I worked with @TravellerG to help people get their videos into the video challenge. I got to know @PrasadVR working on spreadsheets for Trac2024. @JustJake and @Mikeinthefalls have been two of my biggest mentors and supporters.
I found a kindred statistical and analysis spirit in @tony and always enjoy what he brings to a conversation. Tony and I have made a stat nerd out of @TerryPG ; he complains bitterly about it but I know he really loves it, Besides all of the things that @AdamGT brings to the forum through his Top 100 Leaderboards, moderators @MortenCopenhagen and @AdrianLunsong have answered so many of my questions and in return asked me a lot of tough, but thoughtful questions
I have had so many wonderful interactions with a great number of guides and appreciate you all. There is no better way to become a better local guide than to be active in Connect and the Top 100 Leaderboards.
If you want to have fun and get to know other Guides in a relaxed setting,
Consider showing up for the
#statechallenge monthly trivia game
If you have been circling around the edges of Connect and the Top 100 Leaderboards; jump on in. The water is warm and lots of people are ready to help you swim, not sink. I know the new connect interface and the change in the photo view counts have caused a few of my favorite guides to become less active- I miss you all and hope to see you back here again soon.
and I join you to celebrate this great moment.
