While I left the Google Guide a while ago out of frustration in lack of recognition I am back again and even achieved level 7 in the meanwhile.I see my contributions at the moment as a way of “giving back” and exposing myself for networking purposes. Of course I still like to help to improve and help businesses without thinking to get “anything back”. However - we all as Google Guides sacrifice a lot of time and effort and I am still disappointed about the lack of communication about possible PERKS especially if you reach higher levels. What are the current perks for 2023 according to your Google Guide Level? I seem not to find anything. Thanks everyone and let’s see where the new year will take us!
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Hello @Semmy-de-Nada
Welcome back to Connect after a very long time.
As you can read in Question about a Local Guides reward email? Read this first
"Rewards are offered to Local Guides from time to time as a thank you for contributing great content on Google Maps. You may receive a reward because you’ve consistently shared high-quality contributions, reached a certain level, or often review a category related to a reward. Rewards may be offered to Local Guides in particular regions. To see where you are signed up for Local Guides, please visit your Local Guides settings"
There are more information in the mentioned article, and, to respond to your question, for sure there is not an automatic correspondence between levels and perks.
There are a lot of acknowledgement in being a Local Guide, but not automatically related to reaching a level.
It surprises me a lot the fact that contributes for you is a “sacrifice”. Personally I would never contribute if it has to be a sacrifice. I mean, I don’t travel, or visit restaurants and shopping places just to add photos or reviews in Google Maps.
But for sure I will take photo and I write review about the places that visit.
I personally find extremely useful the possibility to choose where to go by reading the reviews and watching the photos left by other local guides like me, and for me Google Maps itself is a good perk, free for everyone
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Maybe “sacrifice” is too strong of a word. But many Google guides contribute their time and efforts - and I see more little than some fuzzy warm thank-you-words from Google. We are out in the field and use our own valued time. Most people might not value their own time. That is why I chose the word “sacrifice” in the context of OFFERING SOMETHING that is of MUCH value and giving up some of your time.
After all, taking images and writing MEANINGFUL content as opposed to people who click on 4 stars without giving any context - all that takes additional time. That mindset that “it is all free” is exactly what I encountered in the last years when offering businesses to help fix entries or get on Google Maps correctly - most of them consider this is all free stuff. What it leads to is that Google generates advertising revenue from many of those places listed on Google Maps.
I love adding content - after all, I am a crime novel writer - but the lack of MEANINGFUL perks from Google is more than disappointing. I have not received anything of real value. Giving me an additional month of Google Music trial subscription back in the day felt like an insult to me. I mean not even a Google mug or something useful that would give sort of a proud connection to contribute to something meaningful.
I keep doing it even without getting anything out of it because in the end people see my name and might Google me and find the other work that I am doing. And mind you, I have had a paid professional service with Google Workspace for years now, so I am not a freeloader. And again I agree, that by writing good reviews we live in the hope that we also benefit when we visit some areas that we do not know - and I agree that I had a lot of amazing places that I did find after searching for example for “gluten-free restaurants nearby” while in new territory.
To wrap it up: I am moving steadily from Level 7 to 8 and I am clueless about what possible perks are there. There is simply no information about me being located in Spain. I have not received any emails lately - maybe I have to resubscribe to something. Google could at least post something here at Local Guides Connect to give some orientation.
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Hi @Semmy-de-Nada the only reward for adding quality content to Maps is to your own local community. You may occasionally get picked out for a little thank you gift from time to time. These are tokens and have no cash value. This isn’t a job. If you like helping your community then keep doing it. If you don’t, and are only in this for personal reward you’ll be disappointed.
Paul
@Semmy-de-Nada yep! I stopped contributing photos since the 15gb photo limit was introduced. Why use up space taking many pictures for the sake of community if I have to pay for the space. It just seems too greedy of Google not offering more space to contributers.
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