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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 10

@Stuart We are all happy with the new points system, it serves as a motivational factor to all of us, to go back and also improve our community consistently. Am sure you are motivated as I am also. I 😊

Level 6
I was very surprised. When I was looking  my contribution is at level 6. 
Even though I still got about 575 points. It's suddenly changed 4.256 points. Alhamdulillah

Capture.PNG

 

 

 

Level 5

I hoped that Google was working on something different, something better. But now I know that all the time I spent contributing was just a waste of time.

 

I won't contribute anymore until Google makes changes to the current rewards.

Former Google Contributor

Hi @LogeshKumar

 

Thanks for asking. The new points system information is available here : https://goo.gl/P9xEZ6. For further information, please check this article.

* Due to the volume of private messages please note that I do not reply to them
Level 8
Level 8
Wow.. great way to recognize local guides. @TraciC. If you can elaborate more on various perks on each level it will be good. Like Google Insider program on Level 5 in previous levels. Also i would like to suggest to reintroduce free Google drive space for local guides. Its a great boost of motivation. Many of my colleagues were very proud of it and even i was boasting it with my friends that i got free Google drive space for helping Google. I know giving 1 tb for 2 years for each member is not possible but at least i would suggest +1GB to google drive for every level rise atleast from Level 5. Eg. 6th level LG's will get 6GB space. It will be a very good motivation to reach new levels which will bring new content/reviews into maps database. I can see it will be a great encouragement for fellow LG's. Think about it.
Level 8

Please share pros and cons of new point system.

Level 7
Level 8

Hii Everyone

Did​ you know there are 21 Local Guides who reached in Level 10

Congratulation my Fellow Local Guides

Level-10

Screenshot_20170615-070341~2.png

 

Level 8

Finally got level 6

Level 7

いつの間にか、レベルの上限が10になっている、、

正直驚きです

これ以上はさすがに伸びないか

IMG_6091.PNG

 

 

Level 9

Awesome....if you want to play real game on your mobile phone, this is the perfect one for all local guides.. cheers 

Bk gajendra

@RobbenR wrote:

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. 



I agree, the 3 months of music is almost an insult. I'd rather listen to Pandora (free) or Amazon music (because I already pay for shipping services and music is a free part of the shipping service).

You're also right about the "storage hunters", I see lots of out-of-place-photos and two-word reviews... the best thing to do is flag it for removal so that you keep those morons from keeping their high status for bogus data.

I haven't been to TripAdvisor, but looks like that might be the better option until there is Any kind of advantage to "work" for google's maps updates.

 

People mention the cost of providing space for Local Guides, but the reality is that "we work" to improve Google maps (at least I know I do), and that is an opportunity cost that Google is not paying me (or the Thousands of others) to improve maps... so the minor costs of providing a few GB of data for Google Drive is still saving Google in the long-run because we are basically improving their maps for next to nothing.

 

Do you actually think that anyone from Google would care to read any of our suggestions? Do you think that they care if a few of us depart from their ranks of data input people?

Level 9

The point you all miss is that we are volunteers here.  We are not paid but do occasionally receive gifts to express appreciation.

 

Why do I do it?  I do it because I am returning a favor.  Paying it forward.  All that feel good/warm fuzzy stuff.

 

I find that getting accurate Maps information and reliable pictures and reviews for businesses saves me from wasting money on bad meals and bad experiences.  Having accurate business hours saves me from wasting my time and navigating to a business that will be closed when I arrive.

 

I suppose if you never use Maps in these ways, you are wasting your time in contributing......  I'm not.

?Kimberly on Social ? Google Maps  ? Instagram ? Facebook ? Twitter ?️YouTube ?San Francisco Local Guides

Level 7

Hello, thank you for this refreshing update, should we get level 10 to be eligible for the Local Guides Summit please ?

Thanks again 🙂 

Level 6

I was level 5 before this update (now I'm 6!). So are there any new perks to these new levels? I mean I enjoy being a guide because I love to review places, fix maps...etc. Just curious though. 

Level 10

Whoa! @JonasKL This is awesome. Congrats! 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👍

Level 7

Hola!

 

Me toman de sorpresa estos mayúsculos cambios, pero finalmente me parecen bien, sobre todo lo de hacer el reconocimiento inmediato a los aportes.

 

Ahora hace falta que los cambios vengan aparejados con una mejor atención a las sugerencias hechas por los Local Guides en referencia a errores contenidos en los Mapas.

 

Saludos y gracias por mantener este Servicio!

Level 6

@TraciC What are the new benefits that come with each level?

With the old 5-level system the benefits were explained clearly, but now I see nothing but the free Google Play offer for levels 4+...

Level 6

 @TraciC Thank you for clarifying. I feel that the new point system is more rewarding towards what I like to do. The icons are fun, however, it is apparant to anyone that Local Guides are creating millions if not billions worth of content. I must say the 3 month google play offer is nice, but will likely just result in people becoming dependent ont it and stick to the service (as happened to me). So beause I already have a subscription for Google Play I would like to ask whether I can get the 3 months discounted towards my subscription. That would be fair and great. Thank you! 

Level 7

There should be unique rewards for reaching each level - for example different discounts for Google Music (i.e. - level 4 - 3 month -70%, level 10 - 12 month - 90%)

Level 8
I too would like to see better rewards for quality contributions. The music offer is available to anyone, how about some level of credit towards my current subscription, or maybe a credit to google opinion rewards account.
Level 6

Awesome 🙂

Level 5

hi there.

im from Turkey and im a local guide.

my level is 4.

my problem is;

Google said; If you reach level 4 up to March 31, you will get 100 GB of storage space... and i shared amazing photos for Google Local Guides but nobody gave my present... So im not sharing photos and informations for Google...

 

Level 6

Mmm, so is this the place where community just say hi, share the love or whinge? Or someone from Google will actually explain to us why we can't get the perk as 3 months free Google Play when we are already subscribed? Smells like an incentive to sign more people and milk the current subscribers...

 

What happened the Google's vision of making the world better place? 😕

شكرآ ادمين/دليل المحلية

مفاجأة رائعة،

نحن المرشدين نساهم في اكبر محرك بحث في العالم لمساعدة الجميع في حول العالم هذا إضافة كبيرة لجوجل تساعده اكثر نحو التقدم و التطور في كل الاوقات على مدى المستقبل البعيد و هذا تتطلب الاهتمام أكثر بالمرشدين لتشجيعهم لمواصلة المساهمات دون انقطاعات عن المساهمة،

شكرآ جوجل،

شكرآ ادمين،

شكرآ المرشدين،

الى الامام

دليل الاتصال العالمي،

Level 9

@AbdelrahimIsmail

شكرا لكلماتك الراءعة

Level 6

@TraciC @MajkGuide Excactly! Of course the business model is clear, but indeed, there should be a way to redeem that perk as a subscriber and I am confident they will solve that 🙂 You know, giving up a 30 bucks is always a better than turning customer love into brand frustration, right?

Level 6

I'm sure eventually they'll add more levels (probably up to 100) because some LGs are already at level 10 lol.

 

Cheers! Hopefully there'll be new benefits for each level (-:

Level 8

Its good and awesome

Level 8

Thanks @TraciC

Level 9

@TraciC, thanks I got level 7 now. Very awesome this information

Muhammad Sadeli | Pekanbaru | Riau Indonesia
Level 10

Thanks once again @TraciC

Please consider seperate point scale for SV 360 Degree photos.

@Zanikhan_95

@Syarfan

@Yogesh_2811

@stillnotbea

Level 6

Nice Update, Hit Level 5 Now

Michael Adhiyatama
Level 7

予告なくポイント制度に変更がありました。しかし、これは良いことです。私が疑問に思っていたことを多くのLocal Guides photographerも感じていたのでしょう??

なぜならば、自宅や事務所から口コミすることと、実際にその場所に行って写真を撮影をすることが同じポイントでした。

労力が違います。しかし、ポイントは同じ。

Local Guides 360 photographerは口コミだけでポイントを稼いでいる人よりもGoogleへの貢献度も違います。

 

今までの口コミ制度だと、Googleが欲しいGoogle street viewでは行き届かな画像のbigdataを取得できないため、双方にとって不利益です。

 

しかし、新しいポイント制度は過酷です。誰しも楽をしてポイントを稼ぎたいですからね。

 

しかし、Local guides 360 photographer としましては、Googleの新しいポイント制度ではGoogleのロボットになってしまうため、locai guidesのポイント制度に左右されずに楽しみがら撮影する必要があります。

 

Level 9

Good morning Sir 

Need some applicable perks also.. that will boast it busimess

Level 10
@Ci12 what applicable perks you are talking about ?
Level 8

Early morning when I started my work with fresh mind; just got a email from Google that local guide can go upto level 10 now.

That was a fantastic news which filled me with more energy & happiness.

Now I am on level 7. Whats your Level of excitement & happiness. Please share 🙂 

 

Thanks & Cheer up !!!!

Level 8

My dear fellow LGs with new point system.get a point and rank up. Congratulations in advance. 🙂

harsh manvar
Level 9

Congratulations too @U-royFelixA @Briggs @BlancheMc @NarenChandra @NareshDarji for making it to level 8 except @NareshDarji but I know soon he will be in Level 8.

 

Congratulations

 

 


@U-royFelixA wrote:

Whoa! @JonasKL This is awesome. Congrats! 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👍


 

It is amazing what you can accomplish if you do not care who gets the credit.
Level 10

@JonasKL Nice, i collected 3badges yesterday also, check my profile 😄 Congratulations on your new badge.

Sure @KimberlyAnnG, i love making use of my spare time by updating the Google Maps.

But then again, one need to remember that Google (Alphabet) is a huge conglomerate where their Maps feature is just wiping the floor with its competition.

So for us to be working for free without any reward, only to be offered some music subscription for 3 month that could have as easily been sent out any day of the week of any music streaming service is really disappointing  to say the least.

they need us to be working for them, as the "good guys" must overcome the bad edits on google maps, and they can never afford to hire this kind of masses to combat that world wide, so this is a incredibly cheap alternative for them. 

So to be withholding some few perks is just imperial cheap and even rude to the efforts of people like @RobertPaulsen and everyone else in this great community.

 

 

I´m hoping this new points system is the begging of something greater then before, as someone said, maybe its still not complete ?

 

I´m thinking in the realms of the following:

 

Maybe add 5gb of storage to G-drive of each level beyond level 5 ?

and a final touch of +10gb for Level 10 

And the beta things should come early, no later then level 5, because you want to test the things with others, you need the masses, double-check errors and so forth.

 

And invite to Google event might be level 8 to 10 ?

 

 

Can everyone post their own suggestion for what might keep them going in the process of staying active on this platform ?

might be fun to iron out what we want and start making a petition for it.. Just nagging wont make a difference 🙂

 

 

 

Level 8

Regarding new points system, 5 points are awarded for each photo. My suggestion is that for every 360 photo higher points should be awarded (10 points)

It would be nice to assign points taking into account the number of photo views. This could stimulate original and quality photos.

Level 8

Thnks @TraciC

Dsingh
Level 6

From Level 8 level 10 you have to post 17,000 photos. That is ridiculous. Lets say we visit 2 places a day and 3 images from each place that will take around 8 years continously. crazy.

Level 9

This is a great update!

 

However, I think there is a problem with the counting of my points. See below the overview of my contributions to Maps. Next to it, I've placed the help article explaining the point counting. According to that, I should have 127,310 points and be a level 10 Local Guide, if I made a correct calculation.Knipsel.PNG

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I'm happy with being a level 8 Local Guide, but I think this should be fixed!

 

- Frank

Level 10

Thanks @JonasKL Congrats to you, my brother. 

Level 4

1.  Where is the list of all perks or benefits for each level? Or is it literally one benefit for hitting level 4, then nothing for levels 5-10?

 

2.  How is a 3 month trial of Google Music a "benefit"?  Google offers that to anyone. Whether you contribute or not. 

 

3.  A one time movie rental coupon? Not even a free rental, a coupon?  There are MANY companies who offer that (including Google) once again, for doing absolutely nothing.

 

I am really confused why anyone is "excited" about any of this.  They didn't even put any thought or energy into the ridiculous icons for each level.  They are all the same color and look exactly the same, lol.  The only difference is the number of points on the star?  After 5 it is really hard to tell them apart.  Not that a better icon is of any actual value, but it just shows how little Google cares about or values the people who are building this sytem and community for them.

 

I can't wait to see the next update with "exciting" announcements!

 

This just in, insiders say in the next update Google plans to offer anyone who dedicated hours of their life to helping them build out their maps app and providing content they would otherwise have to pay for...

 

- Unlimited free oxygen!

- Unlimited free sunlight!

- Unlimited use of Google and YouTube!

 

To get your free oxygen and sunlight, just go outside.

 

To get your free use of Google and YouTube, just keep using Google and YouTube as you normally would, where Google will track your online habits, sell that data, and sell advertising based on everything you do.

 

These new perks are our way of laughing at you, I mean thanking you for helping us build a multi billion dollar brand and not having to pay anything for millions of dollars of valuable content. 

Level 10

75% off Google play?