Local Guides, 2023 Album of Star Videos

[AdamGT]

Caption: An image in the form of a strip of film with the first frame on the left showing a photo and the second on the right a video contributed to Maps by @AdamGT. The photo frame shows the photo having 290 views and the video frame depicts a 0.29 second video having 298 views!

1 - Background

As Local Guides we've been adding reviews and photos on Maps for a number of years now, however, there can be little doubt that the new frontier is now video. On this we're told that more users are coming to Maps on mobile (see the first Contributor Conversations) and that it's a continually growing group of users who are known to enjoy popular and somewhat addictive social media apps like Tik-Tok and Instagram, full of short videos with resultant high levels of engagement.

There are also new Maps features being rolled out to encourage us to contribute more video content and a great example of this is the new Explore tab on the Google Maps app. This was only just announced by @KarolinaPysz in her post New: Discover an area through videos in the Explore tab on Google Maps.  This exciting new feature allows us to share our videos of our rich experiences at the places we enjoy so that others can get a much better appreciation of them and make much better informed decisions about visiting these places that we so love.  If you haven't as yet seen Karolina's post then I encourage you to check it out, pronto 🤠

Against this background, I think it's time that the Top 100 leaderboard posts that have over the past 3+ years been regularly posted here on Connect, move with the times and encompass video.  I firmly believe that by sharing our contributions and achievements we can learn a lot about how to improve and achieve even better outcomes in terms of the impact that our Maps contributions have on our communities. We have been doing this successfully with photos for the past few years and so now we can do the same with videos and this is precisely what this post is about. It's the first cut and I know that in time, together we can shape this into something much better and much more exciting.  So let's see if we can learn what type of videos work "best". On this point, when it comes to measuring the performance of photos, the base metric that we have been using to measure their impact is views and while this may not be the best metric for video, we really don't have much choice because at the moment at least, this is the only available information we have. However, I do hope that we might one day have other metrics available to us such as perhaps the number that liked our videos or perhaps even better, the number that watched all the video or the average seconds watched.

So while the Local Guides, 2023 Album of Star Photos post is an "album" if you will of Local Guide star photos, this post is an "album" of Local Guide star videos. It's the place to showcase our "best" videos and will be fundamental to a set of planned new Top 100 leaderboards focused on the performance of these videos.  Now I do realize that it's late in the year to start something like this, however I propose that we use this period to learn more and improve on this idea so that by early 2024 we will be much better prepared for it.  So let me explain how this will work.

2 - Questions:

Firstly, because we want this post to very much look like an album, if you have any questions or wish to comment about star videos generally, or the specific star videos in this album, or on how to participate here or on the Top 100 leaderboards, then please don't add these in comments in this post. Instead, add them in a comment on the recently renamed Discussion on Star Photos & Videos post, a post specifically setup for this purpose. Please note that any such comments added here will be moved to the special discussion post.

3 - Steps to add your star video:
To participate, you need to take a screenshot of your star video thumbnail shown on Maps and add it in a specially formatted comment on this post.  Because we want a consistent format of entries in this album, please follow the basic formatting criteria as outlined below.  A good idea is to use the steps mentioned as a checklist and make sure you cover each step.  Your screenshot should:

1. [20 points]  include only one image of your star video, clearly showing the current star views overlaid over it. Larger screenshots are best but do not over enlarge your screenshot at the expense of quality/resolution;
2. [20 points]  only be of your star video and not show any Maps details other than those overlaid over your star video itself on Maps;
3. [10 points] preferably be taken in portrait (more tall than wide) layout as this Google's preferred orientation,
4. [10 points]  be posted centered,
5. [5 points]  have only one blank line (i.e. no text) at the top between the screenshot itself and your Connect avatar and post date details,
6. [20 points]  include a caption using the following format
   
   Caption: Star video by @YourConnectUsername of [name of the place] uploaded onto Google Maps on [include date uploaded] and showing star views of [enter star views] as at [include star views date]
   
   Notes:
   * If you're participating in the star videos leaderboards, the caption to be used will be automatically generated for you 😉  Just copy and paste it with your screenshot;
   * If you're adding your screenshot on a desktop PC then add the caption as part of the Insert Photos process ( 📷) so that it is better integrated with the screenshot itself.
   
