I am a software developer who loves technology and how it helps people with almost every daily life stuff. One of the reason I became a local guide is because I believe technology in general, and google maps specifically brings revolution in one’s life, and I want to contribute my share to it. Be it sharing my experience using maps navigation to the nong nooch tropical botanical garden from Pattaya, or enjoying the evening at Global Village Dubai, its amazing how just a couple of liner review, and a picture or two can have a great impact on that business/place, and the people visiting that place.
I usually love to share information about different places of interest around the city or anywhere I go. For example, whenever I use navigation to reach a place, I make sure to comment whether the navigation was accurate or need some adjustments. That then helps google map provide more accurate directions to other people. And its always great to know that something I have provided on google, has helped other people.
I remember that when I became a local guide, and started uploaded photos and adding reviews, I one day got an email mentioning that my photo has been seen by some 100 or so people. I was very excited because I thought with just my 1-2 minutes that I took to take the picture, write a review and post it, has probably helped more people than I had imagined.
I also love the questions section of google contribution. I always try to answer as much of them about a place I visit as possible, and specially the accessibility information. Because I believe that the disable people do need us to help them decide where to go and where no based on where they can and where not. I so appreciate this emphasis on accessibility by google maps because I know quite some people with different disabilities, who have used google maps to avoid unnecessary problems which they would otherwise have not known about.
In short, it has been a great experience being the google local guide. I do travel quite a bit, both locally and internationally and I always try to add as much information to maps about the places I visit as possible. I with to continue so as traveling is one of my hobbies, and contribution to google just adds one more level of enthusiasm to that traveling.