Local Guide Perks?

I am a Level 5 Local Guide and continue to earn points. But I have been lead to believe that as new levels are reached, some sort of “perks” can be gained. But have received or heard nothing. Google support didn’t know either. How does this work? Thanks

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Hello @mjraw0

You will get answers to your query in this link

1. https://www.localguidesconnect.com/t5/General-Discussion/Questions-about-Local-Guides-perks/m-p/1945332#M568799

and further links embedded in that answer.

  1. https://www.localguidesconnect.com/t5/Help-Desk/Question-about-a-Local-Guides-perk-email-Read-this-first/ba-p/1247628

3 https://maps.google.com/localguides/home/settings

Wish you accomplishment in receiving the perks.

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Hi @mjraw0 ,

It is true that once you have reached a certain Local Guides Level that you may be offered (from time to time) a certain so-called Perk. These tokens of appreciation are by no means a given right. You need to make sure that your email settings are correct so that Google may send you emails with these Perk offers. Read more, at how to get organized for receiving perks here.

Sometimes there are regional perks and sometimes there are global perks. An example of a regional perk would be cinema tickets with a certain cinema brand, partnering with Google. An example of a global perk would be an extended trial period for Google One Drive (storage). You find many more examples in an no longer updated (old) list by @StephenAbraham here.

The only guaranteed rewards we get as Local Guides for our efforts are points. But they have no value other than indicating how much you have contributed to Google Maps (quantity measure). So, it makes sense that we get more points, for example, for a more detailed review.

Being a Local Guide is seen as community work that you do on a voluntary basis. There are lots of reasons why people contribute to Google Maps as a Local Guide. Some have special interests like helping other families with young children to find child-friendly places. Or there are lots of Local Guides that make the world a more accessible place for people with certain disabilities by adding specific information to Google Maps if a place is for example, wheel-chair friendly. Personally, I use Google Maps all the time to make informed decisions. Thanks to Google Maps, I frequently have 4 to 5-star experiences. To do so, I rely on the ratings and reviews by other people and I find it fair that I should add my share of information in return.

One of the most frequently mentioned benefits of contributing to Google Maps is that you are helping people and that gives a good feeling and is beneficial for your health. It is meaningful. Not only do you help people navigate the world, you help the economy of your local community and the businesses you like in particular.

Some people may answer your question by listing the perks we may get. But this is not something we earn! Google (sometimes randomly) offers tokens of appreciation for the work we do. These tokens of appreciation and their value are most often in no way justifiable to put in the energy that it takes to be a good Local Guides. This is totally fine because we, Local Guides, are not in it for money or gifts. If you have other expectations, you are wasting your time in my opinion.

Happy mapping and warm regards from Tenerife,

JeroenM

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OK, thanks, I had misunderstood aspects of this program. mjraw0

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Thanks for helping out @C_T and @JeroenM with great answers. I’ve marked Jeroen’s answer as the solution as it is the most complete and friendly.

Paul

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I just receive an email from Local Guide. I got a pair of cute socks for having level 6,

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What are the benefits do I get when reaching level 6 on local guide

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In my opinion, Google Local Guide is a voluntary program where the local guide will have the opportunity to promote their local community culture, their food specialties, wonderful attractions from their local community. Google do giveaway few perks to their local guides from time to time.

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Further to what @fasi6083 said, you qualify to apply for the annual Connect LIVE event.

~Greetings from New Delhi

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Hello @sos10e ,

Welcome to Connect!

The Local Guides program is constantly evolving and perks may be offered from time to time. To maximize your chances of being eligible for a future perk opportunity, continue to add high quality contributions to Google Maps.

Please also be sure that your email preferences have perks emails enabled by visiting your Local Guides settings.

The How-tos section of Connect is the board where you can share your questions related to the Local Guides program or your Google Maps contributions. To keep Connect more organized, I will move your post there. I will also merge it to an ongoing thread.

For more information about the different topics here on Connect, please have a look at What are Connect topics?.

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Regarding the perks, people are led to believe that they will receive something extra in return. This is above and beyond points and virtual badges but also early access to Google products and rewards from partners. Here is an example of somewhere this is mentioned.

https://support.google.com/local-guides/answer/6281793

It’s not unreasonable for people to query where these perks are that they’ve been led to believe they will get. There are many people that query this and some even complain about it a little bit, which again does seem fair enough. Some people put a lot of effort in to climbing the ranks.

Although I enjoy being a Local Guide I have had very little in the way of extra rewards. Yes, I am signed up to email alerts too. I’ve never had early access to a Google product.

Good discounts off Google products could be a nice perk Google could easily offer. A 15%-20% discount off the latest Pixel phone is a great example of what could be a good reward. Even an entry in to a prize draw to win one of 10 that are on offer and promotion of the winners to show that people do indeed get rewards. A Pixel phone seems like an especially good suggestion with the good quality camera that this offers and the tie in with Google Local Guides submitting their photos to Google Maps.

I also think it should be relatively straight forward to find more partners who would like to offer perks simply because it sends extra business their way. There are many companies doing this in various loyalty schemes and general company rewards offerings and this could be similar.

I haven’t get it but am level 6

SIR I AM A LOCAL GUIDE AND I AM AT LEVEL 6 I STILL NOT RECEIVED ANY PERK OR ANY APPRECIATION . PLEASE I HAVE SPENT SO MUCH RIME PLEASE SEE MY WORK THANK YOU

I am on Level 7 on local guide.

And I missed all perks to redeem.

Any other option I can receive any of them?

Dear Sir,

I am on level six but still have not got any perks from local guide perks… what is the reason behind it why I have not got any gifts from Google map…

Please answer…

Ambuj Shrivastava

Hi @Am19 ,

From time to time we offer Local Guides in particular regions some material reward as a token of appreciation for contributing great content but keep in mind that there is no automatic correlation between levels and rewards, since the program is completely voluntary, as you can read in the Terms and Conditions.

You can also read more about the topic in the following articles:

Question about a Local Guides reward email? Read this first

Why be a Local Guide?

Hi @amirlatha , @Techhacker and @AkashSurve ,

Hi @Am19 ,

As you can read in the Terms and Conditions, the program is completely voluntary. There is no automatic correlation between levels and rewards, but from time to time we offer Local Guides in particular regions some material reward as a token of appreciation for contributing great content and helping others.

You can also read more about the topic in the following articles:

Question about a Local Guides reward email? Read this first

Why be a Local Guide?

Sir , Why I can’t be appreciated :joy: :joy:

Even I’m level 6 but i didn’t got anything how should I apply for it?

I am at level 5 . when will google send me email regarding local guide perks . i did’nt get any email.