As you will learn from my Maps reviews, I am thorough, so I hope my lengthy response does not get me eliminated! I love to travel locally and around the states, but hope to travel internationally soon (visiting Cairo, Egypt has always been a dream of mine since childhood). There are so many more places to see, and my goal is to see them all, and share them all!
Fun fact about me: I MUST see a waterfall wherever I visit, big or small. Pictures below!
My boyfriend isn’t much of a traveler but I am and would try just about anywhere, so the experiences that we have together are special, and where we go is essential. He relies on reviews before choosing a place, and I like to visit places that may not have the highest reviews due to there not being many people who have tried it if it’s new. We both will still go together, and offer input about our experience. His input is important, and reviews like mine help people like him, or couples who need to know what encounter they could look forward to sharing based on our feedback!
I like to show pictures of food and the environment for honest context, and not just what is on a company website, so the first photo or authentic photos are important. Looks can be deceiving in a photo so an accurate post corresponding with my experience is equally important. I realized all of the information that was absent during my visits; such as, food options, food portions, and hours, when searching on Google Maps for places before I became an official guide, and after that I made it a commitment and lifestyle to help others with what I was missing so others could easily make informed decisions based on details. I have a slight obsession with requesting a booth when I visit a new restaurant, but more places are creating lounge-style seating for a close environment, so I stay open-minded.
This word has already come up, but I love sharing the honesty that comes with leaving a quality review or photo. While I wish all reviews could be positively impactful, that would be an unrealistic view of how things truly are, as we at times have unpleasant encounters. That’s what I love so much about local guides. People can be honest to the community in a meaningful way that will help not only future customers, but the owners. Many times business owners and managers are simply unaware that something is dissatisfying, and welcome feedback to resolve the issue at that moment before you leave a review. So avoid being passive -aggressive, and let them know if something is off or not to your expectations. Give them a chance to make it right. I’ve received owner responses to my reviews, and it can be as simple as “next time let us know so we can get it fixed.”
Friends laugh now when we are out places and I begin collecting data, and pictures for my review. We aren’t allowed to touch the food until pictures have been taken! But, I have also convinced them to join in with me on this journey! They now share their experiences as well, so I also consider myself the voice of my community. While they aren’t dedicated to the extent that I am [yet], I am confident that bringing awareness will only grow the community as a whole, and where local guides are located will have no relevance because with friendships, come reliability and dedication not only to a shared cause, but each other. I have become a local guide cheerleader.
There are so many reasons that I care about being a local guide, and having the opportunity to share it. I care about creating new experiences with my boyfriend, and serving them to the world. He is the reason that I became a local guide, and I have been committed since then. I’ve even exceeded him now in how much I post! I provide realistic critiques every chance I get, and when we travel together (as I mentioned, he isn’t a traveler, so where we go matters), it’s remarkable.
In a nutshell, I care about sharing my honesty, even if that sounds cliché. I care about sharing personal experiences so that “real” people have “real” testimonies to base their decisions on. I care about giving smaller businesses a chance, and new places that have no reviews so that they aren’t left behind. I care about sharing and swapping ideas with local guides on Connect. It’s really fulfilling being able to interact with the guides and Google community. Even if my “idea” has already been taken, it’s nice to know others agree or feel what I am feeling about things that need to be resolved. I love getting feedback, and offering feedback to others about their ideas.
I’ve become passionate about finding an ethical automotive industry, multinational or small-scale. It has been a difficult journey, and I’ve been repeatedly disappointed, so it’s my diligence to make others aware of my experience and continuing to keep an open mind that I will one day find a loyal mechanic based on the suggestions of local guides community!
I’m a traveler by nature, and nature is the second love of my life, and. I’ve been called a picky eater (something meat-eaters say). I actually do eat meat, but not red meat, so we rely on local guides recommendations for diverse menu options. I’m borderline a pescetarian (doesn’t eat meat, but does eat fish), but life has already become pretty difficult for my boyfriend when looking places up, so I’m not fully there yet. It wouldn’t be hard for me if meat were banned tomorrow. Places that have these options are really critical for those with limited options. Local guides allows these possibilities for all of us to choose the right place without being on edge about the outcome.
My boyfriend and I both share a strong love for nature (my desire is stronger for all things water: oceans, waterfalls, streams, rivers, ponds, and even showers). I can’t sleep without nature sounds going, usually rain, thunderstorms, or even a strong wind blowing. I hope we can both make it out to California to meet everyone (he’s a guide as well, and we’re both applying)!
I am very committed to the local guides community, and there is no going back! I am from KCMO, where Google Fiber was born, and I look forward to visiting the headquarters to share my experiences in person! I want to inspire other local guides commitment to growth to get more involved on Maps. S/N: I almost thought that it was a requirement to write about french fries or being eco-friendly. Glad I caught that, or my post would have gone on forever. Best of luck, team!