5,000,000 views! Local Google Guide's Top 10 Pics on Google Maps

​Hi Jessica, 5,000,000 views!  You're a top photographer on Google Maps.  You've just accomplished what very few people have done: reached 5,000,000 photo views.  Keep it up!

That's a fun email to receive!

Over the years, I've actively contributed to Google Maps by rating and reviewing local businesses, contributing photos, and fact checking as a Local Guide.  Being a Google Local Guide is a fun (unpaid) way for me to share my love for our area; from parks, to museums, to retail and restaurants, I share information about local places on Google Maps and on my own website, Piedmont Triad Living.

Since 2012, I've shared places all across NC and beyond. The Piedmont Triad is home and you'll see strong endorsements for our local people, places, and things. In addition to contributing nearly 900 pictures to Google Maps, I've written more than 200 reviews and answered nearly 2,500 questions.   Live laugh love play shop local.

It's been amusing to watch the number of views rise on the pictures I take.  The world of Google seems to love Cook Out as much as I do.  I contributed the first picture, a tray with onion rings from Cook Out, in December 2017.  I snapped this pic in the front seat of my car before I took my first bite.  It quickly rose to be my most viewed contribution, currently with 553,713 looks.  Three of my top 10 viewed photos were from Cook Out trays LOL!  I'm not sure how the algorithms work in determining what pictures are shown more often in Google Maps, but greasy food seems to be popular.

Twelve days later after hitting 5 million,  I'm at 5,212,848 total views.  Oh, if only I had a penny for every view!

My top 10 Views on Google Maps as of November 1, 2020:

1.
​Yummy Onion Rings
Cook Out, Kester Mill, Winston-Salem
Contributed 12/2017
​553,713 views
​

​2.
Mario's Pizza
Wendover in Greensboro
Contributed 09/2019
​366,810 views
​

​
3.
Cheese Bites! Onion Rings! Quesadilla wrapped in foil
Cook Out, Peters Creek Parkway, Winston-Salem
Contributed 11/2019
207,480 views

4.
​The Garden Outlet (we got our Christmas tree here!)
Behind Gas Town in Summerfield, NC
contributed 12/2017
151,095 views
​

5.
​Chicken Quasadilla is good, with grilled chicken and plenty of cheese
Cook Out, Kester Mill, Winston-Salem
contributed 12/2017
​123,933 views
​

6.
​Hibbett Sports
Hanes Mill Road, Winston-Salem
contributed 11/2019
102,617 views
​

7.
​Ogburn Station Meat Market
Ogburn Road, Winston-Salem
contributed 10/2018
​92,687 views
​

​8.
​Nothing "hot and ready" on Saturday night at 7pm
Little Caesars, North Point Boulevard, Winston-Salem
contributed 01/2018
92,415 views

​9.
​Maple Springs United Methodist Church, "The Pumpkin Church"
Reynolda Road, Winston-Salem
contributed 09/2019
86,850 views

10.
​The Grand
University Parkway, Winston-Salem
contributed 04/2018
76,000 views
​