My Least Favorite Thing On Maps

[Mikeinthefalls]

Greetings my fellow Local Guides

This morning I’m not here to pen a fun and lighthearted post, nor am I here to share my travel photos.

This morning, I’m here to complain.

I’ll start with a positive - One of my favorite things to do is find places that aren’t already on Google Maps and add them. In fact, I just recently penned a post about that exact topic! (Check it out here)

Now, to my Least Favorite Thing - Google placing a thumbnail of their Street View in the Featured position within 3-5 days.

I take the time to take multiple photos, multiple angles and framing. I review and choose the best one, the one that Maps users will see and say “I’d like to go there!”

I go through the time to create a listing and anticipation as to whether it will be approved?

The excitement when you receive a notification of approval, then the pride from seeing your newly created POI and the photo that you chose to represent it!

Only to return four days later and see it’s hardly being seen, because there’s a generic thumbnail from Street View. One that could be brand new, but most often it’s from 5 months, or 3 years or even 7 years ago. Most times the POI I’ve created is barely visible.

I’ve added many attractions to Maps that I’ve removed the photo, afterwards. Why? Because they weren’t being seen. If a user pulls up a mural listing and the first thing they see is Street View, then notice the mural isn’t even in the Street View, why would they bother trying to find it? But when a bright, well framed, colorful photo - that was taken SOLELY for this place of interest - is the primary and Featured photo, people will want to go and find that place.

So, that’s my gripe. I know there’s no solution, so I’ll just continue to add places and delete my photo after Google Street View takes over. It really does take the fun and excitement away from the process, though.

@TerryPG @JustJake @Rednewt74 Have you noticed this to be the case with your Adds? Or, is it just me? ‍

[Rednewt74]

@Mikeinthefalls ,

That really does suck and take the joy of out of adding a new place. I do remember your previous article on this, and thinking how many times have I may have missed something like this. I think I may have tried to do it once or twice without success, but your article reminded me I should keep on the lookout for new opportunitiesSo, for me, the answer is no only because I haven’t really added any that I can think of. I highly doubt with your esteemed history that Google would do it just to you. Have you tried waiting a bit and then re-uploading your photos? Seems to me they would go back to the top. And I hate to say it but maybe next time you should shoot a little video and see if that will stick up at the top. Sorry that they are frustrating you, but I know you’ll keep up the good work.

Take care.

[Mikeinthefalls]

@Rednewt74 the spots are out there, just waiting to be found and shared! I was actually a bit surprised (yet, again) that The Vietnam Veterans Memorial was not a POI on Google Maps. At the end of the day, I’m always glad to add interesting places to Maps. I just wish they’d see that a photo is the best option for the Featured spot, even if it were another Local Guide’s photo.

I have had more “success” with videos lately, though I’ve also taken a bit of time to attempt to figure out what the AI prefers, as well. You mentioned a thumbnail and you were spot on. That has proven to make a difference from the videos I’d shared in the past two years. I think that just for the hell of it, I’m going to take a video, photo sphere and 4 different angles of every POI that I add in the future.

[Rednewt74]

@Mikeinthefalls

Sounds like over kill.

I’m glad you are having more success with the videos.

[MelTG]

@Mikeinthefalls I know exactly how this feels. And I’m with you…it makes absolutely zero sense. And it seems to only happen on newly added POI’s bc you never see a street photo as the feature for an established maps listing. Seems like a glitch in the AI

[Rednewt74]

@MelTG & @Mikeinthefalls ,

I have found a few poi that had no photos except for the street view. It is unusual, and I really don’t understand why it is basically stealing your edit and bumping your nice photos for one that you is often useless.

Rage against the Machine?,

[JustJake]

@Mikeinthefalls That’s nuts to have Street View take over on a brand new POI! I’ve never had that happen.

A few times I’ve gotten the Feature on some high flying POIs (Drug Store, Fast Food restaurant, Hardware Store) and watched my views skyrocket for a few days before losing my spot to some grainy 4-year-old photo. Not even a new photo! Just some forgotten picture buried among the 1000s that Googs decided was ready to shine.

