A Google review plaque works best mounted at eye level, on a wall customers face while they pay or wait, and fixed securely enough to cope with Canadian seasons. It invites customers to tap or scan and leave a review without staff needing to hand anything over. Whether you run a bakery in Halifax, an auto shop in Sudbury or a restaurant in Vancouver, the same principles apply: visible, reachable, and away from heat and drafts.
How the Canadian Climate Affects Where the Plaque Goes
Indoor conditions in Canada swing between humid summers and dry, heated winters, so choose a spot away from direct heat and cold blasts. Adhesive-only mounting is the most common reason a plaque comes loose; mechanical fixings avoid the problem.
Climate rules worth following:
- Keep the plaque away from baseboard heaters, wood stoves and HVAC vents
- Avoid the wall directly inside the entrance vestibule, where cold air hits every time the door opens
- Avoid walls in strong direct sun through shop glass, which can cause glare and make the QR code harder to scan
- Use screws and wall anchors rather than relying on double-sided tape alone
- Check the plaque after the first cold snap and again in summer humidity, and tighten fixings if needed
5 Mounting Zones That Work in Canadian Shops
The best zone is wherever customers naturally pause with their phone in hand. These five spots suit most small businesses.
- Beside or behind the till — customers see it while paying
- In the waiting area of salons, clinics and garages — people have time and are often already on their phones
- Next to the exit — a final reminder as customers leave
- By the pickup counter in cafés and takeout restaurants — customers often wait there for a minute or two
- Near the fitting room or service desk in retail — where a purchase decision has just been made
Eye-line guide: aim for the centre of the plaque at roughly adult eye level, around 1.5–1.6 m from the floor. Drop it a little in clinics and salons where customers are seated. If you serve francophone customers, add French wording on or beside the plaque.
A 7-Step Install
Use a stud finder to locate framing; studs in Canadian homes and shops are commonly 16 inches on centre.
Mark the centre point at eye level and check it with a level.
Screw into a stud where you can; otherwise use hollow-wall anchors suited to drywall.
For brick or concrete, common in older shopfronts in Quebec and Ontario, use a masonry bit and masonry anchors.
Mount the plaque and test it: tap with an iPhone and an Android phone, and scan the QR code with a camera app.
Take a photo of your shop interior for your Google Business Profile while you're at it — up-to-date photos help customers know what to expect.
Brief the team in one line, bilingually where relevant: "If a customer asks about the plaque, they can tap it to leave us a Google review / Si un client pose la question, il peut toucher la plaque pour nous laisser un avis Google."
Canadian Businesses Where a Plaque Fits Well
- Independent cafés, brunch spots and bakeries
- Salons, spas, brow bars, barbers and nail studios
- Dental, orthodontic, physio, chiropractic and family clinics
- Auto shops, tire shops and ski or snowboard tuning shops
- Inns, B&Bs, ski lodges and winery tasting rooms in Niagara and the Okanagan
- Real-estate brokerages with walk-in offices
- Independent retail — gift shops, bookstores and craft stores
Pricing and What You Get
Our wall plaques arrive pre-programmed with your Google review link, for a one-off price with no subscription. The optional editable-link add-on lets you change the link later without replacing the plaque. See current plaque prices for Canada.
Mistakes That Hold a Plaque Back
- Foam-tape mounting that lets go when the heating dries the air in winter
- Mounting too high — customers rarely look up, especially in a bulky winter coat
- Adding "leave a review, get a free coffee" — Google's policy prohibits incentives for reviews
- Hiding the plaque behind posters, lottery signs or payment decals
- English-only wording in a francophone market — check the Office québécois de la langue française guidance if you're in Quebec
Policy note: the Competition Bureau has warned businesses that fake reviews, including reviews by employees that don't disclose the relationship, can breach the Competition Act's deceptive marketing provisions. A plaque that simply opens your review page, with no incentive or filtering, fits Google's policy. See are review cards allowed by Google.
Plaque vs Other Review Tools
- Wall-mounted Google review plaque — an always-on prompt via NFC and QR
- Counter Google review stand — best right beside the payment terminal
- Handheld NFC Google review card — best for one-to-one handoffs in service businesses
- Window or door sticker — useful for street-level shops on walkable strips
A Simple First Month With a Plaque
Week 1: Order a plaque and choose the wall using the zones above.
Week 2: Mount it with proper fixings, test it on two phones and brief each shift.
Week 3: Reply to new reviews, in French where the reviewer wrote in French.
Week 4: Check whether customers are using the plaque, and move it if it isn't being noticed.
Key Takeaways
Mount the plaque at eye level where customers pause, use mechanical fixings rather than tape, keep it away from heaters and drafts, add French where your customers expect it, and reply to the reviews it brings in. For more ideas on placement, read how to use review plaques to improve in-store social proof.
❓ Frequently asked questions
What's the right height to mount a Google review plaque?
Aim for the centre at roughly adult eye level, around 1.5–1.6 m from the floor. Go a little lower in clinics and salons where customers are seated.
How much does a Google review plaque cost in Canada?
It's a one-off purchase with no subscription. [See current prices](/product/google-review-plaque) on the product page.
Are Google review plaques allowed under Google's rules?
Yes. A plaque that simply opens your review page for every customer, with no incentive or filtering, fits Google's policy.
Which fixings should I use in a Canadian climate?
Screws into a stud, or wall anchors suited to your wall type, rather than adhesive tape alone. Dry heated air in winter and summer humidity can weaken tape over time.
Do I need French on a plaque in Quebec?
If you serve francophone customers, French wording is a good idea everywhere. In Quebec, check the Office québécois de la langue française guidance on French in commercial signage.
Do plaques work with every phone?
iPhone 7 and later can read NFC; iPhone XS/XR and later read it in the background, and iPhone 7–X use the NFC tag reader in Control Centre. Android phones need NFC switched on, and the QR code works with any phone camera.
Does a Google review plaque help me get more reviews?
It gives customers an easy, always-visible way to reach your review page by tapping or scanning. Whether it leads to more reviews depends on where it's placed and whether your team mentions it.
Where should I not mount a review plaque?
Avoid spots customers rarely see, places too high to reach with a phone, cluttered walls and surfaces made of metal. Restrooms and back corridors are also poor choices.
What height is best for mounting?
Choose a height most adults can reach comfortably with a phone, roughly chest to eye level. Customers need to hold their phone close to tap it.
Can I mount a plaque on glass or brick?
Yes, as long as you use fixings suited to that surface and mount it level. Test the tap and QR code once it's in place.
Does a plaque need updating?
The plaque itself doesn't show a rating, so it doesn't need updating as reviews come in. If your review link changes, the editable-link add-on lets you update the destination without a new plaque.
Does a plaque work for service-area businesses?
Plaques suit places with walk-in customers, such as restaurants, clinics, salons, hotels and shops. Businesses that visit customers on site usually find cards or keychains more practical.
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How to Use Review Plaques to Improve In-Store Social Proof
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