Key Takeaways
- Pseudonyms can increase review volume. Customers in sensitive industries may now feel more comfortable leaving feedback if they don’t need to use their real name.
- Review scams are rising, but Google added protections. Know what to watch for and how to report extortion attempts quickly.
- Better review requests = better SEO. How you ask affects what customers say, which improves AI visibility and conversions.
Is getting more reviews on your to-do list for 2026? It should be. Reviews aren’t just about reputation. They’re one of the few marketing activities that help both your visibility in search and your ability to convert new leads.
Google made a few quiet changes this past year that are worth knowing. Let’s walk through what’s new, what’s changed, and how to get better reviews the right way.
You Can Now Leave a Review Using a Nickname
One of the biggest updates this year is Google’s new pseudonym feature. Customers can now leave reviews using a nickname or display name, instead of their full name.
That’s especially helpful for businesses in healthcare, legal, or financial services where clients might be hesitant to leave public feedback. Now that people can leave reviews with a name like “HappyCustomer22” instead of “Sarah Johnson,” you may see more reviews coming in from happy but privacy-minded clients
They’re not truly anonymous as Google still verifies the account behind the scenes, but this small shift can make a big impact in review volume.
Review Scams Are on the Rise (But So Are Protections)
Unfortunately, there’s also been a spike in review extortion scams. Scammers leave multiple one-star reviews (often irrelevant or clearly fake) and then contact the business, offering to remove them for a fee.
If this happens to you:
- Don’t respond or pay them.
- Take screenshots of everything—reviews, messages, timestamps.
- Use Google’smerchant extortion report form to report the issue. Businesses have reported success in getting fraudulent reviews removed within a few days.
Get Specific Reviews (Without Violating the Rules)
You’ve probably heard that having keywords in your reviews helps with SEO, and it’s true. But you can’t tell customers what words to use. That’s against Google’s policies.
Instead, change how you ask. Don’t just say, “Can you leave us a review?” Try something more specific, like “We’d love to hear what you thought about your carpet cleaning service.”
This naturally encourages people to mention the actual service, which helps searchers understand what you do. It also helps Google pull that detail into AI summaries, review highlights, and search snippets.
Follow the Rules
Google is strict about how reviews are requested. You can’t offer incentives, even small ones. No discounts, no free products. You also can’t “review gate”—meaning you can’t only ask happy customers for reviews and avoid asking those who may be unhappy.
The best strategy is to ask everyone. Make it a consistent part of your follow-up, especially after a positive interaction or completed project. The most effective time to ask is when the experience is still fresh
Consistent and Recent Reviews Matter More Than Volume
Google prefers to see consistent reviews over time, not all at once. A business with 50 recent reviews will often rank higher than one with 100 older ones. Make it part of your ongoing strategy, not a one-time push.
Try This
Here are 3 things to do this week:
- Set up a review request process. Pick a single moment in your customer experience to consistently ask for a review—right after the service is done, in a follow-up email, or at checkout.
- Check your Google reviews for anything suspicious. A sudden spike in one-star reviews? Don’t panic. Screenshot everything and submit Google’s merchant extortion report.
- Review how you’re asking. Are all your reviews vague? Try adjusting your wording to prompt more specific feedback.
The Bottom Line
Reviews are one of the few digital marketing tools that directly influence both how you show up and whether customers choose you. Start 2026 with a system that earns them consistently and uses them wisely.
Do you prefer to listen in? Here’s our podcast:
Links in this episode: Anonymous Google Reviews Are Here: What Your Business Should Do Now
With negative review extortion scams on the rise, use Google’s report form
7 local SEO wins you get from keyword-rich Google reviews
The Ultimate Review Request Templates for Maximizing the Benefits from Reviews
