I have over 5 million photo views and I’m considered a top 1% contributor in Chicago. I just received my 2018 year in review email and it makes me upset that I cannot get past Level 7. I jumped fairly quickly to Level 7 but have now been stuck in Level 7 for over a year and it’s really frustrating. How do I get more clarification on why I can’t advance to Level 8? Thanks
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Do you use the Google Maps App? It makes it very easy to see exactly what you need to do to get to the next level. For example I know I need about 400 more photos to hit level 8.
Also… 5 million views?! Wow. I thought I was good for getting 2 million!
@Katgal17 Points and levels as you know is calculated based on total number of different contributions. Exact list and level points requirements are here. https://support.google.com/local-guides/answer/6225851
For each higher level, a higher amount of points are needed to move up, so the growth is not linear.
If you look up your contributions in Google Maps, your contributions breakdown can be easily seen and for most part how fast one levels up depends on the total number of the contributions.
In my opinion, as much as it will be nice to be on a higher level, I personally feel as for Local Guides, there really isn’t a real world difference whether is on Level 6 or 7 or even 10. What really gives value to a Local Guide is the quality and value of contribution and how helpful the contribution is to the rest of the other users. A level 7 Local Guide is no less in value than a Level 8 Local Guide. And I want to congratulate yourself to have come so far, and for continue to contribute to help other Maps users.
Keep up the good work, and don’t let the level or points bother you too much. Every small contribution is useful for the rest of us.
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I guess I didnt explain the issue well enough. I’m aware of the points system. My points have been sitting around 13,800 for months and months. They don’t increase with the same speed as they previously did. It is rewarding to get to the next level bc we don’t get paid for this and that is the incentive to keep going. It’s been made too difficult to accrue points
Hi @Katgal17
I would like to understand what you mean. Do you mean you’re contributing with photos, reviews, edit, but your points are not increasing?
Can you explain and add a screenshot?
Do you have more than one account configured on your phone? Maybe you are inadvertently contributing with a second account
@Katgal17 Try going from Level 8 to 9, which is what I’m trying to do now! Lol!
Not trying to discourage you or anything but at the moment level 10 is the max level and it definitely is a major achievement to hit that level! In my opinion, it was way too simple going from Level 1 to 5. After that, it takes commitment… and at level 7 onwards, it certainly is a true commitment. Look at it this way, you’re 70% through!
Should Google change the exponential curve so that climbing up the levels is not in days (level 1 to 5) to weeks (level 5 to 7) to months (level 8 to 10) but something else? I’m not sure. On one hand, I’ve been at level 8 since whenever (I don’t even remember but it’s more than a year), and it would be nice to finally get to level 9. However, if it was too easy, then everyone will be hitting level 10… and then what’s next?
Anyway, the rate of getting points though is kinda down to you… unless you’ve reviewed every single place in your area, then that is kinda tough. I believe you should be getting a monthly newsletter saying how many points you’ve done, you should be able to get an average (across several months) and then calculate when you’ll hit level 8! Personally, I wouldn’t bother. I realised early on in level 8 that it would take me forever unless I changed my lifestyle and allocate more time to Maps. And I decided on enjoying life rather than chasing points. Oh, I still contribute as much and as often as I can… but I stopped paying attention to the points.