More Levels, and more ways to contribute for Local Guides

Luis Duran, from Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, is passionate about helping people with disabilities better navigate and explore his city. Kim Flowers, in Melbourne, Australia, believes everyone should think locally and prides herself on helping businesses in her community. Chioma James from Lagos, Nigeria, is working to ensure that victims of sexual crimes can easily find necessary resources like hospitals, police stations and counseling centers. All three of these individuals are Local Guides—people from around the world who help their communities by adding reviews, photos and updated location information to Google Maps.

Since 2014, our Local Guides community has grown to more than 30 million contributors. Once you sign up to be a Local Guide, every contribution you make to Google Maps earns you points towards unlocking something new—like early access to new Google Maps features, exclusive contests, events and perks. Over the next few days we’re rolling out updates to the Local Guides program, including a new point system, new levels that unlock different kinds of perks, and new ways to earn points.

Certain kinds of contributions that have a higher impact for Google Maps users—like being the first to add a place to the map or leaving a review—earn you more points. In addition, Local Guides now earn points for rating places and checking facts from other community members. All points earned are shown immediately after each contribution, and are visible in the “contribute” tab.

 Just like before, Local Guides Level 2 and above can enjoy early access to new product features, and get occasional perks from Google and local perks from partners. Starting today, in select countries, Local Guides Level 4-10 can redeem a free three-month Google Play Music subscription and 75 percent off a rental in the Google Play Movie store.

We’ve added five new levels to Local Guides, bringing the total number from 5 to 10. For levels 4-10, we’ve designed unique badges, giving guides at higher levels a new way to be recognized for their contributions, and helping users quickly identify the Local Guides who contribute the most. These badges will appear next to each Local Guides’ profile picture in Google Maps.

Around the world, Local Guides help people get around easier, navigate and explore with confidence, and support local businesses. We look forward to continuing to work with Local Guides to make the world and local communities more accessible to everyone.