Why become a Google Local Guide? It gives you Google Super Powers!
1) Please note: This is for NOT for Businesses, it’s for individuals.
2) Download a Step by Step PDF Walk Through: Local Guide PDF

It’s for you personally (as a business owner). Please do not use this maliciously.

Go to your Phones App Store: Both IOS and Android are supported.

Search for and install Google Maps (app)

Once Installed => Open  Google Maps App

In the top upper left hand corner click then menu click on the hamburger menu (the 3 lines)

Click on “Your Contributions” => Click the Get rewards for your contributions by joining Local Guides => Get Started.

Sign up/in using YOUR PERSONAL (not your business Gmail account). Again GLG this is not for “businesses” – its for you personally as a business owner and is why you need to use your personal Gmail account (check which account you are logged into on your phone if you have several – there will be an option to switch accounts).

Start contributing to the community around your place of business on a Regular and Consistent Schedule, with real useful and relevant information about them and what services/products they provide to the community.

TIP: Once you hit level 4, magic starts to happen (see below).

Points, levels, and badging

Local Guides points

Earn points by contributing content to Google Maps. Score a place with ratings, describe your experience with reviews, share photographs and videos, provide insights with answers, respond to questions about a place, update information with place edits, add missing places, or verify information by checking facts.

Maps contribution Points earned
Review 10 points per review
Review with more than 200 characters 10 bonus points per review
Rating 1 point per rating
Photo 5 points per photo
Video 7 points per video
Answer 1 point per answer
Respond to Q&As 3 points per response
Edit 5 points per edit
Place added 15 points per place added
Fact checked 1 point per fact checked

Local Guides levels

Reach higher levels as you earn points for your contributions.

Level Points Badge
Level 1 0 points No badge
Level 2 15 points No badge
Level 3 75 points No badge
Level 4 250 points
Level 5 500 points
Level 6 1,500 points
Level 7 5,000 points
Level 8 15,000 points
Level 9 50,000 points
Level 10 100,000 points

Please note your points and level can take up to 24 hours to update. Points do not expire, though they may decrease if content is removed for violating our policies. Remain an active contributor on Google Maps to be eligible for perks and early access to new features.

Short Cut/Cheat Sheet: Where the magic happens (level 4 and above):
https://support.google.com/local-guides/answer/6225851?hl=en&ref_topic=6225845

General Program Overview:
https://maps.google.com/localguides/howto

Rules of the Local Guide Community:
https://support.google.com/local-guides/answer/2519605?hl=en

Where it’s very powerful: As a Local Guide, your suggestions are treated differently. For example if you see a review violating the guidelines, when you flag it, it gets attention.
https://support.google.com/contributionpolicy/answer/7445749?hl=en&ref_topic=7422769