As Local Guides, you’re the explorers who share daily discoveries on Google Maps, from reviewing great lunch picks to photographing lesser known parks and other beautiful finds near you. While connected by a mission to make it easier (and tastier!) to navigate the world, each of you contributes in your own way. To celebrate all these efforts and kick off 2017, we’re compiling a list of your best tips from the past year.
On this post, share your insights into:
Taking great photos
Writing helpful, detailed reviews
Adding hidden or great new places
Answering questions
Tracking down missing and incorrect information (editing a place)
Feel free to add anecdotes and inspiring stories about any of your favorite local finds and give kudos to anything added here that you find helpful
p.s. Check out our in-house photo expert @AnnaDickson ’stips on how to upload great photos to Google Maps.
Actually im a new in Local Guide, but im try to share the best from me to other. Litle tips from me for review actually in Indonesia. I try to tell everything what im doing on a place. Like in cafe, first how about parkinf area, its a free or not, there is a parkingman or not. And than how about eksterior of that cafe, than interior, and the waitress. In cafe i try to tell about the taste of food and drink there in my review. I hope it can help other
Being firmly in the “Jeremy Clarkson” camp of satire and bombasticness I typically dream up huge flowery verses with all the useful facts hidden between the lines.
If you’re reading this and say “oh God not again”, think back to a time where epic works of literary art invited you to enjoy hours of reminiscing about your own take on the world, and where Arnold Schwartzenegger stood amid the newly terraformed atmosphere of Mars asking himself and the audience if this really was a dream - everything in life is an opportunity to enjoy and interpret, and share your own experience with others.
So that being said there might be an element of “customer expectations” to it here; some people go around reading reviews asking if there are public restrooms and whether people are saying it is clean… what entices me to get out of my basement couch is some absurd fantasy of international cat armies and saluting to a pair of sheep.
Thanks for the encouragement everyone! I posted Episode 2, Part 1 of the Malaysian Tall Story.
Synopsis:
A shopping mall run plays out like a cyberpunk story as absolutely nothing, including getting out of the train doors, seems to go smoothly. A rag tag team of runners rendezvous at a legendary chicken statue before raiding the mall for discounts and attempt to defuse a bomb. Really. I told you it’s a Malaysian Tall Story!
Don’t worry about quality of the camera. Composition is more important. This tips from Luis (can’t mention him here for some reason) will help a lot! Photo Tip: Rule of Thirds and Golden Ratio
Writing helpful, detailed reviews
Tell your experience. Write it so the person reading your review can have a vivid experience of the place even if they’ve never been there
Adding hidden or great new places
Pay attention to places with ‘Grand opening’ sign. Most of the cases those places aren’t on Maps yet, so it’s your chance to add them
Answering questions
Don’t force it, as sometimes it can get overwhelming and never ends. Answer as much as you feel comfortable. If there are still more you’re probably going to be asked again later
Tracking down missing and incorrect information (editing a place)
Incorporate it into your daily activities. When you have dinner outside, take a quick glance on Maps to see if there’s any missing info. While waiting for your food, you can fix them. Unless if you’re on a date. Talk to your date
I do a lot of driving all over the US. Each location I post about, I try to take photos of multie angles, inside and out so you know exactly what to look for.
Eu recomendaria apenas agir naturalmente… Quando ver coisas interessantes, registrar, guardar, organizar e sempre que acessar o mapa, lembrar que ele está ali porque nós ajudamos a montar aquilo… Se hoje você leu alguma dica, é porque alguém a fez… Então por que não fazer? E assim de pouco em pouco, a comunidade fica bacana.
As an avid Pokemon go player I like to leave reviews that also detail pokestops in the area as well as spawn density. I love reviewing my local area and Pokemon go has allowed me to branch out and explore my community in depth. If you play pokemon go let your fellow travellers know what they might come across!
I’m actually new to Local Guides myself, but as a traveler, the only best tip I can offer is just explore. This world is a big one, and there’s always something around the corner.
I think any photo is better than no photo, however, a good photo is the difference between just taking one and conveying somethin meaningful. When I take photos, I try to convey something that might not be apparent, or show something that someone might be interested in. Also, if the location is hard to find, a photo showing of what someone will be looking for when trying to find a place can also be valuable.
Writing helpful, detailed reviews
Often times you find very simillar reviews from several other people. Obviously it’s difficult to always be original in your review, but try to talk about things which were particular to your experience. Mention details where possible, like favourite dish, an outstanding staff member or a “hidden gem” that people might normally miss.
Adding hidden or great new places
It’s difficult for google itself to maintain an update listing of everything that’s out there, so that’s why it’s important to contribute to the accuracy of listings. When you find a new location that isn’t on maps yet, take the time to add it.
Answering questions
Most recently, we saw google pointing out locations that are wheelchair accessible. Details like these that are asked in questions go far beyond what a review or photo can convey, so answering these questions can be just as valuable as a review or picture.
Tracking down missing and incorrect information (editing a place)
Who’s been there? You look up hours for a store/restaurant, get there to find that they’re closed :(. Helping to maintain accuracy of information will be a huge help to others, so this also can be of great value along a good review or photo.
For me, the most important thing is a detailed review. Photos are great of course, but nothing better than a review with all experience details, the smaller things…
Of course. Don’t worry about quality of your camera. Be aware of your abilities, because when you have none of them, even the best camera of the world will not be able to help you when you will not be able to use its full possibilities.
Keep it as honest as possible. If you have a great time be as enthusiastic as possible in your review! If you had a horrible time be as honest as you can without being degrading or mean. Take pictures of every place that you do a review for. Believe me people look at them. Remember to have fun we’re not doing this as a job we’re doing this because we love giving our opinions about places!
I like to write reviews based on what I want to know about a place. My focus is on food so I always take pictures of the food so I know what to expect when I go somewhere. I personally care less about how a place looks because that to me is similar to “judging a book by its cover.” I tend to focus and care more about the experience which would be different depending on the person.
The pictures should be emphasize the personality of the place. Just my two cents =)
I am rather new to the whole local guide and map editing, and I am glad that I can contribute this way.
Unfortunately contribution isn’t as easy in my country (Iran) as in other countries. Due to the American embargo on trades (or something that I am not aware of), some of Google features are restricted in Iran, most important of all, the location history, which lack of it seriously impedes functionality of certain Google apps and services, including maps in general and contribution in particular.
I hope someday restriction be lifted and all Iranian contributers be able to leverage all features to make maps great.
If I’m taking a picture of a business, I’ll snap a picture of their front door, with their posted hours, and any other signs, like if they have special offers for groups or charitable organizations. A place I went to yesterday has specials on certain days of the week. I might even post a picture of their neighbors if they are in a strip mall, so it might be easier to find them when driving by.
