As a fellow local guide I can share a few thoughts:
Google maps has over 2 billion monthly active users. And Maps receives more than 500 million contributions each year.
All Local Guides make contributions for free because we like to help Maps users, businesses and places.
In return we get an amazing, free, and constantly updated app.
I think there are so many willing volunteers that there is no need to incentivize users to make more or better contributions.
Today, the problem is almost the opersite: Huge efforts are allocated to rejecting edits and reviews that are fake. New incentives are likely to lead to more spam and fake contributions.
If you still feel Google should pay you, you can always decide to make fewer or no more contributions.
PS: From experience I know that it is highly unlikely that any Googlers will respond to you on this.
أحترم ردك الرائع أسلوب جميل واحترافي شكرا جزيلا لك اقدر هذا، أنت محق جدا فيما قلته انه لن يستجيب لي احد الموظفين لايبالوا او يهتموا، لكن اليس من الغريب ان هناك مقاطع تافهه وسخيفه جداً في اليوتيوب او مقطع مخل بالآداب والاخلاق ومع هذا يجنون الارباح والفوائد، كيف يريدوا منا ان نجتهد ونرتقي في خرائط قوقل وليس هناك اي تحفيز او تقدير معنوي ومالي ولو بجزء بسيط؟ مثلا في منطقتي في مدينتي التي اعيش فيها هناك مناطق رائعه واثريه ولكن من الصعب الوصول إليها بسبب عدم توفر المال والمواصلات للوصول اليها.
شكرا جزيلا لك
Just to let you know that I’m merging your post into the Question about rewards thread. I’ll not add anymore seeing you have received necessary replies already.
رسالة إلى فريق خرائط Google / منتدى المرشدين المحليين
الموضوع: إحباط متزايد من مرشد محلي متفاني (المستوى 9) بشأن سياسة المكافآت غير العادلة
إلى فريق دعم خرائط Google وجميع المعنيين في برنامج المرشدين المحليين،
أكتب إليكم اليوم بصفتي مرشدًا محليًا ملتزمًا وصلت إلى المستوى التاسع، وهو إنجاز يتطلب سنوات من الجهد المتواصل، التفاني، والتضحية الشخصية. لطالما آمنت برؤية خرائط Google في مساعدة الناس حول العالم، وكرست وقتي وطاقتي وحتى أموالي الخاصة لتقديم مساهمات عالية الجودة ودقيقة.
لقد قمت بزيارة عدد لا يحصى من الأماكن والمواقع، غالبًا سيرًا على الأقدام أو باستخدام وسائل النقل العام، مما كلفني الوقت والجهد وحتى أجرة المواصلات. كل هذا كان بهدف وحيد: تحسين خرائط Google وجعلها أكثر فائدة لملايين المستخدمين حول العالم. لقد قدمت مراجعات مفصلة، التقطت صورًا عالية الجودة، أجبت على أسئلة لا حصر لها، وأضفت تفاصيل قيمة، كل ذلك بمحض إرادتي وبشغف حقيقي.
ولكن، وعلى الرغم من كل هذا الالتزام والمساهمة الفعالة التي تضيف قيمة تجارية هائلة لمنتجكم، فإنني أشعر بخيبة أمل وإحباط عميقين بسبب الغياب التام للمكافآت المادية أو أي تقدير حقيقي يعادل حجم الجهد المبذول.
من الصعب تقبل فكرة أن منصات أخرى، مثل يوتيوب، توفر لمنتجي المحتوى (حتى أولئك الذين يقدمون محتوى بسيطًا أو تافهًا) فرصًا حقيقية لتحقيق الأرباح من خلال مساهماتهم. بينما نحن، المرشدون المحليون، الذين نبذل جهدًا ملموسًا في تحسين بيانات حيوية يعتمد عليها العالم، لا نتلقى سوى نقاطًا ومستويات وشارات لا يمكنها أن تعوض التكاليف المادية أو الجهد البدني المبذول.
إن حجة الحفاظ على “الحيادية” أو “الطابع التطوعي” للبرنامج لم تعد مقنعة بالنظر إلى القيمة الهائلة التي نقدمها لـ Google. فما هي الفائدة من الوصول إلى مستويات متقدمة تطلب سنوات من العمل، إذا لم يكن هناك أي تقدير ملموس يعكس هذه القيمة؟
أناشدكم بجدية إعادة النظر في سياسة المكافآت لبرنامج المرشدين المحليين. إن التقدير الحقيقي، الذي قد يشمل حوافز مالية أو مزايا ملموسة وذات قيمة، لن يؤدي فقط إلى تشجيع المساهمين الحاليين على الاستمرار، بل سيجذب أيضًا المزيد من الأشخاص للمساهمة بجودة عالية.
أنتظر منكم مراجعة جادة لهذه النقطة، والنظر في كيفية تقدير جهودنا بشكل أكثر عدلاً وإنصافًا.
مع خالص التقدير (والإحباط)،
مرشد محلي - المستوى 9
@Phothichavala1982 There’s no prizes/rewards for reaching certain level or points. There were pins given out in the past, but it’s mostly random and considered promotional gimmicks.
