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Announcing new levels & ways to help your community

Googler

 

Points.gif

 

We know Local Guides love discovering new places on Google Maps and helping others make better decisions. Many of you have also shared feedback about the program over the last year, and we’ve listened.

 

We rolled out new levels, new badges, and an update that rewards even more points for your contributions that help people most.

 

More ways to contribute and points that reflect your impact

Higher impact contributions, like being the first to add a place on the map or leaving a thoughtful review, earn more points. We’ve also added more ways to contribute. Local Guides can now earn points for rating places and checking facts on the map added by others. Points will be awarded to contributions you’ve already made, and will be updated with the new changes. You may have even changed levels.

 

Contribution Points.png 


Instant recognition

You’re now instantly recognized for your contributions. A “thank you” screen will display how many points you’ve earned for contributions like reviews and photos.

 

ThankYou.png

Reach new levels

Along with the updated points, come five new levels. That’s right, you can now reach up to level 10, a status we know many of you have been eager to attain.

With these new levels come fantastic new badges for levels 4 through 10. This allows you to update your badge with each milestone, and stand out as a top Local Guide. These badges will appear next to profile photos for Local Guides on Google Maps and across relevant Google channels.  

 

Levels+Badges.png

 

For example, this means I, Traci, went from Level 5 with 3,294 points...

 

Before.png

 

 

...to being Level 8 with 37,270 points:

 

 

After.png

 

 

New perk

In celebration of the launch, eligible Local Guides Level 4 to 10 can earn a 3-month Google Play Music subscription and 75% off a movie rental from Google Play Movies. There’s still time to level up before the August 31, 2017 deadline. Learn more.

 

PlayPerk.jpg

 

Want to see your new level? Visit your contributions

Don't yet see the new levels and points? Be sure to have the latest version of the Google Maps app

 

As always, if you have any questions about the Local Guides program, visit the Local Guides Help Center.


Note: Due to the volume of private messages Googlers receive, I do not read or respond to private messages. Please post publicly so others may benefit from your discussion. If you require urgent assistance, please tag a Google Moderator. Thank you!.
532 Comments
Level 6

I am ineligible for the Music trial (hardly a reward, then) and my Movie rental discount says it has already been claimed.

 

Come on Google, incentives please.

 

 

Level 8

Just to clarify on the 75% off movies is valid only one time for one movie, not good for any lenght or period of time, one movie just for one time.

 

yes, on Music, it's good for 3 months

Steven Prasad
Level 9

 

Greetings everyone

I'm amazed at the upgrade of the levels, this is quite motivating, the new goals are accessible due to the dedicated work.
The rewards always come from a selfless job this is wonderful.

 

 


@Bollywood @J0rn you are posting this in the wrong post, do this in the ORIGINAL as linked in my initial post! Thanks!

Quirky storyteller and traveling crime novel writer. GLBTQ+ come follow me and check www.semmy.eu
Level 8

That's awesome, I noticed it this evening.

Excited to get started and contributing to Google Maps!! 

Level 8

Love, Love, love it!! @TraciC. This is awesome!!

Level 4

excelente noticias, vamos por mas puntos!!!!!!

. Wiiiiiii XD

Level 8

I'm very happy to reached level 7 in Local Guides! I know there are a lot of good local guides but I'm very proud to doing a good contribuition in our community. I'd like to be a better Local Guide and I´d like to show it for all people!!!

Thank you, Google!!!!       Screenshot_2017-06-14-10-19-49 2.png

 

Level 8

Yes a timely updates and newer look. More inspiring now..

G Subash

To whom it may concern,

 

I spend a lot of time taking photos and providing feedback about businesses and food, I was being incentivized by the free extra storage at Level 4; however, I was waiting to use my earned "extra storage space" until I needed to use it, but now I am learning that the only 'perk' is a trial of Google Music for 3 months... or a discount to a movie rental... really?? is that an incentive or a sales pitch (rhetorical question)?

I will continue to take photos and review for the betterment of my community, but after all my efforts I am surprised to learn that there really is NO perk after all this work for Google's benefits.......  

 

Do you or your coworkers believe that people will continue to upload as much detail or photos as we had uploaded when the perks are gone?  There was even an intent to share Beta projects with Level 5, but I don't see that advantage in the new point scale either...

 

Just my .02

Thank you,

Bryan  

Level 5

Agreed, I have little to no motivation to bother anymore. What a waste of my time this has been.

Level 5

So the bonus Drive storage benifit has been removed? This update doesn't provide "new perks" it removes the only tangible perk and replaces it with hollow ones. Changing the points scale so most of us jump up a level doesn't make up for it.

