Google City Experts is now open to everyone and called (Google) Local Guides. What should you do?

Google City Experts is now open to everyone and called (Google) "Local Guides". What should you do? Join!

Why be part of Google Local Guides?

• Connecting to fun people all over the world that like to share their reviews, pictures and comments about places they go (that are also listed on Google Maps).

• Before when it was called (Google) City Experts you had to review 50 places, live in one of the limited cities and write 5 reviews a month to be part of it. Then you got to be part of communities, win prizes and go to special events networking with people all over the world (in these select cities). I personally have been part of it since about the beginning and have written over 400 reviews that have contributed to my over 12 million views of my G+ page. h

• Local Guides brings in a tier-based system where now the more you review the more benefits of being part of Local Guides. When you write more reviews, you are eligible to members-only contests, such as free tablets and things of that nature. Learn more about the tiers: https://www.google.com/local/guides/benefits/ https://www.google.com/local/guides/benefits/

• If you focus, like me, on seeking out local owned and operated businesses then you can make a real difference reviewing them, helping keep money in your local economy and bring more awareness to local owned businesses.

How to Join Google Local Guides (formerly Google City Experts):

1) Sign up to Google+, if you have not already (Make sure you have added a picture and write up about you in your G+ account)
http://plus.google.com

2) Join Google Local Guides (link: http://goo.gl/6NghOa )
    Optional join the Triangle Local Guides community:  
    http://goo.gl/A8QypP
    and/or if outside of RTP the Global Local Guides community:  
     http://goo.gl/ymkeKg
     - Let them know Martin Brossman sent you ;)

3) Look up local owned and operated businesses you know and gained value from on Google Maps: http://maps.google.com

4) Write a review, give them  stars, add pictures if you have them of their place.

5) Feel good that you have helped a local owned and and operated business and let the owners know about it.

6) Repeat step 3 through 5 and know this is truly helping local owned and operated businesses!

7) Bonus: If you let people know you are writing reviews on social media then use the Hashtag: #ReviewLocal and ask others to do the same.

I am not asking anything of you that I have not done! See my over 400 reviews: https://plus.google.com/u/0/+MartinBrossman/reviews

• The guidelines and rules for participation in the local guides program:
  https://www.google.com/local/guides/rules/index.html

• How Local Guides act - Here are a few things we encourage Local Guides to do:
  https://www.google.com/local/guides/how-we-act/

Other articles on Google Local Guides:

Article about the start of the City Experts back in 2013:
Google Launches City Experts Program To Encourage Higher Quality Google+ Local Reviews
http://techcrunch.com/2013/08/02/google-launches-city-experts-program-to-encourage-higher-quality-google-local-reviews/

- Martin Brossman
My personal profile on Google Plus:
https://plus.google.com/u/0/+MartinBrossman/posts
(919) 847-4757

Possible Hashtags to use: #ReviewLocal #ShopLocal #ShopLocalRaleigh #CityExperts #LocalGuides