Getting started with my plate

There you go, your Google review plate is set up and in place. All that's left is to use it — and here, one simple tip makes all the difference: don't hesitate to invite your customers to leave a review. The plate makes the gesture instant, but it is often your little word (“if you enjoyed it, a review helps us a lot”) that triggers the action. Here is the how-to to know for you and your team.

On iPhone: just place it, that's all

On iPhone, NFC is on by default, with nothing to set. Your customer only has to place the top of their iPhone (at camera level) on the plate. The phone simply needs to show its lock screen (the time) or be unlocked — no need to open anything. A notification appears, they tap it, and your review page opens.

On Android: check that NFC is enabled

On Android, the principle is identical: hold the back of the phone near the plate. One point to note, though: on some Android devices, NFC is not enabled by default.

If nothing happens, simply enable it in the settings:

• open the phone's Settings;
• go to Connected devices (or “Connections”, depending on the brand);
• enable NFC.

Once enabled, reading becomes instant, exactly like on iPhone.

The QR code: the solution that always works

No NFC, an older phone, or a customer in a hurry? The QR code printed on the plate is the universal solution: just open the phone's camera and point it at the QR code. The link to your review page appears at once. It works on 100% of smartphones, with no setting at all.

Important: your customer must be signed in to Google

One point to keep in mind: Google only allows a review to be posted if the person is identified, i.e. signed in to their Google account in their browser. This is not a limitation of the plate, but a Google rule.

In practice, it is almost never an obstacle: the vast majority of smartphone users are already signed in to Google permanently, via Gmail, YouTube or Google Maps. If not, the browser will simply offer to sign in before submitting the review.

Our tips to make it work

• Place the plate where every customer passes: counter, till, exit.
• Invite a review with a word, at the right moment — right after a successful service.
• Train your team: a simple “just hold your phone near it” is enough to guide the customer.
• Reply to the reviews you receive: it encourages the next ones and improves your local visibility.

To understand everything about how it works, see our complete Google review plate guide and the NFC vs QR code comparison.