Over time, as I’ve talked to my friends or coworkers or even strangers about the Google Maps Local Guides program, I have discovered a trend- no one has acknowledged that they are familiar with the program or what it is. Granted- yes- I can be a cavewoman/ semi-introvert so I don’t really go out of my way speak to a lot of people…but the ones I’ve spoken to have always gawked at me the first time I bring up Local Guides and ask “What is it?” or they say “I’ve never heard of it!”
(For context, I live in the Southwest part of the United States in Arizona. 
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I wonder if there is perhaps just not as much awareness of Local Guides in the United States. 
As such, in my endeavor to build this awareness, in addition to doing my Local Guides challenge of posting a video of a different local place a day to Youtube, I’m also posting photos and reels of places I visit through my Instagram page. I utilize the Local Guides hashtags and mention in my bio that I am part of the Local Guides program; I also tag @googlelocalguides in the photos. Like a pretty flower that draws a butterfly to fly closer, I try to create aesthetically pleasing shots and videos to get viewers, and once they look- they can see the Local Guides hashtag and tag- which can prompt them to click in to learn more about the program.
Additionally, in some cases, local (official) tourism marketing companies have reached out to feature my photos on their pages, and that helps generate even more views for the photos.
Here is a recent example below- with a screenshot of the comments from the local tourism companies on the right. When I was at Spur Cross Ranch Conservation about a month and half ago, I took and uploaded a photo of the trail and the creek running alongside it.
I’ve also had success with uploading reels as I see those get more views and garners more followers. For each of my reels, I’ve averaged at least 2,000 views. Similar to my posts, I make sure to tag @googlelocalguides in my reels too and use the relevant hashtags. This in hopes that the viewers will click through to learn more. My latest reel was taken in Usery Mountain Regional Park where I captured a juxtaposition of a dark gloomy day in the horizon, but when you turned 90 degrees counterclockwise, the sky was blue and sunny. So far, it has gotten nearly 4,000 views and over 300 plus likes.
In total now, I have amassed 190 followers with my 100 plus posts since starting Instagram about a year ago.
These are certainly small steps and realistically speaking, not every view or like is going to turn into person who then learns more about Local Guides. … but even if it’s just one or two people, that is still one or two people who now know about Local Guides who didn’t previously know about it.
And now fellow Local Guides, I turn it to you. 
Has anyone else had success using Instagram or any other platforms to raise awareness of Local Guides? Would love to hear your stories and insights! 
