This is a very good question and very good of you for asking on the forum. I am a level 9 local guide and there is so much involved in being a local guide and it’s all geared towards improving the maps and making navigation(travelling and movements) easier in general.
Adding of places on the maps is one activity I love. If there are missing places like shops, hospitals,schools etc As a local guide it’s possible to add these and if approved by Google it appears on the maps in 48hrs.
Editing of information of POI. I also love edits. Information like precise location on the maps, phone numbers,hours of service,shopfront photos,name of establishment etc. These can also be edited to help map users who are looking for information for their personal or daily use.
Writing of reviews and rating. These functions is one very prominent activity of local guides. These helps other users to know what to expect on their visit to place.your reviews should feature ambience, customer service in the place,services offered,accessibility features if available,your personal experience in general.
There are lots of articles you can also read here on connect to help you know more about the responsibilities of a local guide. Ask a Googler for instance is a chain of articles about local guides question and answers by Googlers.
You can also have a look at the announcement board or make use of the help desk here on connect to search out your questions and enquiries. Attending meet-ups is another way of connecting with other Local guides and learning more about the local guides program.
These will give you a general idea if not exact and please feel free to tag a moderator for further assistance.
Share thoughtful reviews and tips. It’s in the details. Always include notable information about a place and your experience. Avoid vague, generic, and repetitive comments like reviews that just say “ok,” “good,” or “yum.” Describe the setting, the design, the vibe, the highs and/or lows, and relevant specifics. With this in mind, how are you helping others when you write “Don’t know Much things about it, But it’s a three star Rated Shopping Center….” is this a way to help others?
Take photos that clearly and accurately represent a location. Is your selfie representing the Location?
Try shots from different angles before uploading the best options. Only the best options, not a lot of similar photos (redundancy)
Dark, blurry, and redundant photos will be removed. Users who duplicate photos across locations, or post images that infringe on copyrights, will also be removed. Redundancy (as explained on the previous point) is useless, because you do not give any better information. Only upload the best photo, and delete the ones similar. Duplicates are more than useless, and should be deleted.
Here below an example of useless, duplicated and redundant photos. The selfies (in yellow) are useless, and the others (in red) are redundant and uploaded twice. You should keep the most relevant, e.g. the two indicated by the arrow, and delete all the others
Contributions to Google Maps should accurately represent the location in question.
Your content should reflect your genuine experience at the location and should not be posted just to manipulate a place’s ratings. Don’t post fake content, don’t post the same content multiple times, and don’t post content for the same place from multiple accounts.
Photos - Keep it useful: Make sure the photo is at the correct location, is not a selfie, and may help someone understand what the place you’re reviewing. Avoid submitting similar or duplicate photos.
Reviews - Be authentic: Review your own experience, and explain what the place was like and the service you received. Try to be as accurate as possible, and include both the positive and negative aspects of your visit.
Well, I think this is enough, to start to understand how to contribute
