QR code types
Google review QR codes: fewer steps between a happy customer and a review
A Google review QR code points straight at your Business Profile's review form, so a customer can leave a review in the time it takes to scan and type, instead of searching for your business by hand.
Every extra step between deciding to leave a review and actually posting one loses people. Searching Google, finding the right listing among similar names, then finding the 'Write a review' button is enough friction that most satisfied customers never bother. A QR code removes the search entirely.
Getting your review link from Google Business Profile
- 01
Sign in to your Business Profile
Go to business.google.com and open the profile for the location you want reviews for.
- 02
Find the 'Ask for reviews' option
Google provides a shareable link specifically for collecting new reviews, usually under a 'Get more reviews' or 'Ask for reviews' section of the profile.
- 03
Copy the link
This is typically a g.page/r/... short link that opens directly to the star-rating and review-writing screen, not just your listing page.
- 04
Set it as your QR code's destination
Paste the link into 123QR as the destination. If you manage more than one location, create a separate code per location so reviews and scans are not mixed together.
Where to place the code
| Placement | Why it works | Watch out for |
|---|---|---|
| Printed receipt | Reaches every paying customer at the moment the transaction is fresh in mind | Thermal print fades and creases — test scannability after folding |
| Table tent or counter card | Visible during downtime while waiting for food or being served | Easy to ignore if the card is cluttered with other codes or offers |
| Packaging insert | Reaches the customer at home, after they've had time to actually use the product | Delay between purchase and delivery means enthusiasm may have faded |
| Follow-up email or SMS | Not a QR code use case, but a fair comparison for measuring which channel converts best | Not physical, so no printing or placement decision involved |
Review-gating rules you must not break
Google's policies prohibit review gating: filtering customers based on how they say they'd rate you and only directing the happy ones to the public review form. In practice this means you cannot show a private 'How was your experience?' screen first and only send positive answers to Google, while quietly diverting negative ones elsewhere.
The safe approach is a single code that goes straight to the public review form for everyone, with no filtering step in between. If you want to gather private feedback as well, do it as a separate, clearly distinct channel, not as a gate in front of the review link.
Also avoid offering discounts or incentives specifically in exchange for a review — this violates Google's guidelines and most other review platforms' terms too, and can get reviews removed or a listing penalized.
Measuring which placement actually drives reviews
Use a separate 123QR code for each physical placement — one for the receipt, one for the table tent, one for the packaging insert — even though they all point to the same review link. Scan counts per code tell you which location people actually respond to, while Google itself shows you the resulting review count and rating.
You cannot directly attribute a specific review to a specific scan, since Google does not pass that detail back. But if receipt scans are ten times higher than table-tent scans over a comparable period, and your review count grows accordingly, that is a strong signal about where to focus.
Other things worth knowing
- Keep the ask simple: 'Enjoyed your visit? Leave us a review' next to the code performs better than a long explanation of why reviews matter to you.
- Don't put the code somewhere a customer has to be actively doing something else, like driving or carrying bags — checkout counters and seated areas work better than exits.
- If you rebrand, rename the business, or merge locations on Google, re-check the review link still resolves correctly before relying on printed codes referencing it.
Common questions
- Where do I find my Google review link?
- In your Google Business Profile dashboard, under the option to ask customers for reviews. It gives you a shareable link, usually starting with g.page/r/, that opens directly to the review-writing screen.
- Can I filter out unhappy customers before they leave a review?
- No. Google's policies prohibit review gating — sending only customers who indicate a positive experience to the public review form. The code should go to the same review link for everyone.
- Can I offer a discount for leaving a review?
- No. Incentivizing reviews, including discounts specifically in exchange for a review, breaks Google's guidelines and can get reviews removed.
- Where should I put the QR code for the best response rate?
- There's no universal answer — it depends on your business. Receipts reach every customer immediately; packaging reaches them after they've used the product. Test more than one placement with separate codes and compare scan counts.
- Can I use one code across multiple business locations?
- Only if you want reviews mixed together on one profile. If you manage separate Business Profile listings per location, use a separate QR code for each so its review link matches the right listing.
Keep reading
- WhatsApp QR codeOpen a WhatsApp chat with your business from a single scan.
- QR code analyticsSee when, where and on what device your printed material gets scanned.
- Restaurant menusTable codes that survive menu changes, price updates and seasonal specials.
- PackagingLong-lived codes on printed packaging that outlive the campaign behind them.
Print once. Change the destination anytime.
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