The Local Guides Program has impacted my life significantly and I have been hoping to impact other peoples lives through it as well. To me, Local Guides means exploring, impacting and sharing of experiences.
Having the option to review on Google as a Local Guide has motivated me to explore more because whenever I come across an attraction or a good place to eat, I would love to read up on the reviews to see what are the pros and cons of the place. After reading on the reviews, I would then plan to visit the location and end off by writing my own review.
I recently went on a trip to Sa Pa, Vietnam with a good friend of mine to hike Mount Fan Si Pan, which is also known as the Peak of Indochina. Google reviews helped a lot in terms of preparing us what is to come and really helped us in terms of choosing where to stay and where to eat, especially because we are in a country where we do not speak the local language.
Local Guides Programs can also impact people like never before. For example, leaving a review on Google can help business owners feel good about themselves, and help customers know what they are getting themselves into when visiting those places.
I personally love it when business owners or admins reply to my reviews to express their gratitude or even apologize for something that might have not been up to standard. This is a clear sign that an impact has been made, as businesses will either continue their good work or strive for improvement upon reading the review on Google.
An example would be when I visited Steakout and was impressed by the steak and the location of the restaurant that I left a review to thewhich the owner replied.
Last, but certainly not the least, the sharing of experiences provides something that is very precious, as we get to post pictures of places that we visit for other people to see them. This means that we can live vicariously through the images of other Google users and local guides.
Whenever I am planning to go for a vacation or even just where to eat, I will search up the locations, get a good look at the reviews and most importantly take a look at the photos because I would like to imagine myself at the location and this makes me more excited to plan a trip there.
They say a picture paints a thousand words, and I would love to agree with this quote because a picture does indeed provide expectations, experiences and helps people like you and I to prepare for our trips.
Above, is my gift to you to experience the view of the town center of Ha Giang, Vietnam, through my eyes.
This is how the Local Guides Program impacted me and I hope that this article would have impacted you too!