But I can take those views to the bank. There will be 100 more pictures posted before I even notice that I’ve lost the top 5 or 10. However, adding a location and getting the add based on your photographic proof just to rip the joy right out of your hands and hand it to Street View. That’s cold. I think sometimes the AI just needs to remind us who’s boss ( @MelTG ) .

[TerryPG]

Hi all and @Mikeinthefalls I agree with you on so many fronts here. I like the Vet memorial thing you do, I have have a passion to include all our Remembrance day Canadian Memorials we have, so many small towns have them, people know about them, but not they not always mapped. It frustrates me because I get them published and someone comes along and says its closed. I’m working on it. (thanks for letting me vent)

I don’t really ever see a google street view becoming the featured photo here, but ( here i go again) so many owners are taking ownership of their sites. Then they post their favorite photo ( normally crap) and you lose your featured photo. Had quite a few lately, One, Google determined was worthy of featured photo, 2 days late it’s replaced by an owners interior photo, 2 days later Google deems my photo to be worthy, you guessed it 2 days later it’s replaced by the same owners photo.

Or (here I go again) brand new POI’s hire the cheapest search engine specialist they can, and the company post their Fake 10 perfect reviews immediately, I get tired of reporting them, and of course their photo becomes the featured photo

I know of more, One British themed store deletes all photos and only has is own “perfect” photos showing. Not sure if he owns more than one store or has convinced 2 other British themed store to do the same. I removed my reviews from all.

I will continue to strive for Featured photos and now am actually enjoying taking videos and thanks for this, going for a drink now.

[Mikeinthefalls]

Success being relative to my previous results of my previous attempts, yes. Still much to be improved upon @Rednewt74 but I’m lacking the fire that you and @TerryPG have found for them. They take time to build up views (if they ever increase) so the process lacks the instant gratification of posting a photo and coming back to see 87 views in a minute

[Mikeinthefalls]

It’s a bit deflating, huh @MelTG ?

You’re correct as far as I’m aware, it’s always me newly created POIs that it happens with. I feel like most places on Maps, Street View is actually one of the last photos available to view? Which is one of the reasons this “phenomenon” baffles me so much! Lol ‍

[Mikeinthefalls]

Yes, @JustJake , the dreaded “hey let’s bump a 4 y.o. photo taken on a Palm Pilot!” Those always make me laugh, as much as they irritate me You nailed the description, as that’s the exact process… yours will overtake it again. Then you hold onto to the glimmer of hope that it stays there, but you know it’s probably going to fall into obscurity.

The AI is quite the thief of joy, when it chooses to be! I’m determined to figure out a way to get my feature back, on the POIs I add… I’ll keep ya posted

[Mikeinthefalls]

@TerryPG it’s interesting you mention someone marking your Adds as “Closed” - I’ve noticed that happen to a few of mine, as well. That’s equally as annoying! One I noticed recently was the Lexus Signature Lounge located in Rocket Mortgage Fieldhouse. It’s one of the photos that I keep, even though it doesn’t get many views. It’s also one of the few places I’ve added that Street View didn’t bump me!

Anyways, it was marked as “Temporarily Closed” and I knew that was not true. So, I marked it as “Open” and posted a new photo. But, to hear that yours are being marked as “Closed”, also… something seems amiss. It’s like someone could be marking places that way to get points? Hmmm

This post is all about venting - let it all go, brother! We’ve earned the right to complain about the things that just don’t make sense to us.

[TerryPG]

Hi @Mikeinthefalls I find its little worrisome and disconcerting that Street views are becoming Featured photos. again i have not seen it here yet.

Is Google replacing us? It would be easier for them to control.

Say it ain’t so Google.

[JustJake]

Maybe try taking the picture as a selfie, @Mikeinthefalls . There seems to be no way of ever getting rid of those shots. That could be the key!

[Mikeinthefalls]

@TerryPG thankfully, I’ve only seen them become Featured on POIs that I’ve just added. While incredibly annoying, at least it’s not more widespread.

They’d be quite foolish to attempt to replace the amazing quality of work they receive from truly dedicated volunteers, so I think we’re safe.