Hello Everyone,
I am Eliphas Letting from Nairobi, Kenya. I grew up in the countryside about 500 KMs from the city before I came to for higher education and later work. I always had trouble locating places that I wanted to visit, and would find myself searching on the web for directions.
Given that I was new, I didn’t want to take the risk asking and pestering anyone that I came across for directions. I was elated one day in 2012 when the results for the place I was searching for had map results and even directions.
This opened a door for me as to be Local Guide where I can leave honest reviews of places that I visit, help businesses with listing on Google Maps, providing information about a place, and much more.
The Local Guides program has been important because it has allowed me to provide useful information about places that people wouldn’t know. Before I received an email congratulating me for leaving reviews and posting photos of a place, I did not know that I was part of a beneficial program.
When traveling/walking within and outside my city, I take time to document my experience and share it on Maps, which has helped and enabled other people to discover cool places to visit, dine, or have fun. I would not manage to do this without the Local Guides program.
About five weeks ago, I was looking for a place to buy a second-hand bike for my son. The results on my Map even on a query like “near me” were showing to be over 30KMs away.
I suspected that there must have been some unlisted but relevant shops that I would get my desired bike without having to drive 30 KMs away. True to my instinct, I found some within some 8 KM radius.
I was disappointed that they had not listed themselves on Google Maps; I played my treasured role as Local Guide of listing them free of charge. The owners were elated with my gesture, and I managed to get the bike that I wanted for my son.
The instrumental role that the Local Guides program has played in local communities is invaluable as more people move to seek information about places before visiting them physically.
Moreover, the Local Guides program has enabled me to hone my skills in reviewing places by ensuring that I’m not biased while providing detailed information about a place. From the Connect section , I learned about strategies that other Guides are using, and I have applied them accordingly while helping others know about a place or discover new ones.
Previously, I used to leave short-sentence reviews, but I have grown tremendously by providing detailed and more accurate information about a place that would be meaningful to potential visitors. Nothing is more satisfying for a Local Guide than receiving that “Your review/photo is making a difference” email.
I cannot forget the joy of meeting new people and making friends when visiting new places and mentioning how Maps helped them to locate them. I believe that there is more in store from the Local Guides program as I continue to offer meaningful reviews, verify places, and list new ones.
Thank you