   
7. [10 points]  The caption shows the correct star date & star views (screenshot) date.
8. [10 points]  The star views shown on your caption must be the same as that shown on your screenshot and if you're a Top 100 Local Guides leaderboard participant, it must also be equal to the star views you have entered for your star video on the Top 100 System!
   
   
9. [5 point]  Add one blank after your image and caption but not before!
   
   Note: The Connect editor at times adds extra blank lines and for best readability on mobile devices we don't want these extra blank lines, thank you! So after you save your screenshot post, check it and if you see too many blank lines, delete them. In my own screenshot post here, for better readability I have also added one blank line at the end of my screenshot post 😉
   
   
10. [20 points]  Add the name of the place, city and country as a heading and that heading must be the shared link of your star video on Maps. Interested Local Guides can then simply select your heading to visit and watch your star video on Maps.
    
    
11. [20 points]  Immediately under the heading (no blank lines before) tell the story about your star video or the place or meal etc. This is important so make it interesting so others, including Search Engine robots, will enjoy reading and like your story and you just never know your star video might be featured in other places on Connect as well as the Web and thus build on its impact 😉
    
    Things you could mention include:
    (a) Is this your best video?
    (b) Was this just a point and shoot video?
    (c) The camera you used. Mention the brand name and model (e.g. Canon, EOS 7D or Google Pixel 6a ) so for example, don't just say "I took this photo using my smartphone", be more specific.
    

Important Notes:

1. After adding your star video screenshot, you should check it on both mobile and a PC for formatting and consistency (especially line spacing). Soon you will be able to compare yours with others in the album;
2. The points shown in red against each of the above requirements (maximum 150), are used to measure how well your star video screenshot fits in with the specified formatting criteria and is explained in more detail in the Discussion on Star Photos & Videos post.
3. Why did I say use your imagination and make the story about your star video or the place or meal etc interesting so others, including Search Engine robots, will enjoy reading it? It's because our contributions are not only shown in this album on Connect, they are also shown in the public domain and therefore will end up on general Google Search Results Pages (SERPs) etc. If we make our descriptions interesting, this will help generate generic "hits" to our videos which means more views 😉  So when writing your description for your star video screenshot, think of it as a mini post of it's own. Give it some thought, make it interesting but there's no need to go overboard!!!

4 Examples of star video screenshots

For a great example of how to post your screenshot of your star video, I encourage you to check out the star video post by fellow Connect Moderator @LightRich.

5 - Updating your star video:

From time to time you might wish to edit or update your star video.  For example, you have made a mistake in your post or the star views may have increased or you might even have a new star video!  Simple! There are two different scenarios here, (a) editing or updating your existing star video and (b) adding a new star video!

1. when editing or updating your existing star video, you simply re-visit your existing entry in this post and update it using either of the two procedures mentioned in Sections 5.1 and 5.2 below, which as you can see depends on whether you are or are not currently participating on the Top 100 Local Guides leaderboards.
   
   ** It's important to note that when editing or updating your existing star video you must not start a new comment for this.
   
   
2. when adding a new star video, you add it in a new comment on this post following the steps detailed in Section #3 above.

5.1 Participant on the Top 100 Local Guides leaderboards

1. Visit your Maps profile and take a new screenshot of your new or current star video thumbnail showing the current star views and in the format as specified in points 1 to 3 of the formatting criteria in section 3 above.
2. Update your star video details on the Top 100 Local Guides system.
3. Copy the caption suggested on the Top 100 Local Guides system
4. If you are adding a new star video as described in point 5(b) above then add this in a new comment in this post following the steps detailed in Section 3 above and then go to step 16 below.  If on the other hand you editing or updating your existing star video (see point 5(a) above) then continue on with the following steps.
5. Find your star video as you previously added in this album post.
6. Select the ellipsis menu (3 blue dots)
7. Select Edit Reply
8. Select the screenshot of your star video
9. Select the pencil icon to activate the edit function
10. Delete your old star video screenshot
11. Add the new screenshot showing the updated star video views
12. Paste the caption copied at step 3 above.
13. Select Done
14. You could add in your description a brief mention of the change in video's star views for example:
    Date       Star views
    Feb 2023  540,000
    Mar 2023  765,000
    Apr 2023   867,050
15. Select Save Changes
16. Job done! Grab a coffee!!
    
