It’s Connect’s 8th birthday, and we couldn’t be more excited to celebrate it with you, our amazing community of Local Guides! It’s been eight years of many enlightening conversations, fun meet-ups, new friendships, and helpful contributions on Google Maps. Your passion to share your world and make it a better place for everyone fills us with awe.
For today’s eighth anniversary, we spoke to eight Local Guides from around the world, who have joined Connect at different stages of its journey. Read on to learn what @Annaelisa from Germany, @Anzu from Japan, @BudiFXW from Indonesia, @KhokonSharker from Bangladesh, @MrFreez from Nigeria, @NeshaMC from Peru, @Rahul001 from India, and @Scheria from the U.S. love most about the Connect community.
When did you join Connect?
@Annaelisa: I signed up on September 18, 2020, and I would say Connect captured me.
@Anzu: May 15, 2017, at 11:01 pm. I discovered the platform from a post about Local Guides on X (previously Twitter). It seemed interesting, so I was in!
@BudiFXW: Early morning on the last day of 2016, December 31. I got an email after enrolling in the Local Guides program.
@KhokonSharker: I joined Connect on April 8, 2020.
@MrFreez: I joined Connect on March 30, 2018, but truly discovered its glory after attending the Lagos 360° Tour.
@NeshaMC: In 2018, when I received an email invitation for the Connect Live Lima event.
@Rahul001: I joined Connect in December 2019, after seeing a Facebook event for the first Kerala Local Guides meet-up in Kochi. I was in college when I signed up, and now I’m working and still taking Connect with me.
**@Scheria:**I joined Connect on December 18, 2023. I clicked on a link to learn more about the Top 100 Leaderboards by @AdamGT . The rest is history.
What is your favorite thing about the community on Connect?
@Scheria: Our community is so awesome that it’s hard to narrow it down to just one favorite thing. Three things keep me coming back to Connect time and time again: the Top 100 Leaderboards, the opportunity to earn activity-based badges, and learning from other Local Guides worldwide.
@Rahul001: I think it’s people’s interaction with each other. I have met wonderful new people through Connect.
@BudiFXW: Sharing my experiences through writing a post on Connect. In those eight years, I have written more than 500 posts and got the Master Writer badge. Only twelve Local Guides have achieved this badge.
@Anzu: Seeing beautiful photos from all over the world. I feel that Connect is a place that connects people, regions, and cultures. I also love chatting with other Local Guides on Connect.
@Annaelisa: What I like best are nice posts with photos, travel stories, and exchanging ideas with others.
What is your favorite Local Guide activity that you have participated in through Connect?
@MrFreez: Meet-ups are my favorite Local Guide activity of all time. However, very recently there have been several community challenges that have got me glued to Connect, including @SholaIB ’s TRAC campaign and my 30-DAY MAPS CONTRIBUTIONS STREAK.
@Scheria: My three favorite Local Guide activities are adding photos, roads, and places. Shola’s TRAC campaign and Adam’s Leaderboards have motivated me to be more active on Google Maps. There is something special about adding a quality photo that can help make a difference for the customer as well as the business. Mapping roads that could help emergency responders bring medical aid or save someone’s life keeps me going. Finding hidden or less popular places in my community and beyond to add to the map is my way of paying it forward.
@KhokonSharker: I often plan trips and explore new places after reading about them on Connect. Also, I enjoy accessibility-related activities in the community. I write reviews on Maps with wheelchair accessibility details, and we talk to business owners during meet-ups, recommending they put wheelchair ramps.
**@NeshaMC:**I like that Local Guides write about their cultures and I’m able to appreciate it in photos. So my favorite activity is to hit the heart button 
on their posts.
Do you want to share anything about Connect’s birthday?
@Annaelisa: Warmest congratulations!
@Rahul001: Happy 8th birthday to Connect. As Connect grows, we Local Guides grow. I wanted to thank every Local Guide that has been with me and a special thanks to @TravellerG.
@BudiFXW: Happy birthday to Connect, the community platform for Local Guides who make Google Maps a place for people to find accurate information.
@Scheria: Some believe the number eight is for new beginnings. Shout out to ALL the hands that have made this a better place for connecting. Looking forward to seeing what’s in store for this next phase of the “new beginnings.” Cheers to the next eight years and beyond.
Thank you everyone for celebrating Connect’s birthday with us! We can’t wait to bring you more excitement throughout the year. In the meantime, don’t hesitate to join virtual and local celebrations organized by Local Guides as part of @KashifMisidia’s meet-up initiative and not only.
What’s your favorite activity on Connect? Let us know in the comments!
(Partial)
Can you guess where? (Clue, see Sheria’s comment 
)