Hi Jeofrey. Your article hit me like a bag of bricks - okay, maybe something lighter than bricks. :) I’m a Google Guide. It’s not a job and it’s not paid; for me, it’s simply a hobby. I probably spent at least 20 hours of my time posting pictures and writing reviews. I enjoy it a lot! Having that said, I’m aware that I’m helping someone else promote their business for free, as well as helping Google make money off my free labour.

What did I get as a reward for 20 or so hours of free work? A $1-tote from Google. 😄

Thank you for this, I will think about monetizing my reviews. Those badges should be earning me something.