Welcome to the new and improved Connect forum!

[TraciC]

For months, we’ve been hard at work updating Connect to make it a more enjoyable and inclusive experience for everyone. Many of our updates are the result of direct feedback, including suggestions that Local Guides made at last year’s big event in California. So thank you! We’re so excited to finally share this redesign with you.

Caption: A photo of a phone displaying the Travel section on the redesigned Connect website surrounded by various pins, a passport, two polaroid photos, a plate of gummy fish, and other colorful props.

On the new Connect, we wanted to make it easier to discover posts you care about most. We’ve created site sections based on popular topics. Whether you’re a foodie or a photographer, you’ll find posts you’re interested in with just one click from the site menu.

If you want to read about Local Guides news and Google Maps updates first, check Announcements frequently. Here, you’ll get insider information straight from Googlers, and before official emails go out.

Local Guides come from all over the world and speak many different languages. To make Connect a more inclusive experience, the forum is now available in 33 languages. We’ve also updated our accessibility features so that Local Guides using screen readers can more easily participate on Connect. Now, even more Local Guides will be able to discover your amazing contributions and create their own.

While we’re incredibly proud of the Local Guides program, we also know there’s always room for improvement. That’s why we’ve launched the Idea Exchange, a way for you to share your feedback with us directly. Use the Idea Exchange to share your ideas for Google Maps, Connect, perks, and more. You can also vote on ideas from other Local Guides, ask them questions, and offer suggestions. Popular ideas will be reviewed by Googlers and taken into consideration.

We hope you love the new Connect as much as we do! In the comments, let us know what you think and which features you’re most excited about.

[George50]

Thank you so much... Your feedback is appreciated wholeheartedly.

[Sanjay_viswa]

It's a major improvement every local guide need.

[Manoj_Anil_Kamble]

Education

[VincePH]

Awesome news @TraciC ! I am particularly looking forward to sharing in the IdeaExchange portion of the new local guides connect forum! 

[Emilio7]

Thanks so much Google 

Thanks to Google for the first presentation Forum. Everyone speak in his language: Who is & a little program for this 2019 Year. Thanks so much Everybody. God Bless you. 

[jojo522]

@TraciC More presentable and expressive with features.

[mon8]

namaskar kunthit Bhavna o ko nikala mahan uplabdhi manan prakriya hastkhhep kya bhavishya ujjval ya show on must go ?

[Harpal]

@TraciC,

Finally the team's hardworking has paid dividend. We look forward to the new changes.

I'm interested in photography. The menu on the site comes handy.

Thank you all !!!

[Tejal]

@TraciC

Thank you for sharing . happy to work with you

@Tejal

[BudiFXW]

Thank you for the hard working @TraciC and Local Guides Connect team to do improvement.

We local guides from Indonesia feel happy to use Connect to communicate.Especially in Bahasa Indonesia.

[Ravisarjapur_1965]

Wow  this is awesome  exciting .. Thanks, Google 

[maulins64]

Thank's to the google, awesome news.

[SunilJansewa]

Thanks @TraciC for good information I know 3 Language Hindi,English,Bhojpuri. I from Uttar Pradesh India.

[Mohamed35]

I am call Mohamed hassan abdi

I am Somali Bantu by nationality who lives here in kakuma refugee camp under registration of UNHCR and the government of Kenya in additional of that,

But now I am currently interesting the

To joine this local guides,

[RegiAgba]

The idea exchange is the one that's attracts my attention most,others are wonderful too.why I pick up this idea exchange is because,feedbacks and idea generation is key key factor in growth and development of any organised program,business,and settings to move forward and faster.local giuides are multi talented in their different ways,the use of their ideas will be great and encouraging.no doubt about .we appreciate u so much,keep moving we got Ur back @traiC,s

[Mohammadalauddin]

Thank you for the hard working @TraciC 

[SDatta]

new look is really awesome thanks @TraciC 

[Ehtisham]

Hi @TraciC thanks for sharing this update. Its always fun being a sharer and seeker of info here at connect. But I just have a feeling as google makea the whole process fluent,  easy and friendly ..  I don't have this feeling on connect web app. It may be not that friendly and easy to go as it should be considering google other products but I hope for the best and will keep on sharing my thoughts. Yes idea exchange is a really good initiative and I love it. 

[ParaenseCarioca]

Olá, @TraciC !

Não tem como a página identificar o idioma do browser quando usar o Chrome mobile? Porquê eu clico no link "Selecione o idioma" e não aparece o meu devido esse combobox não estar ajustado para mobile... 🤔🇧🇷

[ArtFSilva]

Pretendo deixar de ser um "local guide" do Google Maps. O vosso sistema é demasiado errático e complexo de corrigir e não tenho paciência para continuar a fazer-vos um favor, que depois acaba por servir para pouco por defeitos do vosso sistema.

Artur Silva

I want to stop being a "local guide" for Google Maps. Your system is too erratic and complex to correct, and I do not have the patience to continue to do you a favor, which then serves to nothing due to the errors of your system.

[ChowdhuryRahman]

1. ধন্যবাদ আপনাকে  যথেষ্ট পরিমানে পরিশ্রম শেষে আমাদের জন্য এমন একটি শুভ সংবাদ উপহার দেওয়ার জন্য।  

[ChowdhuryRahman]

1. Thanks for giving you a good news gift for us after a lot of hard work.

[FelipePK]

Olá @ArtFSilva,

Muito obrigado pelo seu Feedback, estaremos compartilhando com o resto da equipe. Se você tiver qualquer dica ou sugestão que posso nos ajudar a estar melhorando o programa, sinta-se à vontade para compartilhar. 

[DIANA_DSY_VACATION]

Thank you Google for the best effort.

we are ready to share info in every destination we visit. 🙂

[gandrabur_chik]

Good job! Connect has become more convenient.

I am most excited about site sections based on popular topics.

[FAHRETTINKURT]

We are ready to share all the content here. We develop ourselves by putting it on every Day. Thanks for everything google. 

KURT

[DennisNguyen]

Thanks @TraciC 

Indeed, no one can deny the benefits of Google. And we can share various things from Connect. Thanks again.

[George50]

Strictly speaking, I am amazed at the outcome of the new improvement. I have always been interested in the photography section and hoping to see more futures being added to that section.

[SUMEET1]

That's great. Thank you local guide connect team.

[MagdaRautenbach]

Hi @TraciC ,

Great update! Thank you so much!:)

[DeepakGandhi-0510]

Good update.. 🙏🙏 @TraciC 

Appreciated..👍

Will helpful to everyone... 

[Ka4867999]

How.wark.Bute.

[ThudaumotBD]

Ý tưởng Thật Tuyệt 

[PrakashRai]

Thank you @TraciC  and the team. It is a great forum for all contributors. Good idea!

[GLNF712]

Hi @TraciC  thank you for this information and redesign the platform. It will keep us organized.

[Siddiqui-BA]

@TraciC, thanks for your great new announcement.

[DierckZiegler]

 Hello from Hamburg, Germany - much like the forum ...keep healthy!

[Jo-france]

Thanks to have information to efficiency use maps after covid-19

[GLNF712]

Hello @TraciC  Great! Now more organized!

[turbotapeworm]

I presume I'm the only person who dislikes this "tiled" format that hardly shows any content and loads incredibly slowly ?

I can't recall what it was like before these "improvements" were made but I'd love to be able to swap from this style to a more conventional forum layout and see more content instead of pretty icons and the same old pinned & popular posts each time I visit.