Once I was in a hurry to reach a spot to which I did not know the address! I did the same as millions of people do today, turned to Google maps! These days, maps is much more efficient and accurate. But back in those days, when google maps was new, it often guided people in wrong directions. Perhaps because the address has recently been changed or the business has a new location, which is not updated on maps. It is obvious that when there are not many guides, updating the change of address took a long long time. I wanted to know how google knew about my location some times even better than myself! I started to know how maps worked, and got to know about local guides concept. I was excited and soon wanted to be a google local guide.
I would love to give updates about places I have been to, give information/review about those places. Answering questions about those places gives me satisfaction that I know things better than most of the people.
Once it so happened to me that some one attached my phone number to a business which is no where related to me. Since I myself was a local guide, I knew how to update it, so I gave the information, and Maps took a week to review and update the information. These are some of the tangible benefits hahaha!!
Also travel photo blogging is one of my hobbies, So I often love to upload good photos to maps. I was amazed to see how my photos and reviews grabbed the attention of tens of thousands of people worldwide. Now that I am studying abroad (Sweden), I am getting noticed internationally!
When Google sends me appreciation emails about how many views I get on my photos and reviews, It entices me to do so even more.
Now that I have made it to level 6 of local guides, I would love to be one among 200 who will come to California. I am excited and hope to see you all at California. Bye Bye!