How to create and use a Google review link and QR code

How to find your Google review link

Google Business Profile interfaces change, but the current owner workflow generally starts while signed in to the Google account that manages the profile. Search for the business, open the profile management controls, and look for an option such as “Ask for reviews” or “Get more reviews.” Copy the supplied link.

1. Confirm you are managing the correct business and location.
2. Open the review-request or ask-for-reviews control.
3. Copy the official link without editing its parameters.
4. Paste it into a private browser window.
5. Confirm it opens the intended profile and review composer.

For a multi-location brand, keep one straightforward location table: name, store number, city, Business Profile URL, review link, owner and last-tested date. Sending someone to the wrong location creates confusing feedback and is harder to untangle later.

The review-link test checklist

• Open the link while signed out or in a private window.
• Test on a recent iPhone and Android device.
• Test from both email and SMS, because some apps wrap links.
• Confirm the exact business name, city and location.
• Check that an existing customer can choose any rating and write their own words.
• Confirm no survey or sentiment screen blocks people from the Google link.
• Retest quarterly and after profile ownership, name or location changes.

Should you shorten a Google review link?

A branded short URL can make a receipt or SMS easier to read, but it also adds a redirect you are responsible for. Use HTTPS on your own domain when possible, make the destination clear and check that the link will not expire. Unknown public shorteners can look suspicious or trigger message filters.

How to make a review QR code

1. Start with the tested review link or your stable branded redirect.
2. Generate a high-resolution SVG or print-quality PNG with a reputable QR tool.
3. Use dark code modules on a plain light background.
4. Keep the blank “quiet zone” around the code.
5. Add a plain-language instruction and readable fallback URL.
6. Print a draft at final size and scan it from normal distance.
7. Test under the lighting and surface conditions where it will be used.

There is no one perfect printed size because scanning distance, camera, print quality and material differ. As a practical starting point for a card viewed at arm’s length, test at roughly 2.5–3 cm square or larger. Signs viewed from farther away need a larger code. Testing the actual output is more reliable than relying on a universal size rule.

Do not put essential instructions inside the QR graphic. A screen reader cannot interpret a printed code, and some people simply will not scan one. A readable URL and another feedback channel make the invitation usable for more people.

Where to place a Google review QR code

Can a QR code go on a business card?

Yes, though space runs out quickly. Give the code room, keep the quiet zone, label it clearly and print a fallback URL. In many cases, a dedicated review card is clearer than squeezing it onto a general business card.

Can a QR code be displayed before payment?

It can, but the request lands better after the customer has had the full experience. A receipt, follow-up message or exit placement usually gives it more context.

Review-link request templates

Do not ask for “five stars,” prefill suggested praise or offer a discount, contest entry, gift or other benefit. Read the Google review policy guide for Canadian businesses before launch.

Can you track review-link and QR-code performance?

You can track visits to a branded redirect or landing page you control, and many QR platforms report aggregate scans. That data shows link use—not who posted, what rating they selected, or whether a scan became a review. Avoid collecting more personal data than needed.

For channel comparison, create transparent paths such as example.ca/review-receipt and example.ca/review-email that redirect to the same official link. Document the redirect owner and destination. Do not add tracking that reveals personal information in a public URL.

What is review gating?

Review gating occurs when a business screens sentiment and provides the public review path mainly to satisfied customers while directing dissatisfied customers somewhere else. A common example is a survey asking “Were you happy?” and showing the Google link only after a positive answer. Instead, make private support available to everyone and make the same honest public-review invitation available to all eligible customers.

Multi-location rollout checklist

• Every location has a distinct, verified review link.
• Store numbers and city names are in the master mapping.
• QR artwork includes a location label.
• Short redirects have permanent owners and documented destinations.
• Managers test the code before printing and quarterly afterward.
• Staff use neutral, approved language.
• Reporting compares locations fairly and accounts for invitation volume.

Sources and further reading

• Google Business Profile Help: tips to get more reviews
• Google Maps: prohibited and restricted content
• Government of Canada: Canada’s anti-spam legislation