The world is different now, with Coronavirus (Covid-19). Even though we may want things to “go back to normal,” it’ll mostly likely be a "new normal’ instead. Even for a post like this, my answer today is so different than the answer I was preparing a few weeks ago.
Before, being a local guide was something to do, a hobby that I have kept up with the past few years and in different countries and cities. I loved to eat out and to share my findings with people. I love to travel and leaving reviews and creating maps gave me a digital scrapbook to come back to. I like that what I had to say had value; I could influence other people, even strangers, with what I had to say about a business or a location. I’m sure many of my fellow local guides can relate.
But now, I view it all so differently. Now, being a local guide means that I have the tools to help local businesses that are dealing with an uncertain reality right now. I think about my favorite restaurants, all of them small and local, and wonder how they’re doing. I use whatever tools I have available, such as Google maps and social media accounts, to encourage other people to do what they can to support these businesses. Yes, the government is working on way to ease the burden of this time, but the local community has the tools and the ability to help out now.
And the Local Guides is a community. It’s a community of like-minded people and I find solace that there are more people like me, people who have been connected to these restaurants before the virus hit, sharing the same concerns and doing what they can to help.
Now, more than ever, it’s important to help out our local businesses by making sure their information is updated and even adding pictures to increase their exposure. I know for a fact, not all business owners are digitally savvy and may not even be aware of what local guides do, but we can help them be seen and remembered on Google during this time. And we can be there for them again when the restrictions lift.