Tips for hosting virtual meet-ups

[TraciC]

Caption: A screenshot of a Google Hangouts meet-up featuring (l-r) @DeniG, @Hudjy, @KatieMcB, @KlaudiyaG, @LilyanaZ, @NadyaPN and myself.

One of the best things about the Local Guides community is that we love connecting with each other here on Connect and IRL. No matter where you are in the world, what language you speak or what you like to do as a Local Guide, we love meeting each other to share our experiences. 

To help you feel connected to one another when it’s not always possible to connect offline, we are encouraging Local Guides to meet-up virtually, using tools like Google Hangouts or YouTube Live. 

Not all meet-ups can be hosted virtually, but below are some ways in which you can connect with other Local Guides:

• Host a Hangout where you can show and tell other Local Guides about your city, using photos you’ve taken or by taking them on a tour of Google Maps. Many years ago, Local Guides Mahabub from Bangladesh and Martin from the United States hosted a similar meet-up.
• Are you and other Local Guides passionate about a specific contribution or a specific category of places? Why not set up a meet-up to talk about your experiences taking photos or exploring amusement parks, for example?
• If you love cooking, why not host a meet-up where you prepare a meal and answer questions from others participating. This is a fun way to share about local cuisine and yourself! 
• Do you have ideas for how you can keep helping others with your Google Maps contributions from home? Perhaps you can find others who also have tips or consider themselves experts to host a meet-up about that topic.

If the above examples have inspired you to host or attend a virtual meet-up, here are some tips for making sure it goes well: 

• If you’re new to Hangouts, be sure to test the tool and your own equipment before your first Hangout. Get to know the most common features like muting yourself, using chat and sharing your screen.
• As a host, it’s important to make sure everyone feels welcome and included. Go ahead and start the Hangout with introductions and set the tone by restating the topic, length of the Hangout and how others can participate. If you open it up for questions, leave enough time for people to unmute and share their thoughts.
• As everyone will be using different devices and have different Internet speeds, it’s recommended that everyone connects using headphones and keeps themselves muted unless they are speaking. 
• If you're planning to record your meet-up and upload the video on YouTube, include a note in the description of your meet-up (like this). Always respect the privacy of your attendees.

Ready to host a virtual meet-up? 

• Submit your meet-up on Connect using our general guidelines, but also be sure to include “VIRTUAL” in the title as well as in the description so others know what to expect.
• If you already have a meet-up scheduled, consider moving it to a virtual meet-up. 
• Always include information on how others can join in the description of your event. Keep in mind that you should not include any personal information (like your phone number or email address) publicly in your meet-up posts.

We can’t wait to read your recaps!