How an NFC plaque for Google reviews works
NFC is the same technology as contactless payment. Inside the plaque or the card there is a small battery-free chip holding a web address: the one for your Google review page. When a customer brings their phone within a centimetre or two, the phone reads the chip, reads the link, and offers to open the page where you write the review straight away. No app to install, nothing to aim at, nothing to type.
The chip we use is an NTAG215, a widespread and reliable part, with plenty of memory to store a link and keep it stable over time. It is deliberately a simple object: no fragile electronics, no battery to recharge. The plaque does one thing only, but it does it well, every time, for years.
The formats: card, round sticker, display stand
The card
The size of a bank card, it slips into an apron pocket, is handed to the customer or sits near the till. It is the most versatile and most mobile format: a hairdresser can pull it out at the chair, a shopkeeper can keep it within reach. Our cards come in several styles, including the colour Google card, readable and easy to present.
The round sticker
Round and self-adhesive, the round sticker goes on a counter, a payment terminal, a table or a window. It is the most discreet and the most fixed option: once placed in the right spot, it stays available all the time without anyone having to think about it. The white round Google sticker blends into most light-coloured surfaces without weighing down the decor.
The display stand
Standing upright on a counter, like a small review terminal, the display stand is the most visible format. It catches the eye, clearly signals what you are asking and invites the gesture without anyone having to say it. It is useful in busy places where staff do not always have time to ask out loud. If you also collect followers on social media, some formats such as the rectangular Instagram display stand follow the same logic for another platform.
Where to put it so it really works
A good object in the wrong place is useless. The rule is to put the plaque where the customer is both free and happy: at the moment of payment, at the end of a service, near the exit. On a till counter, on the arm of a salon chair, on the table with the bill in a restaurant. The classic mistake is to put it away in a drawer “so it does not get damaged”: a plaque nobody sees generates no reviews. It is made to be used and touched.
One last honest point: holding a phone near it is not always enough to trigger the gesture on its own. A word from staff at the right moment often doubles the effect. The plaque removes the technical friction; the person gives the push. The two together work far better than either alone, and that is the whole point of our article on how to get more Google reviews.
What separates a good plaque from a gadget
Many NFC objects sold online are generic chips resold as they are, with a sticker on top. Here are the points that make the difference.
- The chip is locked. An unlocked chip can be rewritten by any phone that passes nearby: a joker can swap your link for another one. We lock the chip once it is programmed, so the link stays yours, permanently.
- The object has to last. A plaque lives on a counter, takes handling, damp and cleaning. A proper finish holds; a cheap sticker peels off within a few weeks.
- It is built properly, not cobbled together. The link points to the right review page, first time, and the plaque is tested before it ships. That is the difference between an object made to last and a bulk-bought chip with a graphic stuck on it.
- The design is clear and understated. A simple object that says what it does makes people want to tap it. A cluttered design does the opposite.
Why we don't add a subscription
Some of the solutions on the market sell you the plaque then charge you a monthly subscription to keep the link working, or to access a dashboard. We find that dishonest: an NFC plaque is a physical object with a link on it. Once you have it, it is yours and it works, with nothing further to pay. You buy a plaque, not a rental. If your Google link changes one day, we explain how to redo it, without charging you again on the way.
The limit to know: the NFC smartphone
Let us be clear, because it matters before you buy: NFC needs a recent smartphone with the feature switched on. Almost every phone sold in recent years has it, and on most it is on by default. But a very old model, or a phone whose NFC has been turned off, will not react on contact. That is not a fault of the plaque, it is a limit of the device. That is why many of our plaques also carry a QR code alongside: the customer without NFC scans, the others simply hold their phone close. Nobody is left out.
Where to start
The simplest thing is to look at the available formats and start from your own situation: a fixed counter calls for a round sticker or a display stand, a mobile service for a card. It is all in the shop of NFC plaques and cards, with the visuals and the prices. And if you also want to set up review monitoring and replies, that is the job of our Online Presence package, which we cover in more detail in the article on managing reviews.