While I was growing up as a little child, I discovered when my Mother wants to travel to a new place she used to put a call through to her friends and family to ask if anyone of them has been there before, and if yes to also ask about their experiences, what to take on the journey and what to look forward to, this was long before the advent of Google Map or a Local Guide.
Consciously or unconsciously, I grew up doing the same. I remembered when I was admitted into the university, it was located in a community I had never been to. Even though it was not too far away from where I live, I still needed help in order to be able to navigate my way smoothly and also know what time of the day is best to arrive at the school.
So when I discovered that I could find useful information on Google map readily made available by Local Guides, I was so impressed and when I got the opportunity to join the league of Local Guides through a mail that was sent to my inbox, I did not look at twice before I clicked to start my journey as a Local Guide, which has been quite interesting.
Unlike before when I use to travel, focusing on my journey alone and looking forward to a safe trip. Being a Local Guide has changed my perspective about travelling and visiting new places. The most interesting thing I have done as a Local Guide is answer questions about places and also review as a result of fact-check.
Caption: Local Guides returning from a trip with beautiful smiles. It’s good to know that people can count on you.
Now, I do take my time to learn about landmark areas in any particular place, such an interesting place someone visiting for the first time would like to know. I take pictures and also take note in order to be able to provide answers to whatever question anyone might want to ask, isn’t that what a guide does?
Almost everyone wants to know what where they would be visiting looks like, a fore knowledge about the facilities and the likes. However, I understand why such questions such as ‘does the place have wheelchair accessible entrance or parking space’ do pop up, it is such that there will be adequate information provided to everyone regardless of their status.
The reviews and answered questions do not only help individuals, it also help business to gain credibility as such positive and high reviews about places help increase customer loyalty. Moreover, when someone could find out about other people’s experience through pictures and reviews, it helps them to make informed decision.
Like I said earlier, I no longer go to places for myself alone, I go because I also want to help give useful information to people who would be planning to also visit such places. I still enjoy that too as a Local Guide whenever I intend to visit a new place and I want to find useful information about it.
This is my own little way of impacting people, thanks to Google for giving us this platform. I promise to do more.
How was your experience at Google’s campus? Are you going to ask me that now? Wait until I return from the annual global event.