Hello Local Guides,
My name is Abeeb, a level 6 Local Guide, resident of Ibadan, Oyo State,Nigeria.
I want to share with you some of the interesting things I’ve done as a local guide. Being a local guide is one of the best thing that happened to me in the last one year. The passion, purpose and desire to help millions of people through out the world in locating places is something I have always been proud of.
How the Journey started;
I was introduced to the Local Guides program in 2019 while I was attending an advanced class on digital skills organized by the Digital Skills for Africa and proudly supported by Google. During the course of the program, I met a level 8 guide who happens to be in my training group. He gave me the first impression and overview of what the local guide is. That particular day, he reviewed the event center we were using for the Digital Skills program, which got over 1000 views before the week runs out. That was a perfect way to get started.
Few days later, I was fortunate to attend the Google for Nigeria Playground, held at Lekki, Lagos Nigeria. I met a Google handler that taught me everything I needed to understand when it comes to Local Guides Connect. I made my first review that particular day, uploading photos and promoting myself from being a level 1 guide to level 3. That was the turning point in my local guide adventure.
The moment I got home, I started reviewing places and adding photos of places I have been, and thanks to Google, I keep getting notifications of places and I have been in the last four years and it was great to start seeing reviews and pictures getting views. One of my review got the attention of Jumia pickup station and the photo I uploaded have over 8000 views. It was a great step up for me.
The Most interesting thing I did:
Of all the things I did on Google Map, the most interesting one til date is adding and editing places on the MAP. I started adding homes and offices for my friends which makes it easy for them to order their rides on Bolt and Orides. It was great to make a difference. I also added my secondary school on Google MAP as well as public places that needs to be on the MAP. For me, Local guide is a way of helping people around the world. I remember how MAP saved me a lot of money and time back then when I was serving in Portharcourt City during NYSC. I use to feel I owe Google Map, and adding places, sharing photos and contributing on the MAP is a way of repaying. Generally, It was something I found interesting and adventurous.
Attended my first meet up
One great thing I did last year is to attend my first ever local guide meet-up, held at Ilaji Hotel and Sport Resort It was so great to meet up and learn from the bosses. I’m glad to meet level 8,9 and 10 local guides and I was able to get details and insight on how I can help on Google Map.
Adding new places to Google Maps is a dynamic way to make an impact. I’m able to help share helpful reviews of businesses around me to boost sales and patronage, add new places to the map to improve navigation, take photos of places to help people identify places and with the Local Guides Connect, it helps me build connections with fellow guides who may be miles away. I’m grateful for a map that serves people worldwide while also being maintained with constantly updated data by those same people.
Adding and editing places—and the impact those places have had—is the most interesting thing I’ve done as a Local Guide!
Being selected for the Connect Live 2020 will be a true dream because is one of the motivation that keeps me going. I’ll love to learn how to be a better local guide, thereby helping people in my community navigate better and also helping businesses gain more visibility. I’ll also like to meet , connect and grow with passionate local guides across the world.
Thank you for reading.
…I cant wait to be at Connect Live 2020…