Celebrating six years of creating memories together

[Ority]

Caption: An illustration of Local Guides celebrating Connect’s birthday and the number ‘6’ in the middle.

Six years ago, we launched Connect to give Local Guides everywhere a place to come together and share their world through stories and Google Maps. It’s been an amazing journey for us, as we’ve gotten to know you, your passions, and your ideas for making Maps and Local Guides better for everyone. 

But what was Connect like at the start? How can you enjoy it more today? Let’s take a trip down memory lane with some of our first Connect Moderators.

How did you discover Connect?

@iyudhi: I’ve been active since the program was still called City Experts. Then the program was changed into Local Guides, Connect was introduced, and I was invited to join the beta platform!

@ErmesT: By searching on the Internet. I was looking for the opportunity to talk to Google Maps about an idea I had. In 2016, an earthquake in central Italy destroyed many places, and all the news used Street View to show what they looked like before. I thought that collecting such images could be useful for the reconstruction of the villages. Six years later, I added the new roads in the affected areas on Google Maps and shared the story on Connect.

@PaulPavlinovich: Before Connect, there were city-based communities on Google+, and I was a moderator for the official Melbourne community. When Local Guides decided to move away from Google+, people wondered if this was the end. But no, it was just a new beginning.

Caption: A screenshot of a post on Google+ announcing Paul’s first 36 Photo Walk meet-up. (Courtesy of Local Guide @PaulPavlinovich)

What’s your first memory of Connect?

@KarenVChin: Connect 1.0 was what you call an old-fashioned online forum. There were no images; you would have to click on a post link to read and see photos and video links from a Local Guide. I remember how fast the topics would appear and the number of Local Guides responding to them. I thought it was cool that Local Guides from around the world could write and share about what was happening in their lives in their towns/cities. Connect was your opportunity to ask questions and learn about how other Local Guides live, work, and celebrate their holidays.

Caption: A screenshot of what Connect looked like in 2016.

What has kept you coming back to Connect over the years?

@iyudhi: Getting to interact with Local Guides from all over the world and helping them with questions about Local Guides and Google Maps.

@FaridTDF: The great opportunity to exhibit myArgentina 🇦🇷 and the unique language I can use to describe the places I discover thanks to Google Maps.

@KarenVChin: The Local Guides themselves. I use Connect as an educational platform and a gateway to the world. I have learned so much about Africa, the Middle East, and South-East Asia in the last six years. I’ve also made many lifelong friends that there is no way I would have met anywhere else. During the pandemic, I also learned new skills, like how to host global virtual meet-ups.

@ErmesT: I decided to become an “ambassador” for my city Treviso. Over the years, I’ve shared about my passion for the environment and accessibility, and learned to love new tools, like Google Earth, to the point where I got invited to the Google Outreach Summit as a panelist.

Caption: A photo of temporary houses in Cascia, Italy, built after the 2016 earthquake, and the new roads which are already on Google Maps, thanks to Ermes. (Courtesy of Local Guide @ermest)

What would you say to someone who’s coming to Connect for the first time?

@FaridTDF: Get ready to meet people from places on the other side of the world. Language isn’t a barrier, so go ahead and say hello. 👋

@PaulPavlinovich: Look around for a while, get a feel of the place and look at the different topics and Help Desk articles. 

Then think about how to positively contribute in a way that will be fun and make a difference to the world. The difference can be tiny, like making someone smile because you post something funny about your favorite place on Maps, or because you share some useful information or maybe start a meet-up. 

Connect isn't a social network, and attempting to use it like one is unsatisfying. Instead, join conversations, give other posts some love, and the same will flow back to you.

@ErmesT: Respect others and remember that this is a global community. It’s up to us to provide the details that will allow others to understand us.

Also, be patient. Most of the people who respond to you are volunteers who help others by sharing their knowledge. Sometimes they can't answer right away, and sometimes you may not like the answer they give you. What they often share is not their opinion but simply the rules of the community and the program.

Local Guides, what is your first memory of Connect? Share it below, and tag a Local Guide friend you’ve met here!