    

5.2 Non-participant on the Top 100 Local Guides leaderboards

1. Visit your Maps profile and take a new screenshot of your new or current star video thumbnail showing the current star views and in the format as specified in points 1 to 3 of the formatting criteria in section 3 above.
2. Find your star video as you previously added in this album post.
3. Select the ellipsis menu (3 blue dots)
4. Select Edit Reply
5. Select the screenshot of your star video
6. Select the pencil icon to activate the edit function
7. Take a copy of the current caption
8. Delete your old star video screenshot
9. Add the new screenshot showing the new or updated star video views
10. Paste back the old caption
11. Update the star views and star views date on the caption
12. Select Done
13. Select Save Changes
14. Job done! Grab a coffee

6 - The Top 100 Local Guides Star Videos leaderboards:

As mentioned in the introduction above, as well as adding your star video in this album, if you wish, you can also join the soon to be released Top 100 Local Guides Star Videos leaderboards. If you wish to join this fun, motivational and educational adjunct to this post, then hit this link.  As well as the Star Videos leaderboards, you will also see how you can join other Top 100 Local Guides leaderboards, namely the Points, Photo Views and Countries focused leaderboards which are described here.

7 - Conclusion

OK so now let's start learning what are the best type of videos to contribute to Maps.  In the meantime, if you have any questions then add them in the Discussion on Star Photos & Videos post.

I do hope that you will join me and the many other Local Guides interesting in learning how to improve the quality of our video contributions to Maps.

[AdamGT]

Caption: Star Video by @AdamGT of St Kilda Pier uploaded onto Google Maps on 2023-09-01 and showing ...

St Kilda Pier, Melbourne, Australia

One of the "hottest" in the sense of popular tourist places in Melbourne is St Kilda and the historic St Kilda Pier is one of the biggest attractions for both tourists and locals alike.   We often just walk to this location because the atmosphere is nothing short of eclectic.  It is just so much fun there that also, whenever we have visitors, we take them there. It is a constant carnival atmosphere. There is just so much to see and do there and you will often see some amazing things like this very creative guy. Watch here how he was showing us all how he treads water. Well he did manage to somehow do it for about 9 seconds LOL. I just love the ending and I'm sure you will too 😂 🤣

ps: As you can see my video has only 19 views which tells you something!  Yes I'm new to video however I am most willing and very determined 😎  

UPDATE October 3, 2023: Although I really like the above star video, I now have a new star with even greater and you can see it here 😁

********** Please read the opening of this post carefully **********

Do not add any comments here other than your star video in the format specified in the post.

All other comments should be added in the Discussion on the Local Guides, 2023 Star Photos & Videos post

*************************************************************************

[LightRich]

Caption: Star Video by @LightRich' of Gloria Ferrer Wines uploaded onto Google Maps on 2018-08-16 and showing star views of 64,284 as at 2023-09-01

Gloria Ferrer Wines, Sonoma, CA., United States

I visited this place on the last day of my trip to San Francisco in 2018, planned almost one year before with The SF Marathon as the main event in my trip. So, after spend five days strolling along the streets of the city by the bay i decided to take a one-day trip to Napa and Sonoma valleys and enjoy with thviews and flavors of the region.

I think that was one of the best days in that trip because i was able to visit 5 different winerys along the day, and one of them was Gloria Ferrer Wines. this place had a beautiful terrace where you can let your view get lost along the fields of grapes below your feet, and this 30 secs video gives a glimpse of the greens that fill your eyes under the sun of Cali.

This video was shot with an iPhone 8, i think.. with no stabilization, as you can see when you watch it, and definitely could be better. Anyway, it accomplish its goal. 

