JanVanHaver's post
cancel
Showing results for 
Search instead for 
Did you mean: 

"Local guide"-mode for Google Maps

Dear Googlers, under the motto 'help us help you' I would like to have a "local guide"-mode for Google Maps that can be switched on if needed. Right now, depending on your zoom level, more of fewer places are shown as point of interest (POI) on the map. Which is fine, because showing all POIs all the time would simply fill the entire screen with pins and names once you zoom out a bit.

 

But even if you zoom in at the highest level, not all places are shown. I have been told that the algorithm tries to show you only those POIs that you are probably looking for, which are in other words relevant to you as a user of Google maps. Also fine, at least for 'regular' users of Google Maps. Local Guides, however, when they are specifically using Google Maps as Local Guides (trying to add missing POIs or add/correct info for existing POIs), are not 'regular' users. They are not looking for a restaurant, pharmacy or bookstore, they simply want to see ALL the POIs in the area; at that moment, all POIs are relevant to the local guide.

 

So, what I would like is an option in Google Maps to show all POIs, without any filtering. That would certainly avoid some frustration of the type that a lot of us have already encountered: trying to add a missing place, type in all the data and then, when you click submit, getting a pop up asking "Did you mean this place?"

 

An additional feature could be that in this mode local guides would by default browse in incognito mode (or at least have an easy way to do so), to avoid them being flooded with tons of retargeting ads as a result of visiting websites belonging to POIs in the course of their LG activities. [Credits to @StephenAbraham for suggesting that in a reply to another post]

 

Other quite nice additional features would be the idea posted by @AshSmith about adding a special kind of marker for places that are in need of local guide attention, and the idea posted by @KarstenSocher, who suggests to draw special attention to POIs that have no photos or reviews yet.

Check out LetsGuide Podcast | #LGCTM | Please always @Mention me so I see your reply
11 Comments
Level 9
  1. @JanVanHaver

Nice idea .

  1. This will help find spam .
  2. Correct pin 
  3. Even contribute more and can help explore more places .
https://www.localguidesconnect.com/t5/badges/userbadgespage/user-id/21203/page/1#
Level 9

Agreed @JanVanHaver 

Connect Moderator

A quite nice additional feature would be the idea posted by @AshSmith about adding a special kind of marker for places that are in need of local guide attention. His post is here:

 

https://www.localguidesconnect.com/t5/All-Ideas/Map-for-Local-Guides/idc-p/1072646#M4032

Check out LetsGuide Podcast | #LGCTM | Please always @Mention me so I see your reply
Level 7

@JanVanHaver

Great idea and one that you might be able to expand and refine if and when a "Local Guides" mapview mode is put in place.

I'm sure that there will be other technical enhancements which would be of immediate importance to Local Guides but would not be quite as relevant to casual users.

...


■ "Quis custodiet ipsos custodes ?" ■ "Who watches the watchers ?" ■ the satirical poet, Juvenal ■ 1st century Rome ■
Level 8

I fully support your idea @JanVanHaver and I have actually submitted a similar request via the Maps app, some time ago.

The only thing I would like to add is Learn Mode. Where LGs can get feedback and guidance as they try to make certain edits. For example, if a person selects a certain category, Maps can give the definition for that category and articulate what certain categories are not supposed to be used for 😉 

Connect Moderator

I agree,@JeroenM, that a better definition (and why not, indeed, some guidance in the usage) for categories is something that is also needed. It was in fact the topic of another idea I posted

 

https://www.localguidesconnect.com/t5/All-Ideas/Definitions-for-categories/idi-p/1008577 

Check out LetsGuide Podcast | #LGCTM | Please always @Mention me so I see your reply
Level 6

Very good idea. I’ve noticed often with Spam entries they are literally clustered so closely it appears as one location. There often is a connection to high profile (government or popular) locations these posts seem to almost obscure from general view. Thank you @JanVanHaver

mike
Level 8

I would totally agree with your idea 🙂 @JanVanHaver 

Connect Moderator

Excellent proposal, @JanVanHaver 

 

I fully support your suggestions. I may add that in my experience the problem when zoomed in all the way is the high frequency of pins stacked on top of each other. So even if there were room for more pins they hide under each other's. 

Level 9

Wonderful idea @JanVanHaver 

Connect with me: My blog, YouTubeFacebookInstagram