Why Edits?
Just before January 1, 2024, I decided to set a year-long target for myself—something small yet consistent that I could do every day. I chose edits because they’re relatively easy to manage, especially if you’re familiar with the locality and local language.
In January, it felt like a breeze. Winter months often mean less movement, so I found it easy to sit down and make edits. I also noticed specific areas where there were numerous mistakes and ambiguities, especially in names. Over time, this habit turned into a daily routine of making 10 to 15 edits—not as a competition, but as a personal goal.
Why Just 14?
As I mentioned, this wasn’t a competition, just a goal I could reasonably stick to. I figured that dedicating 20–25 minutes daily wasn’t too challenging. If I made around 14 edits a day, that would add up to over 5,000 edits by the end of the year. I could have aimed higher—like 140—but that would’ve been unrealistic given my schedule.
Interestingly, there are people out there making almost 100 edits daily!
How Did I Maintain the Streak?
It wasn’t easy. Some months were smooth, and my contributions were consistent. But in others, like March, life got incredibly busy, and I couldn’t keep up as much.
Did I Actually Make 14 Edits Every Single Day?
Not exactly. For the first six months, I was consistent and would make edits every day or the following day. Later, I got busier and shifted my editing time to weekends or any day when I had more free time.
How Did I Stick to This Goal for So Long?
There were moments when I felt like giving up. Initially, my contributions—photos and reviews—received great responses. However, after February 2024, the views declined significantly, and I had to find a new source of motivation.
Tracking my progress on leaderboard across all categories gave me a reason to continue. It became a way to hold myself accountable.
How Easy Are Edits?
Edits are simple, but approvals can take time. New contributions tend to get approved faster, but some changes are almost always rejected. Regular editing teaches you what works and what doesn’t.
There’s a significant amount of bad data that needs correction, and anyone can contribute from home. If I find the time, I might write a separate post on how to navigate the process effectively.
When I started editing, I had about 550–600 edits. Now, I have approximately 6,500 edits, and the number continues to grow daily as I frequently make corrections whenever I find POIs that need improvement. The exact count is difficult to track because many edits are still pending approval, and some get rejected.
On some days, I spent as much as 4 hours on Google Maps, opening the app 70–80 times a day.
There were times when I made numerous edits, and the high approval rates motivated me to continue. However, the rejections could be quite frustrating.
I had dozens of funny screenshots from my journey, but unfortunately, I lost the folder.
Tips for Making Effective Edits
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Start simple:
Name corrections are easy and usually get approved quickly. Look out for POIs like “Home,” “My Home,” or “ABC’s Home” — these are often easy targets for correction. Watch for repetitive names, such as homes named after a surname, as these rarely add value to the map. -
Avoid high expectations for major POIs:
Edits on significant POIs are more strictly moderated, so don’t expect immediate approval. -
Don’t dwell on rejections:
If an edit gets rejected, move on. Spending extra time won’t improve the chances of acceptance. -
Be cautious with categories:
Edits involving categories have a ~50% rejection rate, so proceed carefully. -
Manage your expectations:
Out of 10 pending edits, expect around 30% to be accepted, with the rest likely to be rejected. -
Be patient:
Changes take time to reflect. Repeatedly correcting the same issue can harm your reputation, so avoid overdoing it. -
Enable notifications:
Notifications will keep you updated on approvals. Avoid swiping them away too quickly; instead, review the count at the end of the day for a more accurate tally. -
With the simplified approval system, it’s easier to track your count and approval rates. If you make lots of edits then you may notice some mismatch but I didn’t face any issue with it so there was never need to fill any form.
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Organize emails:
For every edit, you receive two emails. If you make a thousand edits, you’ll receive 2,000 emails. Use filters to organize and delete them in bulk when necessary.
Conclusion
This was a unique experience for me. I remember someone asking me in January if I had any specific goals for 2024. Back then, I didn’t mention this because I wasn’t sure I’d stick to it. But now, looking back, I did it!
While it’s not a massive achievement, managing this alongside a busy schedule feels significant to me.
What’s ahead now ?
No idea maybe a new or different mini project.
A gentle note: If you frequently check the profile, various sections, points, and approvals, it might indicate a tendency toward OCD or a habitual mannerism. This could drive you to make edits, even if their approval doesn’t matter. Ultimately, it’s up to you to maintain a balance. Make edits that are easy and like to get approved just don’t run after correcting a POI that you think you know best and still getting rejected 
