Restaurants, cafés and hotels live on word of mouth, and today that word of mouth happens on Google Maps, Tripadvisor and Booking.com as much as around a dinner table. People choose where to eat or stay by scanning reviews on their phone. NFC cards are a low-cost way to put a link where your guests already are, in their hand and on their phone. This guide covers what to link to, where to place it, and what to avoid.
What can an NFC card open?
An NFC card opens one web link. You choose which. For hospitality businesses the most useful choices are:
- Your review page. Google for restaurants and cafés, and also Tripadvisor, Booking.com or Airbnb for hotels, guest houses and holiday homes.
- Your menu. A link to a menu page or file hosted online. The card only opens the link, so the menu has to exist online first.
- A WhatsApp chat. For table bookings, takeaway orders or room enquiries. See the WhatsApp card.
- Your Instagram page. To turn a good meal into a follower. See the Instagram card.
Each card holds one link. If you want to offer several actions, use separate cards or a link-in-bio page that lists them, which you can open with a Linktree card or an all-in-one card.
Where to place cards, coins and standees
These are practical ideas, not results from named businesses:
- On the table: a table-top standee with the tap area and QR code visible.
- At payment: a self-adhesive coin next to the card machine, or on the bill folder.
- At the cashier: a card handed over with the bill and receipt.
- On takeaway and delivery bags: a coin or card tucked into the bag.
- At the hotel front desk: a desk plate and a few cards.
- In rooms: a card beside the Wi-Fi details or the room-service menu.
Not sure which format fits? Read card, coin, standee or plate.
Example setups
These are illustrations to help you plan, not case studies:
- A small café: one coin on the bill folder and one standee at the counter, both opening the Google review form.
- A restaurant with a menu on its website: a card on each table opening the menu, and a coin at the till opening the Google review form.
- A guest house on Booking.com: a Booking.com card at the front desk and a Google card in each room.
Train your staff to ask well
The product does half the work. The other half is a person asking politely. Ask when a guest is leaving happy. Ask everyone. Do not offer a discount, a free dessert or any reward in return, and do not ask only the tables you think enjoyed the meal. Google prohibits both. See how to ask for Google reviews the right way. Other platforms have their own rules, so read them before you start. For example, Glassdoor and Yelp publish guidance that differs from Google’s.
Keep your links clean
- Use a separate link for each branch.
- Test every link on a phone before it goes on a card. See how to find your Google review link.
- If your menu changes often, link to a page you can update rather than a file you have to replace.
What to expect
An NFC card makes it easier for a pleased guest to find your page. It does not promise reviews, ratings or a higher place on Google Maps. If service or food disappoints, guests will say so. Use reviews as feedback and reply to each one.
Menu links: a few tips
- Host the menu on a page or file that opens quickly on a phone. A very large PDF is slow on mobile data.
- Make sure the text is readable without zooming.
- If you have several branches or a seasonal menu, use one link per branch and update the page, not the card.
- Test the link on both an iPhone and an Android phone before it goes on a card.
A one-week rollout plan
- Day 1: find and test your review link. See our link guide.
- Day 2: order the products and send us the link.
- When they arrive: tap each one with a staff phone to confirm it opens the right page.
- First shift: brief the team on how to ask politely and why rewards are not allowed.
- First week: watch where customers actually tap and move products that are ignored.
- Every week: read new reviews, thank the happy ones and respond calmly to complaints.
Handling the feedback you get
Reviews are free market research. If several guests mention slow service or a noisy room, fix it. Reply to every review, good or bad. Short, specific replies work better than copy-and-paste ones. If a review breaks a platform’s rules, report it through the platform rather than arguing in public.
Frequently asked questions
Do guests need to install anything?
No. iPhone XS and newer and NFC-enabled Android phones read the card directly, and the QR code covers other phones.
Can one card open my menu and my review page?
No. A card opens one link. Use two cards, or one link to a page that lists both.
Are the cards waterproof or greasy-table safe?
We do not list a water resistance rating for these products, so we cannot promise it. Keep cards away from liquids and wipe them gently.
How do I order?
Choose from our review cards and standees and plates, then send your link on WhatsApp +92 335 6656657. Delivery is across Pakistan with cash on delivery. See shipping.