[Trail_blazer]

Caption: Star Video by @Trail_blazer of Bata Chowk Metro Station Parking uploaded onto Google Maps on 2022-09-02 and showing star views of 13,230 as at 2023-09-01.

Bata Chowk Metro Station, Faridabad, India

I visited this place in September 2022 in late evening. It was great to see vehicles shooting under the fly over bridge. I shot few other shots like long exposure, slow Mo and time-lapse videos for Instagram and I also decide to shot a normal video for Gmaps. it might not be the best but work is in progress. Better things are on its way.

[PrasadVR]

Caption: @PrasadVR's Star Video of Visakhapatnam International Airport Entrance uploaded onto Google Maps on 2023-07-15 and showing star views of 6,142 as at 2023-12-31

Visakhapatnam International Airport Entrance, Visakhapatnam., India

I went to the airport two months ago to see my daughter. On my way back, I noticed our national flag waving in the wind, and it looked really nice. I decided to stop and take a video. This video was shot with my iPhone 7,

[DibyayanC]

Caption: @DibyayanC's Star Video of Vaishno Devi uploaded onto Google Maps on 2017-08-20 and showing star views of 67,148 as at 2023-09-02

Vaishno Devi  

Vaishno Devi is one of the popular Hindu pilgrimage site in India. Situated at the district of Katra from the state of Jammu and Kashmir the temple is dedicated to Vaishno Devi who is a manifestation of Hindu goddess Maa Durga. The temple is situated at hill top and from the base the distance is 14 km approx. Many of the devotees travel this distance by foot, some of them use horse ride or palki (chariot) ride to reach to the temple. Also, helicopter ride available to reach there but on that case you have to walk the last 1.5 km by foot. I clicked the video on the way of the temple and you can see a clear view of the surrounding area of the path that people use to reach to the temple. 

[Tandrima2]

Caption: Star Video by @Tandrima2 of Mallika Bon Eco Village Resort uploaded onto Google Maps on 2023-04-15 and showing star views of 14,594 as at 2023-09-02

  Mallika Bon Eco Village Resort, Gour Nagar Ghat Road, Chakdaha, West Bengal, India 

Five months ago, I have went Chakdaha village with my friends. There I went a beautiful village resort. The name of resort is Mallika Bon Eco Village Resort. There I had took the video with my mobile phone.

[Mo-TravelleerX]

Caption: @Mo-TravelleerX's Star Video of Naama Bay uploaded onto Google Maps on 2021-04-08 and showing star views of 266,492 as at 2024-01-29

Namaa Bay, Sharm El Sheikh, Egypt 

Naama Bay is a popular tourist destination in Sharm El Sheikh, Egypt, on the southern tip of the Sinai Peninsula. It's known for its stunning beaches, vibrant nightlife, and excellent diving and snorkeling opportunities in the Red Sea. With its clear turquoise waters and coral reefs, Naama Bay is a prime spot for underwater enthusiasts. Divers and snorkelers flock to this location to explore the colorful marine life, including vibrant coral gardens and various fish species. Whether you're a novice or an experienced diver, there are diving centers that offer courses and guided dives to cater to all skill levels.

[Mikeinthefalls]

Caption: @Mikeinthefalls's Star Video of First Watch uploaded onto Google Maps on 2023-09-20 and showing star views of 718,828 as at 2023-12-28

First Watch Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania  

 I decided to take a video when we visited the Pittsburgh area since Google was making a push to promote videos. I was curious to see how it would perform? It has since become my Star Video that I can now share in the Star Video Album.

[LudwigGermany]

Caption: @LudwigGermany's Star Video of Running Sushi uploaded onto Google Maps on 2022-11-23 and showing star views of 33,640 as at 2023-12-03

Running Sushi "Kyoto" Japanese Restaurant 

This video is showing on of my favorite running sushi restaurants in Nuremberg in Germany. When we where here, we celebrated the birthday of one of my kids.To my surprise, there were still very few photos and videos of this restaurant on Google Maps. That's why my photo also became the featured photo of the restaurant. The video comes far behind.

also have a look at my star photo here

also have a look at my star 360 sphere here