I am looking to eventually transition from my job to possibly becoming a photographer full time.
Would leveraging my local guide status to influence businesses to purchase photographs of their stores violate terms of service of Google maps?
I am not looking to get rich, it is just something I have thought about as I approach my retirement years. As an example, I could offer to post pics on Maps on behalf of the business owner for a small fee. Since I have a large number of photos and views it would benefit us both.
Welcome to LG Connect and congratulations on your first post here.
What you have mentioned is a decent proposition, in that I appreciate the way you put it across in a straightforward manner seeking to know the rules and their violations if any.
I would suggest waiting for either @ErmesT or @MortenCopenhagen to chime in for they are the most knowledgeable people out here in these matters.
They will give you the right direction in what you seek.
There is nothing wrong with creating a small or big business offering to help companies to look their very best on Google Maps. But such a business should not be mixed with you being a local guide. Don’t use the same account.
This can be done in one of two ways.
Eighter you create a new Google account for your business work. And you can then continue being an independent local guide using your original account.
Or, you can leave the Local Guides program with your current account and then use the original account as your business account.
Which solution is best for you depend on your needs. Any Google account can be used to add photos on Google Maps. You don’t need to be a local guide to make contributions on Maps. You may want to choose a profile name that sounds business-like. Doing so is not okay while being signed up for the local guides program.
According to the Local Guides Program Terms and Conditions Organizations, brands, and businesses are not eligible for the Program. So we should never mix commercial interests with those of being an independent/volunteer Local Guide.
I have shared some tips on how best to leave the Local Guides Program here. It will help you understand the consequences and select which leaving method is best for you.
I hope this is helpful. Don’t hesitate to ask more questions.
I took a quick look at photos on Google Maps. May I suggest that you use landscape and not portrait orientation when shooting for Google Maps?
You may also want to listen to a brand new podcast episode on getting more views from my friend @JanVanHaver . You find it here: https://letsguidepodcast.com/ Episode 40.
The answer by @MortenCopenhagen is correct, however i would like to mention one more sentence from the already mentioned Local Guides Program Terms and Conditions : “If you offer services for hire (such as marketing yourself as a Street View trusted provider), you are not allowed to bundle such services with your Local Guide membership.” In fact this is exactly what you are doing as you are clearly writing it your Local Guide profile, where you say “I sell some photos for a side business at (your website)”.
There is nothing wrong with being a professional photographer, but you should remember that:
If a business buy your photos, the photos should be uploaded by the business itself, and appears in Maps as “photo by owner”
You are not allowed to bundle such service with your Local Guide membership
In addition, I would like to remind you about two other indications:
From the Community policy : Take photos that clearly and accurately represent a location
From Tips for contributing high quality reviews & photos : “Make sure the photo doesn’t have superimposed text on it and isn’t overly edited”. Of course it is ok to add a watermark in the photo, but the limits are defined by Photos and videos criteria “Superimposed text or graphics: For traditional digital photos and videos, superimposed content cannot take up more than 10% of the image or video, and must be limited to a single edge”. In the same article, at the very beginning, you can read also: To be relevant, photos or videos must be taken by users at the location in question. If the primary subject of the content is irrelevant to the location (including selfie photos where the person/group is the main focus), it may be removed… I am referring to a photo with leaves and snow uploaded on a Dental Clinic. That photo could have been taken anywhere, does not represent the clinic (although it may have been taken in their garden) and contains text that takes up around 30% of the image