Hello Local Guides,
Recently, I posted about an event that was not only part of the ongoing campaign celebrating Google Maps’ 20th birthday and the Local Guides program’s 10th anniversary, led by @NareshDarji , @JaneBurunina , and myself, but also a moment of pride for me and my fellow Local Guides from Karachi: @Swalay ,
@DrFoodieOfficial (Rizwan Shah),
@Bilal_shaikh , and @muhammad_ilyas . We were honored to be invited to this event, which focused on learning and sharing knowledge about Google Maps contributions. Although only Swalay and I got a chance to speak, I am still grateful to all my friends who took the time to travel far and be part of the event.
This event was organized by Benazir Bhutto Shaheed University, with the primary goal of educating its students about certain Google Maps features that can help them promote small businesses in their areas.
One of the highlights of this event was the participation of a large number of female students alongside male students. Their interest was remarkable, and they asked many thoughtful questions, especially related to learning opportunities. We did our best to explain everything in detail.
The main topics covered in the event were:
• Learning about Google Maps
• How to add missing places and information
• Creating a daily digital travel diary
• Using Google Maps offline
• Location sharing for safety and security
• Creating a business profile on Google Maps
• Levels, points, and badges
• Writing reviews, giving ratings, adding photos, videos, and 360° images
• Contributing to your community and becoming a Local Guide
Swalay started the session in his unique style, introducing Google Maps and its key features. He explained personal Google Maps lists, offline maps, and, most importantly, the location-sharing feature, which is particularly useful for women’s safety. Since he has great expertise in 360° and Street View photography, he also shared his knowledge with the audience through slides.
Then, I was invited to speak. After thanking the university administration and the audience, I talked about the benefits of contributing to Google Maps and how our voluntary efforts positively impact our country and its people.
I also explained the Google Maps points system, badges, and levels, guiding attendees on how they can grow step by step with meaningful contributions. Additionally, I highlighted things that should be avoided, such as adding fake locations, uploading selfies or children’s photos, and posting irrelevant images.
I was also asked how Google Maps is more effective than other social media platforms for business promotion. I shared my insights on this topic as well.
Building on my discussion, Swalay used slides to demonstrate how to add places and businesses on Google Maps. He emphasized that it is a simple process that anyone can do, without the need to pay anyone. He advised attendees to keep updating their business photos regularly, as this helps increase their reach.
At the end of the meetup, we were honored with a certificate, something truly special for us as Local Guides. It was a proud moment, knowing that our time and efforts were spent on something truly valuable. I hope that many people, especially women, will join this noble cause, ultimately benefiting millions by providing accurate and helpful information.
