Today we’d like to introduce you to Christy Davis.
Hi Christy, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers?
I’ve always been a personal GPS for friends and family, and then I started taking videos and pictures for Google Maps. It was because they gave out gift cards and movie tickets for certain levels. It was really something to do for fun. I still enjoy doing it and figured I would make it into something bigger.
I never cared about followers or comments, I just wanted to give people the truth, and honest acknowledgment of the places I’ve gone. I thought it was amazing that over 1 million people saw one video and a few pictures, now I’ve had over 180 million views of my videos and pictures, have added 135 followers, and I’m on the last level, level 9 with 17,000 points left to go.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
Surprisingly, this has been a smooth road. You don’t get money for it, and Google stops giving gifts, but it’s still fun for me. My friends and family hate it because I’m always taking videos and pictures everywhere I go. I guess the only thing that isn’t smooth or is considered a struggle, is the routine of actually doing the videos and posting. It gets draining sometimes, and you don’t feel like doing it all the time.
Now, it seems that everybody wants to do some type of video for Instagram and TikTok showing what they ate, where the place is, and how wonderful everything is.
I find that most of these people are getting some kind of perks because every place you go is not delicious, the customer service isn’t always that great, and the atmosphere sometimes is just ridiculous.
I’ve been to places where other people have said the food was awesome and it was disgusting, or the waitress had a nasty attitude, or customers get into fights right in front of you. I’ve also had the issue of filming videos and people not understanding what I was doing even after I explained I was just making a video for Google Maps.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
Well, I just take pictures and videos and post honest reviews of those places that I have visited. I always say at the beginning of my videos, “Hey y’all, it’s your girl Google Maps with Christy”, and when I end my video, I always say, “I hope you like the video.”
I think I’m most proud of the honesty of my reviews. My videos aren’t pretty. They’re gritty and real, no Photoshop, no editing, and, most of the time, no voiceovers. You get what you get at the time it happens.
What sets me apart is the fact that my videos are real and not scripted, and you get what you get. There’s nothing phony about my videos or my reviews. If I didn’t like the food or the service, you will know about it.
I have had businesses ask for a redo or give me a discount, but that’s not why I do it. I genuinely want people to know about certain parts of town and the good places and people to go to and meet.
I also like highlighting other black business owners, entrepreneurs, and women that are doing the thing in business.
What are your plans for the future?
My future plans are just to continue what I’m doing, taking videos, posting reviews, and possibly getting sponsors or partners to work with for different restaurants, clubs, etc. I’m looking forward to traveling with this and show all the things abroad. Currently, some of my videos are of different states and I’d like to do more of that.
No big changes yet but I feel that someone will notice me and what I do and appreciate it for what it is, and give me the big monetary break I’ve been looking for to fully expand.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: Instagram.com/gmapswithchristy
- Youtube: @googlemapswithchristy
- Other: MCDavis1 on Google maps
