Editor’s Note: Questions for this installment of Ask a Googler are now closed. To read what Capella had to say, check out her featured story and all others in this series linked at the bottom of this post.
One of our favorite things about past events we’ve hosted is having 1:1 connections with Googlers and Local Guides like you. Since we’ve been unable to have those in-person conversations with you recently, we wanted to bring the spirit of our Googler office hours to a new series on Connect: Ask a Googler.
With this new series, we’re excited to offer Local Guides an exclusive behind-the-scenes peek at the Google Maps features you love. We’ll aim to bring you a different Googler each month who will be on hand to answer your questions. You can ask about Google Maps features or even questions like what each Googlers’ favorite type of information to contribute themselves on Maps.
Next week, we’ll be joined by Capella Yee, Product Manager on the Google Maps team. Some of you might remember her from her participation in our Guiding Stars ceremony. She will be on hand to discuss fresh features like:
Following: The feature allowing you to enable others to follow your profile on Google Maps
Google Maps profiles: Everything from best practices for your bio to the different profile features
Community feed: The new way for your community to discover your recommendations on Google Maps
If you could ask her anything about these topics, what would you ask? We know great minds think alike, so if a fellow Local Guide has already asked a question you had in mind, please tap the “like” (heart button) so we can see that there is more interest around that topic.
Unfortunately, we can’t accommodate every single question submitted, but please feel free to ask your questions in the comments and we will answer all that we can. It’s also possible that your question could be used in a future session, so don’t be shy.
Please note that questions for this installment of Ask a Googler have now been closed. If you’d like to read what Capella had to share, you can read this post and take a peek at all of the posts in our Ask a Googler series below.
This is really great initiative. Lots of helpful options for local guides. Asked about any problem, the solution can be found here. So far I have no questions to ask.
There will be followers and following. If a local guide meetup (event) is organized in the local district. It is a good idea to send an official Gmail to all the local guides in the area to join the meetup (event). Local people on map users will join as many meetups as possible then spam contributions to the map can be reduced.
I am Google Workspace (legacy) user, I have question for following feature for Google Workspace users. I can follow and be followed by everyone but I can’t see feeds which I followed in the For you tab. And why some features on Google Maps missing for Google Workspace users like Manage Your Preferences? I hope Google Workspace users get the same features as regular users.
Till now I don’t have any question regarding all above mentioned features, but I desperately waiting for the feature when we can write Comment on any Photo or Review on Google maps, or can send Direct Message to review author or the person who uploaded a photo. Maybe it will be helpful for the Local Guides who just started thier journey as a Local Guide and need guidance regarding good Contributions on Google Maps.
Thanks for creating this Ask a Googler series @TraciC It will be really good to have feedback from users and receive tips from Googlers to use the right way every feature.
Of couse I remember Capella!
Do followers number impact in the visibility of our contributions?
Some profiles can´t be followed, that´s the case of a friend. Is this feature still rolling out or are there some problems with his profile?
This is a great initiative, and I am sure the community will have a lot of questions. I am a lover of lists, and I like to see the recommendation I can find in some interesting list made by other Local Guides.
I personally like to make lists thinking that it can be helpful for others. I know for sure that one of my list is featured, because I have followers in there and I’ve received some personal feedback from Local Guides that I know about my list, however we do not receive any notification about a list being featured, or a list being followed. Receiving this feedback will motivate us to share more about our neighborhood, knowing that our work is appropriate and helpful
Thanks for the Ask a Google Series, I hope to follow with the Q&A and contribute as needed. I hope it brings about quicker feedback system enabling better know-how about new product/features.
Really great idea and initiative it will give the chance all of us to clear out our doubts and get answers of our questions quickly thanks a lot for sharing this information @TraciC
Una gran iniciativa @TraciC uno siempre tiene cuestionamientos sobre ciertos aspectos en el uso de Maps y será muy bueno poder consultarlos con las personas adecuadas.
Another great initiative @TraciC . I’d like to see the date that we started as a Local Guide added to our Google Maps profile, perhaps something along the lines shown below. Could this be implemented Capella? Fellow Local Guides, what do you think?
I also love to like to make lists and share. If the notifications for the featured list is facilitated it will be helpful to many Local Guides and they will be motivated to make a batter lists.
This is another amazing series @TraciC ! Thank you so much for sharing this Yes , I do remember Capella from the Guiding stars meet , that meet is one of the best things that happened in 2020 for me ! Although I do not have any questions, I have a small suggestion which may help improve the way we use Maps. It would be great if we can search for a keyword on Maps List and similar List prepared by any other LocalGuide appears. For eg : If I search for accessible restaurants near me , with the current design, I do not get recommendations of other LocalGuides who have similar Lists. Also my Lists are not visible to them until they are shared. It would be great if we get some notification for Lists too like how many featured or how many Lists were found useful , etc in a way similar to Photos or reviews. Thanks !
Thanks for this opportunity to open a discussion with the Googlers.
Great chance to ask…
My questions:
1. The pilot program of verified profiles as Unforgettable Days is going to stayed ? Wich is the purpose of this profiles?
2. One of the topics that always is discuss among the community of local guides in my country, is that if with this function to follow and being followed Google want to give an air of a social media to that part of Google Maps?
