Local Guide Program means to me, from a professional with a frustrated career, I became an independent professional, who knew how to re-invent professionally following the market trends and was satisfied .
Since I was a teenager I have been passionate about tourism. But people always said to me, this is not a job, you need to study, have a profession and a job. Traveling is just entertainment for your free time.
I started working at 17, at 25 I finally managed to get into a university and opted for the journalism course. And who knows how to win my longed-for job at the Abril holding company and be a columnist for the famous magazine “Viagem e Turismo” that I loved so much since I was a teenager.
However, with the end of the university, there was also a major world economic crisis, a major crisis of corruption in Brazil (in addition to economics as well). In addition, the decision of the Supreme Federal Court, in not requiring a diploma to practice the profession of journalist, practically extinguished the profession, since now anyone who knew how to read and write was qualified to practice the profession. It seemed that I had just thrown R$ 50,000.00 (Brazilian currency) in the trash, because my diploma was useless.
With this scenario in my job market, I had no other alternative, I started working with marketing where I already had experience. And let go of my professional passions. And so it was for a few years, until in 2018, by chance, I discovered the Google Maps Local Guide.
Although it was not a paid job, I could finally work for pleasure on something I really liked. It would be like life (or Google) was giving me a second chance . Through the Local Guide I was able to exchange information with other people, I was able to recommend stablishments, products and services that I have already experienced and I can qualify them.
And the best part, without having to worry about whether the editorial position of the vehicle where I publish my reviews is contrary to what I really want to write, which is the truth. I am free to write what I believe and not what I am paid to disclose.
What started as a hobby, today I can say that in 2020 I will dedicate myself only to them. I went back to studying on the internet on youtube and other platforms. I study content and digital marketing and social media. And I became a consultant for people who want work with Social Midia.
In Local Guide I have a pleasure to say my numbers that improve day after day: my reviews have already received 16.686 views and my photos have been viewed 1.246.565 times. And I already answered almost 500 doubts in my spare time, imagine now that I will have time to dedicate myself only to that.
I can only thank Google for the opportunity and I want to grow more and more in the Local Guide communities and also on Youtube.