Level 10
@mono_man Yes that benefit has been removed (for quite a while now), replaced with 1 free movie and 3 months of music. Honestly this program is not mandatory so you are not obligated to join.
Level 7

@TraciC my ratings aren't showing up in my points total. It says I have 9 ratings, but that's just the 9 new ratings I've made since the new programme came into effect.

Are the old ratings not counted now? 

Level 7

is there any incentive for moving up to level 7 from 6 and other levels??

 

it just seems like the excitement is gone from the program! 

 

anyone else feel the same way?

Level 6

With the new changes, it seems like we will get 5 points for each photo we post, even if they are from the same place. Is there a cap on how many photos we can add to a location before we stop getting points? 

 

I personally like the change and think that it encourages us to continue looking for and adding interesting images to places we frequently visit. And this is especially good for large areas like parks or museums which have so many great things to share. But what do you think? Should there be a strict limit or sliding scale for points earned? Should the size of the location or quality of the pictures be a factor? 

Level 10

Thanks very Useful information.

https://plus.google.com/+GolamAgamAzam
Level 10

I wholeheartedly believe there should be a limit. Probably a limit of about 25 points maximum. I wouldn't upload more than 5 different pictures to a place; though if I did then they would most likely be additional features.

Yesterday I came across this picture of Lennox Bridge in Parramatta and it had all these random different photos from places such as Sydney, the Harbour Bridge, Royal Botanic Gardens, Opera House, the Blue Mountains... to say the least. One person had mistakenly uploaded all his tourist photos unto the Lennox Bridge and there are probably upwards of about 80+ incorrectly uploaded to this.
I sent feedback to probably half the photos that they were all in the irrelevant place but gave up halfway since there were way too many. So this local guide gained upwards of 400+ points just posting all his pictures on some random bridge irrelevant to it. Definitely agree on having a limit. And maybe stricter controls on photos uploaded especially if they don't match existing photos or geolocations.

Level 6

I guess it is hard to execute 'quality' limits, but I would agree that bigger location should allow many photos, while little bar in suburbs do not need 25 photos from outside (usually).

Level 10

In the old system there was a limit of maximum 5 points / location.. I assume the new system the point numbers will scale up.

Level 8

"Earned new badge" is new process?

Level 7
Level 7

Now I need more points to advance, did Google go back and re add the points. Like let's say I did something in the past I'd now 5 points it is it 5 points now? 

Level 7

Yes @Battybat . For example , if u added a place previously and u were given 1 point , now u will get 5 points for that. And yes , points were added to your old contributions too. & thats why u got your points increased.

Level 8

At last found decent scoring for adding places (15 points), giving me a push to go out and explore.

Level 10

All LGs are really motivated by the new badge system upgraded Levels which are more comprehensive with clarity and demarcation. . Now much interested to know the benefits. 

jojo
Level 6

Love that New color theme of local guide, Every level new color and new Gift.. Yeahhhh....

Life is too short to Live
Level 6

Wow. very happy to know level is updated and the points are also increased.

Level 10
It was much needed info. Thanks
Level 10

IMG_5339.PNG

 

 

I got 3 levels in one hour!!

Majidmadsdi

Just noticed that existing users points are being updated to new points system. most of us would jump to next level automatically by this change. See the below table for each level points required under new system. We can reach level up to 10.

Levels+Badges.png

Under new system we can points as below for our contributions.Contribution Points.pngSo no wait, celebrate new points system and contribute more.

Hello All,

 

As you know that the new points system is rolled in by the Googlers, I was kind of shocked to see my score

 

Capture.JPG

 

And as we know, this is how the points will be awarded now onward.

 

Capture.JPG

 

Have a very good time contributing to Maps and share your score to inspire others scoring more and more.

 

Cheers,

Zalak

 

 

Level 7
Hey @TraciC! Thanks for the boost! I'm assuming they're still being worked out, but I was curious about if the perks had been announced for the new levels? Thanks for all that you and your team do! Stay awesome, always!
Level 10

@KishoreHyderabad Yes we see the new point system and we are motivated to go back to the streets in our community to keep on working harder to make the world and our community a better place. Hope you too got inspired by the new points system. I know you are, Good luck and Happy mapping 😊😊😊

Level 10

@KishoreHyderabad hi kishore , i am also from Hyderabad ,are you in the Hyderabad local guides whats app group , if not personally message me your number , i will add you .

There are two meetups going place did you enroll 

here are the links 

https://maps.google.com/localguides/meetup/hyderabad-food-crawl\

https://maps.google.com/localguides/meetup/photo-walk-and-map-editing

Level 10

@HelloSamsonR yes literally we are forced to go roads and contribute .LOL!

love doing that .

