Hello Friends,
Let’s join me to re-live April 19, 2025 through this recap of your favourite meet-up series Ghumakkad Gossip on all time different and exclusive topic Local Guides and YouTube.
I am pleased to observe the Responses and Reactions of all the participants during the GG kick off meet-up first and subsequently followed in GG meet-up–02 through GG meet-up–07.
There were 27 participants across the globe including the Meet-up Moderator (MM), Guest Speaker and Connect Moderators during the seventh meet-up of GG series.
I am thankful to all of you who supported this idea and made this happen (MTH).
I have captured the gist of this meet-up under various heads. Please go through them and share your views.
Quick Introduction of the Attendees
The participants have introduced themselves by sharing their Name, City, LG level and the Connect id. They were requested to write down these details in the chat box.
Participants were also requested to join the virtual meet-up on time to pay respect to the Guest Speaker and the co-participants who have joined on or before time.
Overview of the Meet-up
The MM explained the objective behind starting this GG Meet-up series and how it got conceptualized.
Ghumakkad Gossip Meet-up series is created for all of us, by all of us and with all of us. This is to create more cohesive and collaborative platform to Share & Learn for everyone here. The MM also share some basic ground rules to make the meet-up effective for everyone.
He also explained, why the series is named as Ghumakkad Gossip? Ghumakkad is a Hindi word which in English means ‘Wanderer’ and Ghumakkad Gossip means ‘Talk with Wanderer’. Here, the emphasis is on Traveller and not on Tourist when we talk about Ghumakkad.
Introduction of Guest Speaker
This episode of GG series was dedicated to Local Guides and YouTube. And to enlighten us on this topic our Guest was the Meet-up Champion and the Connect Moderator - @AdrianLunsong (Adrian Lunsong) from Malaysia.
Gossip with Guest Speaker on the topic
Conversation with Guest speaker started with the purpose of creating YouTube channel and how to create it. Adrian explained the concept of Brand channel. This can be created using the same Google account. Brand Channels are topic based. This is important as in the world of YouTube, laser focus on the specific topic is must.
@NareshDarji further added that for monetization one should have the YouTube channel with a separate email id than the one which is attached to the Local Guides program as Local Guides program is a voluntary program.
MM posed a discussion point on the benefit of creating YouTube Channel for the Local Guides. Adrian replied that there is no such major benefits to the individual LGs as they are not looking for the monetization but yes from the community perspective the benefits are much greater. Some of the benefits of YouTube channel as he pointed out:
- A tool to reach LGs all around the world
- Help in engaging with LGs
- Help in introducing LGs to Local Guides Connect Forum
- Videos are used to showcase diversity in the community
- Help in promoting Local Guides Program
Adrian further added that if LG is not very fluent in writing post on Connect, they can create the relevant video on YouTube on the relevant Local Guides topics and further post the link on Connect.
While answering to @AjitThite’s question about the motivational topic on Local Guides, he added, try to focus on very specific topic. Don’t copy what other people are already doing. Build your channel around Q/A session, panel discussion, How-tos videos etc. Create Meet-up videos.
He also added that for an individual it is quite challenging to run a YouTube Channel and further he shared his own experience of running his YouTube channel GoLoco.
Attendees to seek more clarity
There were couple of questions raised by the participants during the meet-up. Here is the summary of discussion around those asked questions:
- Can email id of YouTube channel be changed? @RosyKohli
o Watch out the Meet-up video for the details. - What are the motivational topics on Local Guides to consider for videos? @AjitThite
o Watch out the Meet-up video for the details. - What are the limitations of YouTube? @AjitThite
o Watch out the Meet-up video for the details. - Can the Local Guide collaborate together with their channels on Local Guide Channel? @RosyKohli
o Collaborate with each other
o It attracts global attention
Attendees Insights
@GirishPidadi shared about introduction of 20-25 languages for India on YouTube. He also shared his views on usage of monetized money through YouTube, if any. This money can be utilized for sponsoring our meet-ups.
Connect Moderator @NareshDarji emphasized to have separate email id for YouTube channel, if interested for monetization.
