This was a Talking Web newsletter on 21 April 2026 - join the newsletter here.

Hi,

I hope the sun is shining where you are and you’re having a good start to the week?

I’m feeling refreshed after some days out whilst the kids were on holiday. ☺️

Somehow though, I’ve agreed to give 3 talks this week. 😱

If you’d like to join me on Thursday to learn more about what Google changed in their Core Update in March, grab a seat here.

It’s at 2pm but if you can’t make it, sign up anyway and I’ll send you the recording.

Meanwhile this week’s to-do…

…is related to Google’s March updates.

Google have said that there are a few ways you need to use Google reviews differently going forwards:

1) You can’t ask people for positive reviews

2) Reviews shouldn’t mention members of your team by name

3) You shouldn’t ask someone to use specific keywords in a review

4) You can’t incentivise leaving a review

5) You shouldn’t get loads of reviews in 1 day

6) You can’t get lots of reviews from the same device / Internet connection

I’ve written more about these rules here, but the main thing is for you to consider if you currently – innocently – do any of these things.

Do you run a hotel and have an iPad at reception where you ask people to leave a review?
​Can’t do that any more.

Do you email people after a visit and offer them a voucher off a future product or service if they leave a review?
​That’s out.

Do you reward employees if they get mentioned?
​That’s got to stop.

I know I’ve done some of these things – for completely the right reasons – in the past.

Because I hate asking for stuff.

I don’t like asking people to spend their time on me.

So I might offer them something – not to make the review biased but to thank someone for their time, when I knew they had a good service and they were happy.

Anyway – just be careful that you don’t fall foul of the new rules completely accidentally.

Speak soon, hope to see you on Thursday.

Lisa

PS. If you want to leave me a Google review, I won’t give you anything for it, I’m not cherry picking you, and please don’t mention me! But you can do it here – thanks!!

Lisa Freeman

​18a Productions​

​LinkedIn​

​Instagram​