Halo teman-teman Local Guides! 
Terima kasih sudah hadir di meetup ini. Senang sekali bisa berdiskusi langsung mengenai Local Guides Connect bersama Connect Moderator @NunungAfuah.
To make this recap accessible to our global Local Guides community, I’ll share the main story in English below.
On July 12, right after the Connect through Stories #07: Lacak Bedak & Jajan Mbois Malang meetup at Pasar Oro-Oro Dowo, we continued the celebration of 10 Years of Local Guides Connect by @ErmesT with a more intimate discussion session at UMAYUMCHA Malang.
Unlike a regular meetup, this gathering focused on something many Local Guides have been curious about:
What is it really like to be a Connect Moderator?
We were honored to welcome Connect Moderator @NunungAfuah, who generously shared her journey, experiences, and insights gathered over years of contributing to the Local Guides community.
Meet-up at a Glance
- Date: July 12, 2026
- Location: UMAYUMCHA Malang
- Guest Speaker: Connect Moderator @NunungAfuah
- Host: @JeffryRisandy
- Participants: Local Guides from Malang, Surabaya, Sidoarjo, Mojokerto, and Jakarta
The discussion was relaxed and interactive, allowing everyone to ask questions freely while enjoying lunch together.
How One Story Can Reach the World
One of the first stories shared was how writing in English opened opportunities to reach a much wider audience.
Instead of only sharing experiences with fellow Indonesians, writing in English helped Connect posts become accessible to Local Guides from many countries and even earned featured recognition on Connect.
It was a good reminder that every Local Guide has a chance to inspire people globally through their stories.
What Makes a Great Connect Moderator?
Many participants were curious about how Connect Moderators are selected.
Rather than focusing on levels or achievements, we learned that qualities such as being:
- welcoming,
- helpful,
- respectful,
- and consistently engaging with others
are among the characteristics that truly strengthen a community.
Being active is important, but building genuine connections with fellow Local Guides is equally valuable.
Writing Better Stories on Connect
Another interesting discussion centered on creating meaningful Connect posts.
Some practical tips included:
- include clear Google Maps links;
- use relevant categories and tags;
- provide enough context about the place or experience;
- let every story have a purpose instead of simply describing a location.
Consistency also matters.
Rather than trying to publish many posts at once, developing a realistic writing habit can make contributing much more enjoyable over time.
Building a Unique Local Guides Journey
An inspiring takeaway was the importance of finding your own niche.
Instead of trying to do everything, Local Guides can develop expertise in areas they genuinely enjoy, such as:
- Accessibility
- Supporting local businesses
- Food discoveries
- Photography
- Organizing meetups
- Editing map information
A consistent contribution style helps create a stronger personal identity within the community.
Hosting Meaningful Meetups
The conversation also explored what makes a meetup memorable.
A successful meetup is not measured only by attendance, but by whether participants leave with:
- new knowledge,
- meaningful conversations,
- practical experiences,
- and inspiration to organize activities in their own communities.
Quality is always more valuable than quantity.
Local Guides and Small Businesses
One important discussion highlighted the relationship between Local Guides and local businesses.
Our role is not to act as influencers or advertisers.
Instead, Local Guides help businesses by providing:
- honest reviews,
- quality photos,
- helpful information,
- and accurate map data
so future visitors can make informed decisions.
That spirit of volunteering continues to be one of the strongest values of the Local Guides program.
Memorable moments as a Connect Moderator
One of the most inspiring parts of the session was hearing Nunu share some of her personal experiences after serving as a Connect Moderator for more than six years.
She told us that beyond helping members on Connect, moderators also have opportunities to join exclusive discussions with Google, provide feedback before certain community initiatives are launched, and represent the Local Guides community in global events.
At the same time, she emphasized that this role comes with a great responsibility. Every moderator signs a Non-Disclosure Agreement (NDA), meaning confidential information must remain private until Google officially announces it.
Hearing these stories helped participants better understand that being a Connect Moderator is not only about recognition, but also about trust, responsibility, and serving the community.
Interactive Q&A Session
The meetup ended with an engaging Q&A session where participants discussed topics such as:
- editing existing Google Maps reviews,
- organizing future meetups,
- writing quality Connect posts,
- supporting local communities,
- and balancing consistency with everyday life.
Everyone had the opportunity to exchange ideas, making the session feel more like a friendly community conversation than a formal seminar.
My Biggest Takeaway
Before this meetup, I thought a Connect Moderator’s role was mainly about moderating posts and keeping the forum organized. After listening to @NunungAfuah’s journey, I realized it’s much more than that. Being a Connect Moderator means building connections, supporting fellow Local Guides, representing the community, and creating a welcoming space where everyone feels encouraged to participate.
Thank You!
A huge thank you to our wonderful guest speaker, @NunungAfuah, for generously sharing her experiences, valuable insights, and inspiring stories as a Connect Moderator.
Special thanks to @RifanKN for helping coordinate with UMAYUMCHA Malang and assisting with the meeting room arrangements, making this meetup run smoothly.
As the host, I’d like to sincerely thank everyone who took the time to join this special meetup. Your questions, stories, and enthusiasm made the discussion much more meaningful than I had imagined. I would also like to thank everyone who joined and contributed to the discussions: @Dinithea, @irulmusmus, @Dhatuardhan, @doni_hariadi, @TIAR, @ritakusuma.10, @MuhamadRokhim, @SyamsieUngu
It was wonderful to exchange ideas, learn from one another, and celebrate 10 years of Local Guides Connect together.
I hope this meetup inspires more Local Guides to explore Local Guides Connect, share their own stories, and strengthen our community through meaningful connections.
See you at the next meetup!
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