The local guides program had a tremendous impact on me, especially the way i am looking at the places i visit. last 2 odd years i have been actively involved in sharing photos and reviews to google maps of all the places i visited. last 1 year i have become so conscious of the fact that i have a responsibility to capture and review the place with all honesty.
1)the local guides program made me realize the importance of wheel chair accessibility,of late this is the first thing i notice when i visit a restaurant, park or any other public places is to find out wheel chair accessibility and rest room accessibility, i feel its my job to tell whether this place is appropriate for our wheel chair bound fellow humans. its our responsibility to be inclusive.
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2nd most beneficial of local guides program for me is that my photography skill has tremendously improved as i been taking lot of photos to upload in google maps, i also learnt what to capture for example, if its a restaurant i would take photos of kitchen,food and tables and upload them to the map. these elements will help google map user in choosing the place and in some cases menu card of the restaurant too. every time i get a mail from google telling me how many people saw my photos i get motivated and with more passion i am capturing and uploading them. one day i want to tell all about the place with my photographs. (attached 2 sample photos to brag about my photography skill)
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The 3rd most beneficial things is for my writing skills, thanks to google map every time it prompts me to review the place which i have visited, i started reluctantly to write small reviews now i getting better at it. very soon google map user will see review of mine as impact full as the professional reviewers. the most beautiful thing happened to me is the review which i wrote for an electronic store called Mi Store Nagwara in Bangalore city. i have reviewed the place and shared lot of photos. the manager of that store called me personally and thanked me saying he is getting lot of inquiries and business seeing my post. this is all worth it. if my simple review can help a small business i do not need any other motivation then this. i am committed helping my neighborhood and community via Local Guides Program.
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To summarize what the local guides program means to me is. Giving back what i take. i rely on my google maps for almost all information obout the places which i want to go. sharing honestly about them with photos and reviews is my way of giving back. to conclude, with more vigor i am going to keep contributing in google maps and will be active here.
