How to get more Google reviews with a QR code

Most businesses know they need more reviews. Few have a system for getting them. A printed QR code sign is the simplest one that actually works — here's how to set it up.

6 min read

Published March 2026

Google reviews have a direct impact on local search rankings. Businesses with more reviews — and more recent ones — consistently outrank competitors in Google Maps and local search results, even when those competitors have been around longer or have a bigger marketing budget.

The problem isn't that customers are unwilling to leave reviews. It's that the process has too many steps. They have to remember your business name, search for it, find the review section, click through, and then write something. Most people mean to do it and never do.

A QR code sign removes almost all of those steps. One scan takes them straight to the star rating screen. That's the difference between a review that happens and one that doesn't.

Step 1: Find your Google review link

Google gives every Business Profile a short link designed specifically for sharing with customers. Here's how to find it:

Go to business.google.com and sign in.
Select your business listing.
In the dashboard, find the card that says "Get more reviews" and click "Share review form".
Copy the short link — it will look something like g.page/r/CdXXXXXXXXXX/review.

That's the link you'll use. Don't use the long URL from your browser address bar — the short link is designed to work reliably on mobile.

Step 2: Generate your QR code

Paste your review link into the generator on our Google review QR code sign page. It will create a QR code that takes customers directly to the review form when scanned.

After generating, you'll land on the templates page where you can choose your print size and design, and customise the text. For a Google review sign, we'd suggest:

Suggested copy

Headline: "Enjoyed your visit? Leave us a review."

Subtitle: "It only takes a minute and means the world to us."

Instruction: "Scan with your phone's camera"

These are pre-filled when you come from the dedicated sign page, but you can change them to match your brand's voice.

Step 3: Choose the right size and print it

The right size depends on where you're placing the sign:

4×6" card

Checkout counter, host stand, tabletop. Small enough to be unobtrusive, close enough to scan easily.

5×7" card

Wall mount near the exit, window display. More visible than a 4×6" but still feels like a sign rather than a poster.

Letter (8.5×11")

Entrance, reception desk, or anywhere you want maximum visibility. Print two per page to save paper.

Download a 300 DPI PNG from the templates page and print it on cardstock at home or at a print shop. Laminating it makes it more durable and gives it a more professional finish.

Step 4: Place it where it will actually be scanned

Location matters more than most people expect. The best spots share two qualities: customers are in a positive mood, and they have their phone nearby.

Exit or door

The highest-converting placement for most businesses. Customers are leaving on a positive note and already thinking about what they just experienced.

Checkout counter

Natural phone moment — customers are already getting their phone out to pay. A sign at eye level is easy to scan while they wait.

Waiting area

Customers waiting for an appointment or table have time to scan and write something. Works well for salons, dental offices, and restaurants.

Table tent (restaurants)

Captures customers during the experience — particularly effective after a good interaction with staff.

Receipt or packaging insert

Reaches customers at home, after the experience is still fresh. Works for retail, online orders with local pickup, and takeaway.

What to avoid

A few things will undermine your results or put you at odds with Google's policies:

Offering incentives for reviews

"Leave us a 5-star review and get 10% off your next visit" is a policy violation and can get reviews removed or your listing flagged. Keep the ask neutral.

Placing the sign somewhere customers can't reach their phone

A sign in a café bathroom or near the kitchen pass isn't going to get scanned. Put it where phones already come out naturally.

Using a long or unstable URL

If your Google review URL ever changes, the QR code breaks. Use the short link Google provides — it's stable.

Printing on flimsy paper

A wrinkled or flimsy sign reflects poorly on your business. Cardstock or a laminated print is worth the extra step.

How many reviews do you actually need?

There's no magic number, but context matters. In a small town with few local competitors, 20–30 reviews might be enough to stand out. In a dense urban area with hundreds of businesses in your category, you may need 100+ to be competitive.

More importantly, recency matters. A business with 200 reviews all posted three years ago will often rank below a competitor with 50 reviews posted in the last six months. Google's algorithm weights recent activity because it signals an active, still-operating business.

A passive system — a QR code sign that quietly captures reviews from happy customers week after week — beats a one-off campaign that generates 20 reviews in a single day and then goes quiet. Consistency is what compounds over time.

Ready to set up your sign?

Paste your Google review link and download a print-ready sign in under a minute — free, no account needed.

Make your Google review sign →