I think, at least 10 years ago, it was some algorithm based on number of reviews you leave vs average number of reviews for the area. For example, on a motorcy

I think, at least 10 years ago, it was some algorithm based on number of reviews you leave vs average number of reviews for the area. For example, on a motorcycle trip across Vietnam in 2015, I left a review for a super isolated pho stand that for whatever reason had a google maps profile. I got an email a few hours later that I was a "Local Guide" for Đồng Hới. Cool! Only once I got home to Houston did I realize, I wasn't a "Local Guide" for Đồng Hới, I was just now and forever a "local guide" for everywhere on earth! All my reviews had "local guide" next to it and would get lots of little thumbs up things, all my images I submit to restaurants now get TONS of views, it's really quite silly! Very helpful once I started my own restaurant and left a review for it though ;) or my friend's restaurants