The Local Guide; the Private Investigator Part 2

In the first part, I mentioned the need to look your part when going out to gather information about places or businesses or even verify facts. But regardless of how important it is to look good, if you appear somewhere without the right set of words or the right questions, you could still get kicked out of any location as quickly as you arrived, except of course, if you are Warren Buffet or Bill Gates. :stuck_out_tongue_winking_eye:

So my next big deal is creativity.

As you step out or whenever you receive a notification to update information on the map, you must be creative about it. Give loads of compliments to every one you come in contact with. From the gate keepers to the receptionist, to even their other customers, you need to give the impression that you are a likeable person. If it is a school, you might be regarded as a parent or uncle/aunt looking for information for their ward, so it’s okay to strut in, shoulders high and request for whatever information you need and even request to take pictures. :smirk:

What about hospitals? Check out a conversation I had with the receptionist when I tried to get information about a hospital.

Me: “My friend told me about this hospital and since I was in the neighbourhood, I decided to check it out.” (Remember, Google is always your friend.) :stuck_out_tongue_winking_eye::stuck_out_tongue_winking_eye:

Lady: “That’s great.”

Me: “Wow, this place looks good. Didn’t know such a place existed around here. Do you have a customer care line, a number I can call to ask quick questions?”

Lady: “Oh, yes we do.” Then she scribbles it down.

Me: “So I guess you handle medical care for all ages and genders, right? How long has this place been open?”

Lady: (Gives me all the information I need and even told me about more services.)

Me: “I must leave now. Thank you very much for the warm reception. By the way, what time do you open every day? Need to know how late you stay open in case I don’t close from work on time on my way back.”

Lady: (Gives me more information.)

So, I walk out of there feeling like I just won a jackpot, oh yes, a jackpot full of information. And your creativity should vary depending on what they do there. :smirk:

For places you aren’t sure you will be allowed to take pictures, you must learn to do it discreetly. Hold your phone as though you were trying to get information out of it and click away. Don’t walk into a place and present yourself as the latest photographer in town except of course you are given the permission to take pictures of their space. Otherwise, keep your phone camera on and take the pictures discreetly.

I am sure you also have interesting episodes verifying facts out there. So let me have your own gist too. Would love to learn from you.

Cheers and stay safe. :cowboy_hat_face:

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I have learnt a lot in the duration of time I have spent updating the map and making reviews.

I have some tips to share and will do it over the next couple of posts.

It might be unique to our Nigerian parlance but I do hope everyone can learn from it.

The part of the world where I reside is an interesting place to try to be a local guide.

Everyone is suspicious of the next stranger who walks into their store requesting for information.

You get the eyebrows, the frowns and even the security guards try to roughen you up.

So, here I am turned into a private investigator for Google maps because I have to constantly think of innovative ways to get the information I need for the maps.:grinning:

So here are a few tips I have gathered over the months and would love to share with everyone who is having challenges gathering the appropriate information. Other tips will come in subsequent posts. So watch out.

  1. Dress well: You will be addressed based on how you are dressed. :sunglasses:

If you want people to open up to you and at least pay you some attention, you need to look good and attractive. Nothing loud or offensive. Just some well straightened out clothes and cool colours.

On one of the occasions when I tried to get the phone number and pictures at a restaurant, the manager had to take me to her boss to explain to him why i needed that information.:joy:

I stepped into his office looking like I made a million dollars over the weekend and told him my reasons. Just seeing me, he knew he was speaking with a respectable person and that gave me some edge. He expressed some unfounded fears but as I walked out of his office, my head held up high and spring in my steps, I left an impression there.:blush:

What’s my point please?

If you dont look like someone who is well taken care off, people around here have a tendency to harass and misinterpret your gestures.

Remember, you are not a job seeker or even a beggar who intends to disturb them. You are a private investigator who is making life easier for everyone who uses the maps.

You are effecting change and that is a great thing to be doing.

Keep looking dapper, keep gathering information, keep updating the maps.

Cheers😁

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@EstyDumbiri Thanks for sharing your story. And keep up the good work.

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It’s been an amazing experience

Excellent tip and it’s wonderful how you are able to get around obstacles.

Hi @EstyDumbiri ,

Thanks for sharing your thoughts and story with us!

I’m going to move your post to the Local Stories board on Connect where the Local Guides from all around the world share their local stories and inspiration why they like to be Local Guides like you did.

Cheers and stay safe, too!

Hi @EstyDumbiri ,

Thanks so much for sharing your series of posts on Connect and for sharing your tips and advice with everyone.

As your posts are quite similar, I’m going to merge them together to keep the community more organised. For your future posts, please check out what are the Connect topics and also keep in mind that the How-tos section of Connect is the board where you can share your questions or tips related to Local Guides program or your Google Maps contributions.

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