Banned from Local Guides – Here is how you can appeal [Solved]

As soon as you start posting reviews and pictures on Google Maps, you will be offered an opportunity by Google to participate in the Local Guides Program. Once accepted, you will get a shape changing star under your profile picture and Google Maps will now become a game of pursuit. As you rise the levels, you will get a few interesting privileges. You will also get points and badges. There is an intricate connection between the local guides and local business where both can help each other grow. Here is a pro tip, if you have a business premise marked on Google Maps, invite the local guides for an event or showcase. The local guides will get a chance to create high quality content and you will get free publicity.

Be mindful of the rules

Basically Google Maps use crowdsourcing in the form of local guides to improve their map data. But just like any other app or software, Google needs to maintain quality. So make sure, the content that you post is high quality. Once the points starts rolling in, do not get tempted to post thin reviews just with the aim to score points. Also resist the urge of posting the same pictures and video in multiple locations, even if there are duplicate locations already present. Once Google catches you, there is an automatic permanent ban.

There is also restricted and prohibited content which if posted on Google Maps will also invite an automatic ban.

Finally be careful of writing a bad review. Remember there is an appeal process with the business establishment. If you have inadvertently violated Google Maps TOS, that might result in a ban.

You’ve been banned from Local Guides because you violated the Local Guides program rules

So if you have not been playing by the rules, this is what you will get in the form of a permanent ban. You will also be kicked out of the Local Guides Connect program if you have joined. Infact the message will come from the Local Guides Connect website and will be displayed on your profile. The star symbol under your name will also disappear. But your reviews, photos and videos will remain there.

All is (Not) well

Fortunately there is an appeal process. It is there on the Support Website of Google. It is in the form of a Local Guides Appeal Form. You need to feed in a few details and submit the form.

Here is a link to the appeal form.

https://support.google.com/local-guides/contact/local_guides_appeal

You need to login and submit the appeal form from the same account from which you got a ban. It won’t have a direct bearing but will help.

When does the ban get lifted?

Like it has always been with Google, there is no place to call or email someone to help with the ban. Once the appeal form is filled and submitted, there is a complete silence from Google. Some users have reported that Google does not revoke the ban and just sends an apology note. At times, the note doesn’t come at all. In that case, you can move on by opening a new account. Note this however, Google does not allow multiple accounts of local guides for the same person.

However many users have reported across various forums that the ban was successfully lifted after a waiting period. There is atleast one user who has reported on the online forums that he got a reply that the ban cannot be lifted and after a few days automatically the ban got removed. So do not lose hope over it.

Is Local Guides worth your time?

There might be a chance that business establishment owners will invite you as a local guide to post a review. Also the Levels and Stars might give you some bragging rights. But apart from that, you shall discover that it is nothing but a time pass. Do not take it so seriously that if you are banned, even if by mistake, you should not lose sleep over it.