 

Level 10

My dear @KishoreHyderabad, it is now more than 24 hrs that new point scheme was made operational, you are a bit late in informing all of us.

Best wishes.

@NarenChandra

@HelloSamsonR


@KishoreHyderabad wrote:

Just noticed that existing users points are being updated to new points system. most of us would jump to next level automatically by this change. See the below table for each level points required under new system. We can reach level up to 10.

Levels+Badges.png

Under new system we can points as below for our contributions.Contribution Points.pngSo no wait, celebrate new points system and contribute more.


 

I am at level 6 but still my badge looks level 4 😞

 

Can any one help here to understand this?

Level 10

 Thank you @TraciC now more challenging and fun, especially after doing review, adding photos, give some rating, edit something so we know how many point we get.

Tag (@BudiFXW) in your post or comment, I will happily to connect with you.
Level 6

So if you already have Google Play Music, as many googly product-fans have, we get 75% off one movie rental? Almost 2500 points earned, a lot of work. No biggie, but you didn´t need to give us that and call it a reward... Sorry about the moody tone... 

Level 5

I agree to a certain extent. They need to add more benefits and rewards for levels 5+. Hope they are listening to feedback and make changes soon. Come on Google, you know what to do! 🙂

Level 10

@Shreeshailgumgeri The system is updating everyday. I see Level 6 on your badge here on connect. All points would be updated to the new points system. So the points you had before would be updated accordingly to the level you are. I hope this helps you. 

Level 5

I must agree an that one! I think its a great way for google to add something extra's to the maps. No more TripAdvisor hello Google.

But you must keep that awards alive. The only reason I post was because of that storage space reward. I must say that it's fun to post and I really see the benefit of our posts. I'll use them allot but the reward is still my trigger. why should I write a big review about something otherwise.. Because it's fun.. Well then I stay at TripAdvisor. 
3 months of music.. tadaaa who cares. that is just a way to get my hooked to that one! The community keeps google maps alive by adding all this info. It's like in Ingress, without a community there would not be any portals. so please Google .. think of that.. I know it cost you a lot of space but still,, see what it does to google maps. It's improving. 
get a better review system, so that these storage hunters posts will be removed by the community .. make a voting system. 8 reviews same post.. 3 of them say no.. goodbye post.

this way you keep it alive,, and get the correct info.   I started as someone who needed the space but I have seen what it can do to the maps and now I just loved to give someone else my opinion about a place.. Maybe it will help them. So start the battle with TripAdvisor and win it because of your community which you appreciate by giving nice rewards. 

Level 4

Agreed, with you!


@RobertPaulsen wrote:

To whom it may concern,

 

I spend a lot of time taking photos and providing feedback about businesses and food, I was being incentivized by the free extra storage at Level 4; however, I was waiting to use my earned "extra storage space" until I needed to use it, but now I am learning that the only 'perk' is a trial of Google Music for 3 months... or a discount to a movie rental... really?? is that an incentive or a sales pitch (rhetorical question)?

I will continue to take photos and review for the betterment of my community, but after all my efforts I am surprised to learn that there really is NO perk after all this work for Google's benefits.......  

 

Do you or your coworkers believe that people will continue to upload as much detail or photos as we had uploaded when the perks are gone?  There was even an intent to share Beta projects with Level 5, but I don't see that advantage in the new point scale either...

 

Just my .02

Thank you,

Bryan  


 

Let's hope that it's just a start - I'm hoping that more levels means greater differentiation, and more layered benefits.

 

Think about it - if there were 5 levels, that's a lot of level 5 guides. To offer a perk to them would be really expensive.

 

But by increasing the number of levels that means there will be less at the top levels, which means better perks...

 

I hope.

 

We'll have to see how it develops. Be good to hear more information, moderators!

At last after some long time, a new update has been rolled out regarding new levels in which level was increased to Level 10. 

 

Also along this, points allotment has been improved. Like earlier, uploading 2 photos will allot you 1 point but now by this update you would get 10 points for each photo.

 

Thanking Google for such a update.

 

 

Level 8

What about getting cloud space on Google Drive as benefit? Is this benefit still on ? I was few points away from level 5 & expecting to get the Google Drive space, but now I elevated to level 7 under new system, should I expect to get the cloud space ? Thanks.

Level 10
@MkpashaKhan no you shouldn't expect the cloud space. That offer expired back in March.
Level 8

I'm delighted to see that the new points system is being applied retrospectively. Thanks to that fact, I straight away became a level 7.