How Do NFC Google Review Cards Work?

An NFC Google review card contains a small chip programmed with a web link.

When a compatible phone is held close to the chip, the phone detects the link and offers to open it. That link can lead directly to the business's Google review form.

There is no battery in the card and nothing for the business owner to charge. The phone provides the tiny amount of energy needed to read the passive NFC chip.

What the customer actually does

The usual flow takes a few seconds:

1. The business asks the customer for an honest review.
2. The customer holds the top or back of their phone near the NFC tag.
3. A notification appears on the phone.
4. The customer taps the notification.
5. Their browser opens the Google review page.

The customer may need to sign in to a Google Account before posting. They do not need a special NFC app just to open a normal website link on a supported phone.

The card does not write the review or choose a rating. It only removes the fiddly step of searching for the right business listing.

NFC works at very short range

NFC stands for near field communication. It is designed to work when two devices are only a few centimetres apart.

That short range is useful here. The customer deliberately brings their phone to the tag, rather than connecting through a device list or pairing over Bluetooth.

Placement matters. On many iPhones the reading area is near the top edge. On Android phones it is often around the upper or centre section of the back, but the exact spot varies by model.

If the first attempt does not work, move the phone slowly around the tag for a second. Thick phone cases, metal accessories and a disabled NFC setting can sometimes get in the way.

What happens on iPhone and Android

Apple supports background reading of compatible NFC tags on iPhone XS and later. The system shows a notification when it detects a supported website link, according to Apple's background tag reading documentation.

Android also supports reading NFC tags, although NFC hardware and settings vary between devices. Google's Android NFC overview describes NFC as a short-range technology for exchanging small amounts of data and explains how Android reads standard NDEF tag messages.

In both cases, the important part is the same. A normal HTTPS link stored in a compatible format gives the phone something useful to open.

Why a QR code should be on the same product

NFC is quick when it works, but no physical sharing tool should rely on one phone feature.

A QR code gives the customer a familiar alternative. They open the camera, point it at the code and tap the link that appears.

Both NFC and QR should open the same destination. That keeps the experience consistent and means the business only has one link to maintain.

Linkz Google review tags include both. If a customer's phone does not detect the NFC chip, they can turn the tag over and scan instead.

Direct link or business page?

Some NFC review cards open the Google review form immediately. Others open a small business page with a review button alongside contact details, a website, bookings or social links.

The direct approach has fewer steps. It suits a tag used almost entirely for reviews.

A business page is more flexible. The same tag can help a new contact save your number, request a quote or visit your website. The Google review button can still sit first when reviews are the priority.

Neither option is automatically better. Choose based on when the tag is used and what the customer is likely to need next.

Can the link be changed later?

That depends on the product.

Some NFC cards store the final Google link directly on the chip. Changing it may require rewriting the tag, assuming it has not been locked.

Other products store a short managed link. That short address stays on the physical chip while the destination behind it can be edited online.

Linkz uses the second approach. The tag keeps the same short address, while the owner can change the buttons and details on the page without replacing the tag.

This matters if a business moves, changes its profile, adds a booking system or wants to use the tag differently later.

The card cannot guarantee a review

NFC removes steps. It does not control the customer's decision.

The request still needs to come at a sensible moment, after a real customer experience. The business also needs to follow Google's rules.

Google allows businesses to ask for reviews based on genuine experiences. It prohibits paying, discounting or offering another benefit in exchange for a review. It also prohibits only soliciting positive reviews. Google's review guidance is worth reading before training a team.

Ask for an honest review and let the customer choose what to say.

Where NFC review cards are useful

They make the most sense when the business and customer are together at the end of the service.

Examples include:

• A tradie handing back keys after finishing a job
• A mobile detailer showing the customer the completed vehicle
• A salon client looking at the finished cut
• A cafe regular offering a compliment at the counter
• A consultant wrapping up a successful workshop

A countertop card suits a fixed location. A keyring or small tag suits people who work across job sites and customer locations.

The best format is the one that will actually be present when the customer is ready.

Keep it simple

A good NFC review card does one small job well. It turns a face-to-face request into an open review page without making the customer search.

Use a direct or clearly labelled review button, include QR backup and test the experience on more than one phone. Then make the request part of an ordinary customer handover.

The technology should fade into the background. A quick tap, a clear choice, done.