QR Code Review Cards: The Easiest Way to Collect Reviews

What Are QR Code Review Cards?

QR code review cards are physical cards, tent cards, stickers, or signs that feature a QR code linked to a review or feedback page. When a customer scans the code with their smartphone camera, they are taken directly to a page where they can leave a review for your business.

The concept is simple but powerful. Instead of hoping customers will go home, remember your business name, search for you on Google, and then decide to leave a review, you give them a direct path right at the moment they are most satisfied with your service.

QR code review cards come in many formats:

• Business card-sized handouts given to customers at checkout or after service
• Table tent cards placed on restaurant tables, waiting room end tables, or service counters
• Stickers attached to product packaging, receipts, or shopping bags
• Counter signs displayed at checkout areas or reception desks
• Wall-mounted signs in high-traffic areas like entrances and restrooms
• Receipt inserts tucked into bill folders or attached to invoices

Each format serves the same purpose: making the path from satisfied customer to published review as short as possible.

Why QR Code Review Cards Work So Well

They Capture Customers at Peak Satisfaction

The best time to ask for a review is the moment a customer feels happiest about their experience. For a restaurant, that might be after a great meal. For a hair salon, right after the customer sees their new style. For a mechanic, when the customer picks up their car running smoothly.

QR code cards are physically present at these moments. A table tent is on the table during dessert. A handout card is given at the end of a successful appointment. This timing advantage is why QR-based review requests consistently outperform email and SMS follow-ups.

They Eliminate Friction

Every step between your customer and the review form costs you conversions. QR codes reduce the process to a single action: point and scan. No typing URLs, no searching for your business, no downloading apps. The camera app on every modern smartphone reads QR codes natively.

Studies show that QR code review requests achieve 25-40% higher completion rates than email-based requests and 15-20% higher than SMS. The difference is friction.

They Work Without Internet at the Point of Scan

QR codes can be scanned without an active internet connection. The phone stores the URL and opens it once a connection is available. This means customers can scan in basements, rural areas, or buildings with poor cell service and still follow through when they get connectivity.

They Are Passive and Always On

Unlike email campaigns that require ongoing effort or staff training that requires consistency, QR code cards work passively. Once placed, they collect reviews 24/7 without any additional action from you or your team. A table tent on every table in your restaurant is silently asking for reviews during every single service.

Where to Place QR Code Review Cards

The placement of your QR codes directly impacts how many scans you receive. Here are the highest-performing placements by industry.

Restaurants and Cafes

• Table tents on every table. This is the single highest-performing placement for restaurants. Customers have time to scan while waiting for the check or between courses.
• Bill folders with a small card tucked next to the receipt. The customer is already holding their phone to calculate the tip or take a photo of the receipt.
• Takeout bags and containers. Include a card or sticker with every takeout and delivery order.
• Near the exit door. A sign or poster that catches customers on their way out.
• Restroom mirrors. People often check their phones in the restroom, and a small sign near the mirror has surprisingly high scan rates.

Retail Stores

• Checkout counter signs. Customers are standing still and often waiting, making it a natural time to scan.
• Shopping bags. Include a card in every bag so customers can scan at home after experiencing the product.
• Product packaging. For businesses that sell their own branded products, a QR code on the packaging ties the review request to the product experience.
• Dressing room mirrors. Clothing retailers see strong results from placement in dressing rooms where customers are evaluating their purchase.

Service Businesses (Salons, Spas, Clinics, Mechanics)

• Reception desk or waiting area. Customers often arrive early and have time to scan while waiting.
• Appointment completion cards. Hand a card to the customer as they check out after their appointment.
• Follow-up cards with invoices. For services that involve invoicing, include a review card with the bill.
• Service area. In a salon or barbershop, a small sign at each station keeps the review request visible during the service.

Events and Pop-Ups

• Registration and check-in tables. Not for immediate reviews, but to get the QR code in attendees' hands early.
• Event signage and banners. Large QR codes on event materials can be scanned from a distance.
• Swag bags and handouts. Include a review card in any materials distributed to attendees.
• Exit areas. As attendees leave, a sign asking for feedback captures them at the conclusion of their experience.

Design Tips for Maximum Scan Rates

A well-designed QR code card can double or triple your scan rate compared to a poorly designed one. Here are the principles that matter.

Keep It Simple

The card should communicate one thing: scan this code to share your experience. Resist the temptation to add your full menu, a list of services, or a paragraph of text. The more content on the card, the less likely the QR code is to be noticed and scanned.

Effective card content:

• Your business logo
• A clear headline ("Share Your Experience" or "How Did We Do?")
• The QR code, prominently displayed
• A brief instruction ("Scan with your phone camera")
• Optionally, a short URL as a fallback

Make the QR Code Large Enough

The QR code should be at least 1 x 1 inch on a business card and at least 2 x 2 inches on a table tent. Larger codes scan more easily, especially in varying lighting conditions or from a distance. If you have to choose between a bigger logo and a bigger QR code, choose the QR code.

Use High Contrast

The QR code itself should be dark on a light background. Black on white provides the highest scan reliability. You can use brand colors for the surrounding design, but keep the QR code itself high-contrast. Avoid placing QR codes on busy backgrounds, photos, or textured surfaces.

