I have been a local Guide for the last 3 years and, on my way, I was able to learn a lot about our platform. And almost unexpectedly, I am now invited to participate in Connect Live 2020.
I started with little reviews about local places like local cafes or restaurants that I went to frequently. And I thought that if I could write those reviews someone else could read them. So it was.
Then, I started getting some notifications on my cell phone about “Your opinion has helped hundreds of people in the past week.” And then came the first notification like “You’ve leveled up; now you’re a local Tier 2 guide.” And then … The story began.
I, as one of the most competitive people in the whole world, started to classify and review every place where I was. And that’s how I went up the level.
Among the things that have most directly impacted me was adding my parents’ business to the map, which is a family business in a very small town in the state of Michoacán, here in Mexico. And almost without realizing it, the business began to grow in a way that my parents would not have expected. Because it was visible on Google Maps, the scope of the business soon multiplied, and I hold Google Maps responsible for unexpected growth. Many people, when shopping at my parents’ business, came saying, “Thanks to Google Maps, we realized that here we could get the products we needed.”
- My Parents’ bussines
Soon I began to add data such as the phone, the hours of operation, a description of the products, etc. … And the scope became even greater. My parents started selling more than planned thanks to this tool.
Now they are working on an exclusive website, now people are calling asking where they can buy their products online. It is a clear example that well-used technology can be an exceptional tool.
Now it only remains to extend my parents’ gratitude to Google, because thanks to them a business that had been almost 30 years only a local business, is now a business that attracts many people from the region.
And the best of all this is the ease of access we have to this type of tool. Not to mention that the service is free.
Now with 5 years in the Local Guides program, I have been able to add several dozen new places on the map, as well as having rated hundreds of shops, museums, bars, restaurants … I have answered many questions from users, I have added photos , contact information for many places I have attended.
It should be mentioned that the simple fact of having been considered to participate in Connect Live 2020 is in itself a true honor. I will continue to contribute here as much as I can, because it is a privilege to be part of this community.
Thanks!