Thinking about what Local Guides programme mean to me would be similar to asking myself what motivates me to consistently contribute, connect and collaborate. What is it that makes me feel it’s meaningful to take time to be part of this? The answer is simple, because Local Guides gave me a voice in this vast, information filled virtual world.
Before Local Guides, I was perhaps just one person who goes around to many places, experiencing many things but never really felt the need to record them down. It’s all in my mind. People would ask me for recommendations, of the places I’ve been especially on my travels overseas, and I probably scribbled some addresses and shop names in an email to them.
With Local Guides, I have free access to the tools to be more organized and to keep track of my progress, much like a diary of sorts. I am able to leave reviews, post photos, edit factual information and even track back my past reviews if I need to recall something about the place. I have platforms to arrange deeper engagement such as meet-ups and chats with fellow Local Guides to share ideas. I am able to leave feedback for the products, to improve the usability of the tools for all. And on top of all that, Google helps me to feed my voice to the whole world, to match my reviews to those who are looking for it, to share my info to those who need them the most.
And I felt the massive impact. I have friends telling me they seen my reviews through Googling, have people who follow me on Maps, and the stats I get every month on photo views, review likes etc, have proved that my voice is now louder and more impactful than ever. This gave me a true sense of achievement and I am proud of what I have contributed. And I hope to continue to grow and share. 
What does the Local Guides programme mean to you and what kind of impact have you felt? Leave your comments below!