← Back to guides
QRPro CloudCreate account ↗
QRPro Cloud / Reputation

QR code for Google reviews: make it easy, do not buy them

A QR code does not get reviews on its own: it removes the friction of searching for you. Use it the moment the customer is happy and let them write whatever they want.

Direct answer

Create a QR code with the link https://search.google.com/local/writereview?placeid=TU_PLACE_ID (or the short “Ask for reviews” link from your listing) and place it on the receipt, the table or the counter with one clear sentence.

Where the link comes from

The official way is your Google Business Profile: look for the “Ask for reviews” option and copy the link it gives you. The other way is to build the URL with your listing's Place ID, an identifier you can get with Google's developer tool. If the Place ID is wrong, the form opens another business or shows an error: always test it before printing.

Do not use a link to your business's search results. That path forces the customer to pick the listing, tap “Write a review” and maybe sign in; most give up.

Design and placement

  • Receipt or invoice: 1.5 cm, next to “How was your experience?”.
  • Table or counter: 6–8 cm, with a two-step instruction.
  • Packaging: useful on delivery orders, where there is no face-to-face contact.
  • Follow-up email or WhatsApp: link the same destination; no QR code needed there.

The wording matters: “Scan and tell us how it went” works better than “Give us 5 stars”. The latter also pressures and biases.

What you must not do

Google's policies prohibit incentivizing reviews with discounts, gifts or prize draws, and also screening customers: asking only those you think will rate you well. Buying reviews or using fake accounts can get your listing or the reviews removed. And replying to a negative review with the customer's personal data is a privacy problem.

Keep it realistic: a well-placed QR code raises the number of reviews, but it does not guarantee the score. The experience is still what gets rated.

Measure whether it works

Note how many new reviews appear per week before and after placing the QR code. If nothing changes, review the placement, size and wording before blaming the code. And reply to every review: your reply is public too and weighs on the decision of whoever reads it.

Frequently asked questions

How do I get the link?
From “Ask for reviews” in your listing or with the Place ID.

Can I give a discount for a review?
No; Google's policies prohibit it.

Do I know who wrote it?
No; the QR code only opens the form.

Where do I put it?
Where the experience is fresh: receipt, table, counter.