Have a look at the article below for further explanations on how rewards works
How do other Google Local Guides feel about the rewards and recognition system at present?
It seems people have little reason to contribute consistently because there’s no real reward system:
There’s a complete lack of tangible rewards, it’s disappointing that Google Local Guides doesn’t offer substantial rewards like shopping gift cards, free apps, or subscriptions, similar to what Microsoft provides for participation - Google is $$$Billion company, so it’s not beyond their means to support the quality and diversity of user content.
There’s a disproportionate point requirement, for example between Level 8 and Level 9: the significant jump in points needed to go from Level 8 to Level 9 (2.5 times the previous level, which for most will take a decade or more to level up), getting to Level 10 would be completely impossible without some hacker or job at Google i suspect, and it means it’s an unrealistic goal for anyone other than a full-time professional reviewer - a little nuanced refinements can fix that quite easily.
It’s not perfect, but to me, Local Guides are more than points and rewards.
Already a lot of users for points and rewards are ready to add useless reviews or reviews “written” with the help of AI, selfies, repeated photos, or photos downloaded from the Internet and published as their own.
I don’t know about you, but the more I use Google Maps the bigger the trash I see, and I don’t know if all the AI can clean it up. That’s why I’m not in favor of introducing additional real-world gratification for our contribution to the Local Guide Community.
Just be an active local guide and the points will add themselves. I don’t consider myself a role model, and it didn’t even take me six months to get from level 8 to level 9, and I actually didn’t notice when it happened.
How do other Google Local Guides feel about the rewards and recognition system at present?
It seems people have little reason to contribute consistently because there’s no real reward system:
There’s a complete lack of tangible rewards, it’s disappointing that Google Local Guides doesn’t offer substantial rewards like shopping gift cards, free apps, or subscriptions, similar to what Microsoft provides for participation - Google is $$$Billion company, so it’s not beyond their means to support the quality and diversity of user content.
There’s a disproportionate point requirement, for example between Level 8 and Level 9: the significant jump in points needed to go from Level 8 to Level 9 (2.5 times the previous level, which for most will take a decade or more to level up), getting to Level 10 would be completely impossible without some hacker or job at Google i suspect, and it means it’s an unrealistic goal for anyone other than a full-time professional reviewer - a little nuanced refinements can fix that quite easily.
Merging every post that mentions the broken rewards system with all the questions or help in a never ending thread with already 4800 posts that no one will ever read. Clearly this is a deliberate strategy to extinguish open discourse about the Local Guides program.
Thank you for your constructive response. Unfortunately now the mods have merged this with the FAQ thread at the bottom of 4800 other posts, so there’s zero chance for real debate.
I don’t agree that real rewards will colour the quality or integrity of reviews, but will encourage more real reviews - at present businesses pay a small fee for a few hundred positive reviews from mechanical turk our similar sites, and Google like Amazon and other sites have no system to prevent it. Genuine rewards will foster genuine reviews, to combat the fake ones that spoil it for all users.
Subject: Inquiry Regarding Local Guide Level 8 Perks - Maryam Hameed
Dear Google Local Guides Support Team,
My name is Maryam Hameed, and I am a dedicated Google Local Guide. My profile shows I have reached Level 8, with 15,533 points and 2,699 contributions. I truly enjoy contributing to Google Maps by sharing reviews, photos, and helping others discover new places.
I understand that Google occasionally offers perks and gifts to Local Guides as they reach higher levels. I have been eagerly looking forward to any potential recognition or gifts associated with reaching Level 8.
Could you please provide some information on what benefits or gifts, if any, are currently available for Local Guides at my level? I would be grateful for any clarification regarding the Local Guides rewards program.
Thank you for your time and for the opportunity to contribute to Google Maps.
Sincerely,
Maryam Hameed
[hamidmaryam974@gmail.com]
[https://maps.app.goo.gl/moc49gaB1PF69dZY9?g_st=ac]
There is no fixed criteria for receiving and Google maps gift
It’s completely randomised
The chances of getting gifts increases when you have higher level doesn’t mean that you will definitely receive it
There are many people on connect who post this type of post and I have never seen a positive response from Google
So it’s better to not hope on the result and keep contributing
I am also 8th level guide with around 45k points and not me only there are many other people who have higher points and made wonderful contribution have not recieved any gift
Hope you understand it and got the answer @queen12
getting a gift is certainly fun. but what I know, because the Google Local Guides program is voluntary, so as much as possible we do not expect to get a gift. Although sometimes there is a gift distribution, it cannot be expected for certainty when it will be distributed and to what level, or for those who live where. keep living as Local Guides with enjoyment, get or not get a gift. Welcome to this community @queen12
Please remove your e-mail address to protect your privacy.
There’s no prizes/rewards for reaching certain level or points. There were pins given out in the past, but it’s mostly random and considered promotional gimmicks.
Have a look at this article linked below for further explanations on how rewards work:
