What Is Local Guide And How To Become A Local Guide

Looking to improve your brand’s online presence? Google’s Local Guide program is a worldwide community of users that can support your marketing activities. They can help manage online reviews and ratings, build brand reputation, and improve your online search exposure and visibility. 

The impact of these Local Guides on your brand’s reputation depends on the quantity and quality of the Guides' contributions. However, you can also respond to these contributions as a business to add more value for the readers. 

However, you must first understand what is a Local Guide and how to leverage this program fully and improve your online visibility, as well as manage your reputation.

Understanding Local Guides

A Google Local Guide is a global explorer’s community who write reviews, answer questions, share photos, check facts, and add or edit places on Google Maps. Local Guides are trusted by many individuals when it comes to making choices while traveling, such as where to go, what to do, and how to get to their destinations.  

When a Local Guide posts reviews, photos, edits, or provides information on maps on Google, they also get points. Let’s look at some key features of Google Maps Local Guide:

• Open Membership - Anyone can be a Local Guide and start contributing.

• Volunteer Contributions - All contributions, whether to Google Maps or Searches, are voluntary.

• Privileges and Incentives - As a Local Guide, you will receive points for each contribution and, at times, certain privileges and incentives.

Local Guides' Role In Google Maps

Local Guides play a crucial role in Google Maps, as they help other users stay up-to-date with local business information and activities. By sharing experiences on Google Maps, the Local Guides contribute to providing others with the knowledge about what to do and where to visit. 

The interactive feature, similar to Wikipedia, illustrates how information shared by the community can shape our perspective on the world and how we navigate it. The Local Guides also build a sense of community through their input regarding Google Maps. 

They help individual businesses and users by promoting connections between places and people, as they tell people where to go, while also making the place more popular.

How To Be A Part Of The Google Local Guides Program?

It is free and easy to become a local guide and be a part of this program. All you need is your Google account and follow the easy steps listed below:

• Step 1: Enter your Google login credentials. 

• Step 2: Open the Google Local Guide’s website.

• Step 3: Click on “get started” and agree to the terms and conditions.

• Step 4: Scroll and click on the "Become Local Guide" option after filling in the required information. 

• Step 5: You can now get started by uploading pictures, making reviews, and answering questions about places you have visited.

• Step 6: As soon as you start contributing, you will earn points with every action, which will help improve your Local Guide level.

Points Earned For Google Maps Contribution

Now that you have understood what a Local Guide program is, here are the points that you can earn for different actions:

How Does Google’s Local Guides Program Work?

After you sign up for Local Guide program, here are the things you can do:

1. Contribute to Google Maps

You can share your local knowledge, submit star ratings in Google Maps, write Google reviews for business listings, and post pictures and videos. As a Local Guide, you can also add or edit missing places and respond to questions on Google Maps.

2. Earn Points

Once you start contributing, you can earn Local Guide levels and points for being an engaged member of the community. This involvement is also gamified, where various rewards are presented to individuals who are interested in generating participation in the program. 

Depending on the number of points, you will have a higher level, with access to more and more perks. As you start to achieve new levels, you can earn updated functionality of popular Google products and early access to new Google features. 

Once you reach Level 4, you will be given the Google Local Guide badge.

3. Join The Community

A Local Guide can also be a part of Google’s virtual Local Guide community and connect. Through this community, you can meet other Local Guides in your area and also across the world, making it one of the best Local Guide benefits.

4. Local Guides Meet-Ups

Google hosts Local Guides meet-ups on a time-to-time basis, which is a good opportunity to meet and get to know other members of the community. These meet-ups can be attended in person to see other members of your community.

How Local Businesses Can Get Local Guides To Know Them?

It may be tough for you to find a Local Guide unless you know them personally. The only trick you need to use to attract and get known by a Local Guide is to provide excellent customer service to all your customers. 

To start, ensure your Google My Business profile is optimized with current and accurate information, making it easy for customers and Local Guides to locate and visit you. Moreover, you must focus on increasing your online visibility even before a Local Guide decides to see you. 

This can be accomplished by aggressively soliciting feedback from your clients and responding to them promptly and efficiently. With a dedicated review generation and response plan, you can boost both customer retention and customer acquisition. 

Positive reviews serve as social proof, helping you attract more consumers organically. This will make your business popular, and eventually, a Local Guide may notice you and experience your services or products themselves. 

Therefore, from a business perspective, a Local Guide can boost your online visibility, particularly in relation to local search rankings. SEO and reviews go hand in hand, and if a Local Guide leaves you a Google review, it can add to the trust and credibility of your brand. 

Requirements And Responsibilities Of A Local Guide

After understanding how to join Local Guide program, you must also be aware of your responsibilities towards the community and the businesses:

• Ensuring Accuracy - The information you share must be accurate and should not be misleading.

• Privacy Protection - You must also refrain from sharing any personal photos or details without the prior consent of the individuals in question.

• Constructive and Positive Contributions - You should provide constructive feedback when required for any business and avoid using your Local Guide participation to write unfair and negative reviews.

Conclusion

Becoming a Local Guide or joining the local knowledge sharing program can offer a wealth of community-linked information that significantly enhances your brand’s online visibility. Every photo, review, or update shared by a Local Guide can help you attract more people to your listings and also improve the customer experience. 

Imagine your brand not just being listed, but explicitly showcased on Google Maps through engaging stories from people and vibrant photos of those who have enjoyed your products and services. 

This can be further streamlined by adding positive Google reviews to your Google Business Profile. To achieve this, you can contact BuyReviewz, as we are the industry leader in providing 5-star reviews from genuine accounts. These reviews will attract Local Guides to visit your brand, which will help you achieve your desired outcome - visibility.