Being an avid traveler, I have always been a Google maps loyalist! From checking reviews to using it to navigate to even checking traffic updates, I have done it all as a user. Thanks to the Google Maps that my journeys so far have been smooth, comfortable and anxiety-free! Thanks to Google Maps, I was able to plan and comfortably complete multiple trips with my family in India and abroad as well.
Here’s a pic from our London tour :
As a user, I was always awestruck by the help I used to get from Google Maps but I am now even more in love with this amazing Google product for more than once reasons since I joined the “Google Local guide program” as below :
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Being useful ,relevant , change of perspective & inclusiveness : After joining and understanding the program, I have started regularly posting apt photos, videos, I make sure my reviews include even small yet important details, create useful lists and add factual map edits. Taking photos is easy, doesn’t need much effort but thanks to this program, I now know which ones would be useful to me if I were a non-local person and wanted to see the place or eat there. I make sure whatever I post is useful & relevant to others; think in an inclusive manner for example I make sure to include details in my reviews like is it wheelchair accessible, or is stroller allowed or are pets allowed, etc. My perspective of looking at a place has changed completely.
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Power of small inputs : For me, this program shows the power of small inputs. I would anytime prefer to post my photos on Maps instead of some social media sites. I have realized that small inputs from my end like photos or reviews can help someone somewhere to navigate with ease or help them decide where to go or what to eat beforehand to avoid disappointment later. The program has taught me that small acts of kindness like writing honest reviews might not take much time but can help someone in need! Also small but useful inputs can help some local business bloom or atleast help them improve based on the comments and attract new customers! So the inputs look small but have ripple effect!
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Mission to help others, stay motivated & feel happy about it: This program is a platform for me to help thousands of others like me, who may be strangers in an unknown country or need a direction or need a help in decision making like where to go, what to eat, what are the best places the city has to offer. The way Google Maps helped me navigate like a local when I came to UK, I want to do the same and help others in a similar way! So it fulfill my mission to help others. Plus the likes and the Thank you notes from business owners give me a motivation to go an extra mile to take pictures or write reviews and help others and keep up doing so! The monthly email gives exciting information about how many people I’ve helped which just makes my day! (I wait for it like the salary credited emails … yup I feel that happy)
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Be a part of global community and make friends: Thanks to this program, I have now a platform to connect with people not only in my country but globally who have similar interests like me (Helping others, being kind, trying to make this Earth a little greener day by day,etc). I have made many friends since I have joined and I feel like the “World is my Home and I local guides are like my family/friends”. I read so many useful posts on “Local Guides Connect” page, share my thoughts,get to know fun ideas, learn about culture , cusine, traditions from guides who belong to different cultures and the list goes on…
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Platform to inspire, empower , give confidence and support the ones who need us : For me this program is a platform where I have the opportunity to empower someone like say local women who have small businesses or small local shops who survive on daily income to feed their families by simply putting them on Maps and writing about them or posting their pictures.Thanks to this program, I was never worried of traveling alone and I want to give the same confidence to other young girls too by adding my contributions on Maps. Even when I came to UK with a baby, Maps helped me roam around without any apprehensions so while creating lists ,etc I make sure I to include even the minute details to help out some Mom or someone like me.
I hope I inspire someone to be a Local Guide and help out others the way I was helped !
#LocalGuides #LetsGuide
