@KarenVChin your perk system very unfair It not for all. This is discouraged system.
But we are like volunteers. You get some benefits from us.Same time you're improve your business activities. At least spend 10 precent for those who actually engage with Google as local guide. I am spending my personal money for improvement of Google. You must give not marks. SOME VALUATION.
Best to leave your 360 stitching etc for commercial purposes and just get your 50 to be trusted. Not worth the time and effort for a crappy perk!! If you are talking about commercial enterprises then this forum is the wrong one and you need to go to SVT. Weirdly enough, although Local Guides and SVT are not connected the forum is connected to Local Guides?? Your not allowed to talk about commercial on this forum.
Google is a Multi National company worth Billions, Why would you need to invest your own money into Local Guides?
It's non commercial and has No value to you what so ever! If you are charging for your reviews or consultation you have broken the rules of the program.
SVT is a different matter and you need to apply for that after meeting criteria!
The Perks are crap mate and Google will start to lose guides as a result, There are plenty of blogs and threads slagging it off already.
Google set the bar by offering perks which, let's be honest, are a bit lame and not localised (unforgivable)
While we love contributing to the community, this is not an open source project and google is commercialising the valuable data we generate
Perks could be a huge opportunity for strengthening the relationship between guides and local businesses
Solutions?
Why not offer Local Guides google related perks like play vouchers, extra storage or adwords credits? It costs you nothing but means a lot to the average person
How about creating an interface where businesses can make special offers directly available to local guides?
Drop the 'perks' thing altogether and just make it all about the gamification/kudos. Suspect that will only get you so far but may be better than a half baked perk system
You are wrong about the data. They are crowdsourcing high quality data to improve maps, context and recommendations experiences. Eventually that data will be used to generate advertising revenue. Google does nothing without commercial end game, especially since this is a fairly complex product to pull off at scale
They are trying to kill Yelp and Trip Advisor and I think we can all agree that this would be a good thing 😛
Street View Trusted Photographer is SVT. Different from being a Local Guide. Once you become a "trusted" street view photographer - you will get to be put on a list "for hire" photographers, earning the right to be compensated for your 360 photography.
THE STREET VIEWTRUSTED BADGE
Unlock special designation as a trusted contributor. Publish fifty (50) approved 360 photos for access to:
A digital badgethat distinguishes your published work and profile throughout the Street View app
Trusted brand assetsand the right to market yourself as a trusted photographer/agency
Google set the bar by offering perks which, let's be honest, are a bit lame and not localised (unforgivable)
While we love contributing to the community, this is not an open source project and google is commercialising the valuable data we generate
Perks could be a huge opportunity for strengthening the relationship between guides and local businesses
Solutions?
Why not offer Local Guides google related perks like play vouchers, extra storage or adwords credits? It costs you nothing but means a lot to the average person
How about creating an interface where businesses can make special offers directly available to local guides?
Drop the 'perks' thing altogether and just make it all about the gamification/kudos. Suspect that will only get you so far but may be better than a half baked perk system
Thanks 🙂
This person GETS IT.
Dear Google. I have answered my last question, taken my last photo and essentially stopped contributing to your guides program. I love helping my community (truly I do), but I can't abide taking time out of my day to help you and not getting compensated for that time. Sorry, Google Guides, it's not me- it's you.
Congrats on level 7. The only real perk that you receive is knowledge, gratitude for self and your community. Maybe address with Google themselves...by email.
2022