Special Thanks
I would like to extend my special thanks to dear @PrasadVR, @KetanChhaniyara, @AjitThite, @RosyKohli, @K.K.Sharma, @Shrut19 and @ShreyaMusings for capturing beautiful candid moments which I couldn’t resist myself from sharing here.
Debriefing & wrap up
The MM summarized the overall discussion and thanked all participants for joining and making this meet-up a success. A BIG THANK YOU to our Guest Speaker Adrian Lunsong (@AdrianLunsong) for sharing his precious time and creative knowledgebase with all of us.
All participants were eager to know the next topic, name of the next Guest Speaker and the date of next GG Meet-up. Thanks for your interest and enthusiasm. Here is the next episode of Ghumakkad Gossip Meet-up series planned ahead for you.
Please block your calendar for the upcoming power packed meet-up as we are together going to celebrate Global Accessibility Awareness Day (GAAD). See you around.
This is an opportunity for the Local Guides to Support and Shine, Share and Learn.
I express my sincere gratitude to all who have joined and expressed their interest throughout the session.
@AjitThite, @_Akshay_K, @GirishPidadi, @GovindJha, Ishtiyaq Ahmad Wani, @K.K.Sharma, @KetanChhaniyara, Kuldip Patil, @MadhurG, @MathanVibranarayan, @ShreyaMusings, Nagaraj Shimoga, @NareshDarji, @PrasadVR, @Rahul001, @RosyKohli, @Rushikesh_joshi, Sagar Verma, @Sakib_22, @SarathUpendran, @SholaIB, @Shrut19, @SonamW, @framesbysumedh, @TravellerG
Please let me know if I have missed any name.
This photo is the testimony of togetherness for the reason we all have met up for.
Lets re-create the moment woohoo!!!
As communicated earlier,
Watch out the video on YouTube! 
Key Takeaways
- Don’t use YouTube channel as a substitute to Local Guides Community. Use it as an aid to it.
- It is advisable for LGs to use brand account to create YouTube channel especially when it is going to be used for monetization purpose by the LGs.
- In the world of YouTube, laser focus on the specific topic is must.
- YouTube is a tool to reach LGs all around the world and engage with them.
- Through YouTube footfall, LGs can be introduced to Local Guides Connect Forum.
- YouTube videos created by the LGs are used to showcase diversity in the community.
- YouTube channels are helpful in promoting Local Guides Program.
- Language is not a barrier. Very recently YouTube has introduced around 20 to 25 conversion languages for India. It is already available for the other countries.
- It is advisable to have one and an integrated YouTube channel at the country level Local Guides community.
Key Success Factor
- Meet-up promotion through various networking channels. (Thanks @TravellerG)
- 80% participants joined on or before time helped MM to start and end the Meet-up at the scheduled time. Thank you all. This also avoids waiting time to Admit the participant, if they join on time.
- Mock-up session/s before the final meet-up between MM and the Guest Speaker.
Feeling Words
A snippet of feeling words from Participants in the Meet-up Message Box.
Recaps of past episodes of GG Meet-up series in chronological order:
- Recap: [Virtual] India, January 17, Ghumakkad Gossip: Supporting Small Businesses
- Recap: [Virtual] India, February 08, Ghumakkad Gossip: Editing Roads For Beginners
- Recap: [Virtual] India, February 16, Ghumakkad Gossip: Importance of Co-Host in the Meet-up - Part 1
- Recap: [Virtual] India, March 16, Ghumakkad Gossip: Local Guides Community and Connect Overview
- Recap: [Virtual] India, March 29, Ghumakkad Gossip: Accessibility Awareness
- Recap: [Virtual] India, April 12, Ghumakkad Gossip: Importance of Co-Host in the Meet-up - Part 2
- Recap: [Virtual] India, April 19, Ghumakkad Gossip: Local Guides And YouTube - [This Recap]
being part of the informative session about using YOUTUBE in our LOCAL GUIDE COMMUNITY with 
But it’s a nice way to put a smile on my face whenever I see it. Lots of different memories from Local Guide events, my travels and the odd items I’ve picked up along the way!
