Hi all,
The Local Guides program makes us relate more with Google Maps and its users’ community but like all other communities, it has some rules that should be followed by users to remain in the community and to keep the community as useful as it can.
Not all users who joined the program, follow its rules. So, we couldn’t say all of them are good Local Guides, and because of this many users are suspended each year, but the ones who try to keep on the line and follow the rules, can be called Good Local Guides. Also, we should note that no one is perfect and any of us may have/had some mistakes but it is important to become aware of mistakes and try to fix them.
Now, here I try to explain some of the most important tips that are critical for a good Local Guide. All these tips could be described more but I try to keep this post simple and straightforward to be easy to read and understandable for all. So, let’s see who is a good Local Guide.
First, a good Local Guide should have good thinking and contribute only as a volunteer to help people, society, the world, and all creatures. Then it comes to the rules and methods.
Google Rules
When you’re using Google Products, it means that you accepted Google’s terms and conditions. So, simply get familiar with and follow them. For example, do not use Google’s Logo and name for your account.
Account
- Only join the Local Guides program with one individual account that has a real name and not a business/brand name account.
- Use suitable phrases for your Bio on Google Maps and avoid focusing on promoting a business in Bio.
- Only focus on your personal character, it could also contain your job.
It is very important for a good Local Guide to set the goal to help others with real info based on the rules, and not other things like points, perks, promoting business, and any other things. My experience during the years showed that such wrong goals will result in deliberate or unwanted wrong activities. There are several fields of contributions so let’s see what is good behavior in each field.
Review/Rate/Caption
- Only rate and review the place you experienced yourself and do not rate based on others’ suggestions or as advertising.
- Do not review your business and do not low-rate rivals to destroy them.
- Describe well and enough about all aspects of the place and services to contain both positive and negative points.
- Avoid mentioning a specific person or using bad words.
- Avoid adding unrelated reviews or copying texts from the web or AI chatbots.
- Avoid adding one-word reviews, all emoji reviews, reviews without meaning or copying the same review for more than one place.
- Only add captions related to the photos/videos you share that express the current situation not share your general review in caption.
Google has a suitable guide about prohibited content and a guide for writing a great review.
Photo/Video/Photo Updates
- Only upload clear photos those well describe the place and its products/services.
- All rights of the photos should be owned by the user. It is always suggested to upload only photos taken by you.
- Do not upload public domain photos/videos, others’ works, from other resources around the web, or image generators.
- Avoid having clear faces or plate numbers on photos/videos and pay special attention to avoid containing kids and teens under 18.
- Do not upload selfies and group photos.
- Do not upload one photo to more than one place.
- Do not upload unrelated photos and photos that aren’t taken at the place you want to upload to.
- Do not upload photos that contain harassment, self-damage, animal abuse, or other bad things.
- Only add Photo Updates (Add Post) if your photos/reviews represent the current situation of a place and do not post an Update after a long time.
Pay attention to the prohibited content as well and see this guide from Google to take good photos.
Q&A
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Do not add the review in the Q&A section.
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Only answer questions that you know the answer.
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Do add any answer to the question had no idea about.
Edit/Add Places
- A good Local Guide only adds places that have complete info about them and adds them with a simple and short proper name, without descriptions, and at least provides one contact info wether phone number or/and website.
- Edit only based on accurate info and do not edit/add places without considering all its conditions.
- Do not add unreal places and places without a real store/office.
- Do not add keywords to names and keep names simple and short.
- Only add real phone numbers and the websites that are managed by the owner.
- Add real working hours.
- Locate the marker (pin) based on the satellite imagery to be at the center of the occupied area
Edit/Add Roads
- A good Local Guide add and edit road accurately based on satellite imagery and/or local data such as GPS tracks.
- Select a suitable type of road
- Try to add a road with the name when you can find its name.
- Add road name with suitable suffix.
Check the fact
- Consider all aspects of an edit to check its fact.
- Check the facts only based on true info. (you can check the accuracy from many resources including local visit)
Answers
- Only answer the questions you know about them and simply pass the system questions you have no info about.
- Say “Don’t know” if you have no idea about the question.
Conclusion
These are minimum requirements that shape a good individual Local Guide. Besides what I mentioned above, there are also some factors that make a Good Local Guide, even better! I will share them in another post 
Finally, as a brief, I can say that a good Local Guide will contribute only as a volunteer and only based on real info and trustworthiness to describe places and try to stay updated with the rules and follow them.
This not only guarantees that the user will remain in the program but also increases the trust level, help others more and more and increase users’ good feeling!
Have a good feeling of being a Local Guide and share any ideas you have to complete this article.
Indeed, that was one of my main goals to write this post.
