Most businesses use a QR code to send customers straight to Google's review form. That works — but SmartQR Hub's Google Reviews QR type does something more useful: it creates a branded landing page that displays your star rating, your review count, and your five most recent reviews before inviting the customer to leave one of their own.
The result is a page that acts as social proof and a review funnel at the same time. A customer scans, sees real people praising your business, and is far more likely to add their own voice to that list. This guide walks you through exactly how to set it up.
What the Google Reviews QR Type Does
When you create a Google Reviews QR code on SmartQR Hub, here is what happens:
- You paste your Google Maps URL for your business
- SmartQR Hub fetches your business name, overall rating, total review count, and five most recent written reviews directly from Google
- A clean, mobile-optimised landing page is generated showing all of this live data
- A "See all reviews on Google" button at the bottom links directly to your full Google listing
- A QR code is generated that links to this landing page
Customers scan the QR code, land on a page full of genuine five-star reviews, and can tap through to Google to leave their own. It is the difference between sending someone to an empty form and showing them a room full of happy customers first.
How to Find the Right URL to Paste
This is the part that trips most people up. SmartQR Hub needs your Google Maps URL — not your website, not a Google search result, but the specific Maps URL for your business listing. Here are the two most reliable ways to get it.
Method 1: From Google Maps in Your Browser (Recommended)
- Open maps.google.com in your desktop browser
- Search for your business name and town — for example: The Crown Pub Shoreditch
- Click on your business listing in the results to open the panel on the left
- Look at the address bar — it will show a long URL starting with
https://www.google.com/maps/place/ - Copy that entire URL and paste it into SmartQR Hub
Example of what a valid URL looks like:
https://www.google.com/maps/place/Your+Business+Name/@51.5074,-0.1278,17z/data=!4m...!1sChIJ...Method 2: From the Google Maps App on Your Phone
- Open Google Maps on your phone
- Search for and tap on your business listing
- Tap the Share button (the arrow icon)
- Tap Copy link
- Paste the link into SmartQR Hub — it will look like
https://maps.app.goo.gl/XXXXX
SmartQR Hub automatically resolves short maps.app.goo.gl links, so this method works just as well.
What Not to Paste
These URL types will not work:
- Your business website URL (e.g.
www.yourbusiness.com) - A Google search result URL (starting with
google.com/search?q=) - A Google Business Profile URL (starting with
business.google.com) - Your Google review form link (starting with
g.page/r/) — this is a review submission link, not a Maps listing
You need a URL that points to your business listing on Google Maps specifically. If the address bar says maps.google.com or maps.app.goo.gl, you have the right one.
Step-by-Step: Creating Your Google Reviews QR Code
- Go to the SmartQR Hub generator and select the Google Reviews QR type
- Paste your Google Maps URL into the input field
- Click Fetch Reviews — SmartQR Hub will look up your business, retrieve your rating and reviews, and show you a preview of the landing page
- Confirm the correct business name and rating appear in the preview
- Customise the QR code colour to match your brand if you want
- Sign in or create a free account to download
- Download as SVG for printing or PNG for digital use
Why Your Business Needs at Least One Written Review
The Google Reviews QR type requires your business to have at least one written review — not just a star rating. This is because the landing page is designed to display real review text. If Google only has star ratings with no written content, there is nothing meaningful to show.
If your business has no written reviews yet, the easiest first step is to ask a few regular customers directly. Once you have a handful of written reviews, set up the Google Reviews QR code and let it work automatically from there.
Reviews Stay Fresh Automatically
The reviews shown on your landing page are fetched live from Google and cached for 24 hours. This means:
- New reviews appear on your landing page within a day of being posted — no action required on your part
- Your star rating and review count update automatically
- You always show your five most recent reviews, keeping the page current
You do not need to regenerate or reprint the QR code when you get new reviews. The same code always shows your latest data.
Where to Display Your Google Reviews QR Code
The most effective placements are where customers have just had a positive experience with your business:
Physical Locations
- Counter or till area: Print an A5 card or table tent and place it at the point of payment. This is the moment a customer is most satisfied and most likely to scan.
- Receipt: Add the QR code to printed receipts with a short line: "See what customers are saying — and add your voice."
- Exit signage: A small sign near the door catches customers as they leave on a high.
- Table inserts: For restaurants, cafes, and bars — a table tent or menu insert works well.
- Thank-you cards: For tradespeople, photographers, florists, or anyone who completes a job — include the QR code on the card you leave with the finished work.
Digital Use
- Email signature: Embed the QR code PNG with a short label. Useful for follow-up emails after completing a service.
- Post-purchase email: Include it in your order confirmation or delivery notification.
- Website: Add a "What our customers say" section on your contact or about page, featuring the QR code alongside a few review highlights.
What to Write Next to the QR Code
The label beside your QR code does more work than the code itself. Keep it honest and specific:
- "Scan to see what our customers say — and share your experience"
- "See our reviews on Google — your feedback helps us improve"
- "Scan to read real customer reviews and leave your own"
Avoid vague calls to action like "Scan here" — tell people exactly what they will get.
Frequently Asked Questions
What if my business does not appear when I paste the URL?
Make sure the URL is from Google Maps specifically — not a search results page or your website. If you copied the URL from Maps but the business is not found, try searching for your business by name on Maps, clicking the listing, and copying the URL from the address bar at that point.
What if the wrong business appears?
This can happen if two businesses have the same or very similar names. Use the desktop browser method (Method 1 above) rather than the phone share link — desktop URLs contain the precise place ID encoded in the URL and are more reliable at matching the exact location.
Does the QR code expire?
The QR code itself does not expire. The landing page it links to is hosted by SmartQR Hub and continues to show your latest reviews. The reviews refresh automatically every 24 hours from Google.
Can I use this for multiple locations?
Yes — generate a separate QR code for each location using that location's specific Google Maps URL. Each code will pull reviews for its own listing.
How many reviews are shown on the landing page?
The landing page displays your five most recent written reviews, along with your overall star rating and total review count. Reviews without written text are filtered out automatically.
What size should I print the QR code?
Minimum 2.5 cm × 2.5 cm for close-range scanning (counter cards, receipts). For table tents or wall cards, 5–6 cm is more comfortable. Always download as SVG for anything you plan to print — it scales to any size without losing quality.
Get Started
A Google Reviews QR code takes about two minutes to set up. Find your Google Maps URL, paste it into SmartQR Hub, confirm your reviews appear, and download. Print it once — it stays current automatically.
Create your Google Reviews QR code — free to try, no account needed to preview.