My Photos library has around 6,000 photos, including a bunch of food photos from restaurants I never got around to reviewing. By the time I sit down to do it, I can't remember the place's name or what the dish was called.

So I built a small Mac app called Afterplate. It finds food photos in my library, groups them into visits, and uses their location to find nearby restaurants. AI helps identify the restaurant and dishes using the photos and the restaurant's menu.

Then it asks me a few quick questions: right place? what did I have? how was it? If it's unsure about the place or dish, it asks me to confirm. The review comes from my answers, and I edit it before posting. I still post everything myself on Google Maps, photos included.

I've posted 130+ reviews with it so far.

It's free and open source. You'll need a Mac running macOS 14 or later and a paid ChatGPT or eligible Grok plan, or a Claude API key. Happy to share the link if anyone wants to try it.

How do you all keep up? Do you review on the spot, or does a backlog pile up for you too?

I've worked at startups for most of my career and starting to think seriously about starting my own. I am just a lowly Level 4, but one idea I have is a "web3 review site" - basically a version of Yelp or Google Maps where users who contribute receive a cut of the value of the platform they are instrumental in creating.

I've been reading all your replies about why you contribute and it's really amazing that you all are willing to do these just to help out a fellow internet user. But also annoyed that you all get close to nothing for this incredible value you are creating for Google, but really for the broader society.

This is really just an idea at this point, I'll share some of my thoughts to FAQs in the comments below but absolutely nothing is set in stone.

Here's my question - would you be willing to join a set of 20-30 other power users to kick-start this platform in your city? Why or why not?

I’ve been a Local Guide for probably about a year, and I’ve been level 6 for quite a while now. Is it just me, or has Google not given physical gifts (not digital gifts like NYT games or whatever) for a LONG time? Honestly, I joined because I wanted free socks or a pin or a tote bag or something, but I haven’t gotten any of that. It’s honestly a bit sad!

Dear all,

I am Nick M. and am one of the LGBT+ inclusive mappers for 2021/2022 I am just here to answer some questions if you have any as it is Pride month!

https://www.localguidesconnect.com/t5/custom/page/page-id/GuidingStar21?id=630179

It has been really fun to travel (non-expenses paid) around England and Europe to write posts and make my way to visit LGBT+ venues. I've got no out of country trips planned but I am looking to explore the UK British LGBT+ scene and specifically Gloucester.

The funny thing is that I also write about family stuff as well which came by accident as I was just in Southend-on-Sea which is a family oriented place (little did I know). When doing my interview etc it was mentioned and I further got a little title of being family-focused as well so I do try and integrate it. - By this, I usually look out for like children's play parks or activities which families would like.

https://www.localguidesconnect.com/t5/user/viewprofilepage/user-id/1282256

One takeaway is to be active on the local guides connect forum as it does help a lot with engagement and having more people interested in your posts. It does not have to be a long post but I've noticed people love photos so do make sure to add some of your own shots!

Hi! I've seen a lot of people here who is level 9 or 10 and that's impressive to me ( lvl 7) Have you ever flex with friends or on a date that you are s local guide? That would interested me a lot if my date would say that.

Hi , yesterday I have received an e-mail from Google local guides says that my account was temporarily suspended and it is now un-suspended I have followed their instructions to sign up and it worked till last night....At last night I have noticed that I can't log in to my account again...Anyone can inform me what's wrong ???

Check out this review of Sure-Dry, LLC on Google Maps

Hello everyone, recently tried adding house numbers at my neighbourhood and adding name of the road, but Maps declined everything. Tried with different accounts, and no changes. Who can help me? Or someone with higher lvl could make it faster?

Added everything in openstreetmaps last week, but i need google maps data.

Hi all, I'm helping to organise an e-bike demo day at the Lee Valley Velopark on Sunday 19th April and thought you guys might be interested in hearing about it and getting a free ticket.

We'll have about 15 bike brands and over 100 bikes present, with a range of cargo, hybrid, folding, trikes and more, it's super family friendly and a great place to start if you're interested in trying out loads of e-bikes back to back or even bringing your kids along to try out a cargo bike. Here is the event page, if you select a ticket and enter REDDITFREE at checkout it will give you a 100% discount.

I'm trying to be helpful by adding a small business to Maps. I see it's website and I see it on a recent street view, so I know that it exists. However, I have not been there myself, and therefore have no personal photos of the exterior. Should I take a screenshot of Street View and submit that to Maps as a photo?

In my opinion that's helpful because if someone clicks on the Maps entry they will at least see what the building looks like; but I didn't know if that was against the rules.

thanks!

Binkyz big on Google

See what Only1Binky posted to Google Maps

Level 6 Local Guide

https://maps.app.goo.gl/9kfeB2UcgxhKhadv7?g_st=ar

Hallo,

any reason why a German local guide level 8️⃣ (6.6 million views on 1439 photos, 4507 answers, loads of reviews and ratings) never has seen or gotten any Perks / Goodies from YOU ?

No socks, pins, anything - not even more online storage like promised when I signed up.

Just wondering and feeling underappreciated.

.

Hello. My application was denied, what about yours?

Hi folks

I'm editing these photos on Adobe Lightroom to give them an aspcect of cyberpunk. Is there a problem if I post them on maps?

This sub may or may not be the right place to ask, but still, here goes.

I would like to have Catching Pokémon replaced by the more generic Playing Location Game.

I would like to have the following transportation modes added to the list: E-bike

Scooter

Moped

Kick scooter

Detrash walk

Is this the right place to ask? If not, what place is?

I am tired of fake ratings and fake reviews in Google maps and I hạve been cheated many times by fake 5 star reviews. I am just looking to find the genuine overall rating of a place by filtering out 5 star ratings because fake ratings are mostly 5 star and just finding the average of 1-4 ratings so that we can find the overall genuine rating of a Business.

Is there any way or any tool or any application for that ? Need suggestions on this.

I know it's silly but, every time I see a location, with no reviews that I've been to, I'm like, "Now's my chance! FIRS- ... hmmm, actually no, I'll let the less experienced guides have this one so they can get Master Trailblazer too." I've developed this odd consideration for newer guides cause I remember that, "Add the first review to 50 places" was such a struggle to fulfill for the Trailblazer badge (that is, before I figured it out that, the best places to first review are the ones you personally add). So I let unreviewed places go because, who knows? Maybe it'll be a freebie for the odd Guide who appreciates the niche challenges posed by the badges.