Include a Call-to-Action

Do not just put a QR code on a card with no context. People need to know what happens when they scan it. Use clear, inviting language:

• "Enjoyed your visit? Let us know!"
• "Scan to share your feedback"
• "Your opinion matters. Tell us how we did."
• "Help us grow. Leave a quick review."

Add a Fallback URL

Below the QR code, include a short URL for customers who prefer to type. Keep it simple: something like "opineko.io/r/yourbusiness" is easy to type and remember.

Choose the Right Material

The physical quality of the card affects perception. A flimsy, poorly printed card feels disposable. A thick, well-printed card feels like it matters.

• Standard card stock (14pt or 16pt): Good for handout cards and receipt inserts
• Laminated or plastic: Ideal for table tents that need to withstand spills and daily handling
• Acrylic or wood holders: Premium option for upscale establishments
• Stickers (weatherproof vinyl): Best for outdoor placements or product packaging

How to Create QR Code Review Cards with Opineko

Setting up QR code review cards through Opineko takes just a few steps:

1. Create your Opineko account and set up your business profile with your review links for Google, Yelp, TripAdvisor, Facebook, and Trustpilot.

1. Get your custom landing page. Opineko generates a branded feedback page for your business. This page first asks customers about their experience, then routes happy customers to your preferred review platforms and offers unhappy customers a private feedback form.

1. Download your QR code. Opineko provides a high-resolution QR code that links to your landing page. Download it in PNG or SVG format for print.

1. Design and print your cards. Use the QR code in any design you choose. Opineko also provides ready-to-print templates for common formats like business cards and table tents.

1. Place your cards and start collecting reviews. Distribute your cards across the touchpoints relevant to your business and watch the reviews come in.

Every scan and every piece of feedback, whether it becomes a public review or private message, is tracked in your Opineko dashboard. On the Premier plan, you also receive real-time Telegram notifications so you can respond quickly.

Best Practices for Maximum Scan Rates

Place Cards Where Customers Wait

The highest scan rates come from locations where customers have idle time: waiting rooms, restaurant tables during the gap between ordering and food arriving, checkout lines, and service areas. Customers with nothing to do are far more likely to scan a QR code than customers who are in motion.

Replace Cards Regularly

Cards that look worn, stained, or faded signal that the business does not pay attention to details. Replace physical cards and clean table tents weekly. Acrylic and laminated options last longer and maintain a professional appearance.

Train Staff to Point Them Out

A subtle verbal mention amplifies the card's effectiveness. "By the way, if you enjoyed your experience, we'd love a quick review. There's a QR code right there that makes it really easy." This combination of physical placement and personal request is the highest-converting approach.

Test Different Placements

Not all placements work equally well for every business. Try several locations and track which ones generate the most scans. Opineko's dashboard shows you scan activity so you can correlate placements with results.

Combine with Other Channels

QR code cards work best as part of a multi-channel review strategy. Use them as your primary in-person tool, supplemented by email follow-ups for customers whose email addresses you collect. The QR code catches the immediate opportunity while email catches the customers who did not scan in the moment.

Real-World Examples

Scenario: Family Restaurant

A family restaurant places acrylic table tents on each of their 30 tables. Each tent has a QR code and the message "Loved your meal? Tell Google!" They also include a small card in every takeout bag.

Before the QR cards, the restaurant received 2-3 Google reviews per month. After implementing the cards, they receive 15-20 per month. Their rating increased from 4.1 to 4.4 stars over six months as the steady flow of new positive reviews diluted a few older negative ones.

Scenario: Dental Office

A dental office places review cards at the reception desk and hands one to every patient as they check out. The receptionist says, "If you had a good experience with Dr. [Name], we'd love if you could scan this and let us know."

The office previously had 12 Google reviews accumulated over three years. Within four months of implementing review cards, they had 50 reviews and a 4.7 star rating. The increase in reviews improved their visibility in local search results, leading to a measurable increase in new patient inquiries.

Scenario: Auto Repair Shop

An auto repair shop attaches a sticker to every invoice and leaves a counter sign in the customer waiting area. The sticker says "How did we do?" with a QR code.

The shop targets a common pain point in auto repair: trust. By accumulating reviews from real customers describing honest service and fair pricing, the shop builds credibility that addresses consumer skepticism about the industry. Their review count went from 8 to 65 in six months.

Getting Started

QR code review cards are one of the most cost-effective marketing tools available to local businesses. The investment is minimal, the setup is quick, and the results are measurable.

Start with a single format, whether that is a table tent, a handout card, or a counter sign, and place it where your happiest customers spend time. Track the results for a month, then expand to additional placements.

Opineko's Pro plan ($29/month) includes everything you need: a custom feedback landing page, QR code generation, multi-platform routing to Google, Yelp, TripAdvisor, Facebook, and Trustpilot, and a dashboard to track all incoming reviews and feedback. If you want real-time Telegram alerts for every new review, the Premier plan ($49/month) adds that capability.

The easiest review to collect is the one you make effortless to give. QR code review cards do exactly that.