What are Google Local Guides?

Local Guides help millions of people in the Google Maps to find the best place anywhere in the world. Any person can rate and review the local business according to their experience. On the basis of these ratings & reviews people can differentiate good and bad business places.

Image: Google Local Guide account

What are the things that you can do through your Google profile on anyone's Google Local business listing?

Ratings and Reviews
You can post reviews and ratings for any business posted on Google maps. But remember to write a real and genuine review. There’s nothing wrong with showing some love for your favorite local spot, but please don’t do it to get free stuffs.

Suggest photos and videos
Only upload photos and videos of your work. You can upload any photo or video taken by you. Please note don’t upload your selfies. 

Suggest the Correct business information
If you find any business place with wrong address you can correct that address.

Image: Google Local Guide

Fix Wrong Marker Location
If you believe the marker location is not correct for a particular business listing, you can also make it correct by dragging marker at right place.

Image: Google Local Guide Account

Answer Local Questions
You can answer any question asked by any user for a particular business listing. Before posting your answer make sure you are well aware with the query.

Benefits of Google Local Guides
The Local Guides program offers you free Google Drive storage and the promise of insider access if you’re willing to put in the time.
1. Earn the Google local guides badge
2. Local Guides Level 3 and above receive the badge in the Google Maps app as a benefit.
3. If you are in level 4+ of Google Local Guide, you will be eligible for free Google Drive storage for one year. You can get 100GB space in Google Drive storage for this offer. Currently you can unlock level 4 benefits at 200 points. 

Become a Local Guide
Local Guides is offered everywhere Google Maps is available. At this time Google map is available in more than 40 countries

Who is qualified to be a local guide?
Have a valid Google account
You should at least 18 years of age
Have signed up on Google Local guide. If not please click here

Points, Levels, and Badging
Levels are defined by the number of points that you have earned. You will receive 1 point for every place you review, add photographs, and edits. If you provide an additional information on Google maps you can earn up to 5 points. Your points and level can take up to 24 hours to update in the Google Maps.
Your points never expire however they may decrease if a review is removed for violating Google Reviews and Photos policies.
There are total 5 levels in google local guide
Level 1 = 0-4 points
Level 2 = 5-49 points
Level 3 = 50-199 points
Level 4 = 200-499 points
Level 5 = 500+ points

Earn Points by contributing on Google Maps
Upload 1 or more photos to the same place = 1 point
Upload 2 photos + 1 review to the same place = 2 points
Write 5 reviews of 5 different places = 5 points
Answer 1 or more local questions about the same place = 1 point
Make 1 or more edits to the same place = 1 point
Add a new place = 1 point

If you are new in Google Places & Google local guide and really don't know How to setup Google local business listing? please visit my post for Creating a new Google Business listing.

FAQ
How Many Places can I reviewed in a day?
There is no limit to post reviews but be honest, are your all reviews real and genuine?

What happens to my all data after the Google Drive free storage expires?
Don’t worry your data will stay saved with your Google Drive. You can access it anytime. But you can’t add new files unless until you purchase new plan.

If you have already a business listing registered on Google Places but worried about how to rank higher in Google maps? Don’t worry, please visit my post to rank a Google business listing