14 DAY TRIAL // Google has started enabling US users to add their contributions to Google Maps via Map Maker, a tool available in plenty of other countries before it. But it also introduced a new way of reviewing changes made with Map Maker, which it didn't do a great job showcasing in the original announcement, leading to some confusion.
Now, Google has set the record straight and revealed that changes made in Map Maker now have a chance of appearing in Google Maps within minutes of it being approved rather than weeks.
"Edits are often visible immediately on Map Maker, but aren’t seen by most users until they’re published on Google Maps. In the past we would process edits in large groups, which meant it could take weeks before approved edits appeared on Google Maps," Jamie Zyskowski, Software Engineer, Google Maps and Chandan Shanbhag, Software Engineer, Google Map Maker, wrote.
"In preparation for yesterday’s launch, we recently added a new publishing system to reflect Map Maker user contributions on Google Maps more quickly. Once a Map Maker edit has been approved, it will now appear on Google Maps within minutes," they explained.
What Google doesn't mention, or rather, it just glosses over, is the fact that new users, which means most people in the US, don't have the privilege of getting their edits in Maps so fast and their additions have to be reviewed by a long time contributor first.
However, if you develop a reputation of quality edits, you will eventually be able to get your changes updated significantly faster without any peer review.
This should make it easier to see the fruits of your work and encourage more people to get involved. Knowing you've made a contribution is good enough, but seeing that your edit is available for millions of people shortly after you've made it is much more satisfying.