What happened to the perks Google use to give?

Whatever happened to the perks Google Maps use to give to guides for contributions? Do they still exist? The last thing I remember receiving was a free subscription within an app. I can’t recall the app though.

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Hi @SaundraM

Google Local Guides perks depends on quality contribution on Google Maps; Google sends some perks to Local Guides for high-quality contributions. Moreover, to receive perks, you must be subscribed to emails about them and contribute regularly on Maps. Please be sure that your email preferences have perk emails enabled by visiting your Local Guides settings .

For more details please read the Question about a Local Guides reward email? Read this first

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Great question! @SaundraM, Google Local Guides perks have changed over time, and they now seem to vary depending on your region and contribution level. Some perks still exist, like free app subscriptions, early access to features, or discounts with partner brands, but they’re not as frequent or consistent as they used to be. Hopefully, Google will bring back more exciting rewards soon to appreciate the amazing contributions of Local Guides!

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@AbdullahAM,
Not sure I agree. What metric should I use to determine “Quality Contribution”? I took photos for 6 months last year of 8,500+ storefronts, and use the T100 system to see how I’m doing relative to others. My average views PER PHOTO is now over 88,000. I have over 100 photos that have over 1M views, and within the next couple of days, will be over 900M views in total. However, I’ve NEVER been contacted by Google in regards to any reward (don’t really care, but just making a point). Again, what metric should I use to determine “Quality Contribution”? @Rednewt74 @WilfriedB @TerryPG @SaundraM

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Good question, Steve and I’d ask the same, but don’t think there is a valid response.
A review or media doesn’t get many views because its quality, but because many users are searching and finding the POI and the media has a prominent position in the list.
Not sure, but there is a possibility that Google is able to evaluate, whether the number of searches did increase after a certain photo or video was chosen to be the cover of the listing …? But I think, it is rather wild theory …
In any case, the absolute number of views doesn’t tell me anything. It is merely an indication of the popularity of the place.
Perks are just tools to push a certain behavior of users.
@AbdullahAM, @Rednewt74 @TerryPG @SaundraM @shunsader

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@WilfriedB, I completely agree with your statement.

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Hi @shunsader and @WilfriedB

Thank you for raising the point about the quality contribution, as a local guide i have no idea of the technical point, how Google determine the quality contrition, it is a technical topic, but i think it is done by google algorithm. A Google Moderator wrote an article about perk, for details please read the Question about a Local Guides reward email? Read this first

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Hi @SaundraM , welcome to Connect,
Well, there is an “official” reply, that is more or less the one given by @AbdullahAM . You can find the article here: Question about a Local Guides reward email? Read this first.
But there is also a more realistic one, coming from @shunsader and @WilfriedB .
I’m not adding my name because as a volunteer moderator of Connect I receive an annual gift and have been very fortunate to attend 3 Local Guides events in the past, but as far as perks (the ones where we get an email with a code to claim them) the answer is no, I haven’t received any, despite having almost 1.25 million points, mostly thanks to over 70k roads added to Maps.
Rewards are mostly a marketing exercise. Not that I expect rewards, nor do I want them. Personally I think they are a bad thing, especially after I saw that many of those who received them put them up for sale online.
So I am very happy not to be part of that "marketing " selection

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I agree with what Wilfried and @ErmesT mentioned. I have gotten a few perks (love my socks) over the years but there is no set metric to receive them. Like so many others we voluntarily do this because we enjoy it.

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