Local Guide Program Rules

Google Maps tips & tricks
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Dear Community,

We just received this email that " under the Local Guides program rules, you may not participate as a business. We request that you change your business name. Please, change it within a week."

I have changed the name to a “person name” but my question is as a Google Street View Trusted Agency , how we should market our self as a an agency ,yet remain compliant with the Local Guides program rules?

We have already added our branding to the nadir of our 360 images.

Any Idea?

Thank you

3 Likes
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Thank you for reaching out @user_not_found ,

As it was mentioned in the email, under the Local Guides program rules, you are not allowed to use your business name as a profile name. However, as a Trusted photographer you can ask support on the Street View Discussion which is the proper channel for this kind of request.

By the way, I relabeled your post to How-tos, as it fits better there.

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I’d like to get clarification on the Local Guide Rule: “Organizations, brands, and businesses are not eligible for the Program”. Does the use of a “business email address” constitute ineligibility for the Local Guides program, if the user’s name used on Local Guides Connect is his/her real (personal, legal, etc.) name, but their email address happens to be a ‘business email’? For further clarity in this question, please assume that the user never references (or ever has need to reference) their business name contained in their email address?

Would a Local Guide attending a college/university and using an assigned .edu email address be considered using an organizational or business email address?

Thank you.

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Hi @MapWrangler ,

If your concerns are solely related to the Street View program, you can have a look at How to be a Street View trusted photographer while also being a Local Guide, for more information.

In general, it is not recommended to participate with an email address related to your work. Changing your job might mean risking lose your contributions. As you most probably know, it is not possible to transfer your contributions to a new account in bulk, or at all.

Your email address is not something visible to the general public, but your username is, and it can be used as a way to promote your agency/brand/business. We want all local guides to participate in the program as unbiased individuals.

Please don’t forget to tag us with the @ sign every time you want someone to see you respond.