Decision snapshot
| Format | Best fit | Main tradeoff |
|---|---|---|
| Counter stand | Shared indoor checkout, reception, or waiting area | Stable and visible; takes dedicated counter space |
| Table tent or folded sign | Temporary tabletop placement | Easy to print; paper can wear or move |
| Sticker or decal | A window, door, or space-constrained surface | Low profile; harder to move or replace cleanly |
| Plaque or plate | A permanent branded display | Durable appearance; may require mounting permission |
| Portable tap card | Staff-led service away from a counter | Easy to carry; needs assignment, storage, and regular testing |
Choose the smallest format that remains visible, reachable, stable, and easy to maintain in the real customer moment. A display that looks good in a product photo can still fail if customers cannot reach it, staff hide it behind paperwork, or glare makes the QR code difficult to scan.
Start with the customer handoff
Map the last useful moment in the experience before choosing a product:
- Where does service actually end?
- Is a staff member present at that moment?
- Is there a stable surface within comfortable reach?
- Does the prompt stay in one location or travel with an employee?
- Who will test the destination and keep the display available?
A reception desk, checkout counter, pickup station, or waiting-room exit usually favors a stand. A home-service visit, tableside interaction, event, or vehicle handoff may favor a portable format. Some businesses need both: a persistent stand at the shared exit and a portable prompt for interactions that end elsewhere.
WhyILike currently sells fixed counter stands. Portable cards are not presented as available products on this store.
Compare the formats that shoppers call “signs”
Counter stands
A counter stand gives the request a predictable home. Customers can see the prompt before the staff member mentions it, and the team can test one shared device on a routine schedule.
Current WhyILike stands combine passive NFC with a visible QR code. They do not need a battery or external power. A free WhyILike account controls the managed destination, so the owner can update where the stand points without replacing the physical unit. Paid software is optional rather than required for that link-management function.
Printed signs and table tents
Printed signs are inexpensive to prototype and useful for temporary placements. A table tent adds two-sided visibility, but paper and lightweight holders can shift, bend, or become part of the visual clutter.
Use a printed sign to test wording and placement before investing in a permanent display. Always print a QR code at final size and scan it under the actual lighting; a code that works on a monitor can fail after resizing, lamination, or low-quality printing.
Stickers and decals
Stickers fit where counter space is scarce. They work best when the surface is clean, flat, well lit, and naturally visible. Their main weakness is permanence: moving a sticker can damage the surface or the print, and a changed destination may require reprinting unless the code points to an owner-controlled redirect.
Do not place the only review prompt on an entrance where no staff member can provide context. Passive visibility can support a review process, but it rarely replaces a respectful request at the end of a real interaction.
Plaques and mounted plates
A mounted plaque can suit a polished lobby or permanent service desk. Before ordering, confirm mounting permission, final dimensions, reflection under overhead lighting, and how the display will be removed or updated.
“Premium” material is not enough information. Evaluate the exact product’s stability, finish, care instructions, scan performance, and replacement terms.
Portable cards
A card is useful when the employee must bring the request to the customer. The operating burden is different from a stand: each card needs an owner, storage location, test routine, and replacement plan. Nearby contactless cards, metal wallets, and some phone cases can also make an NFC handoff less predictable.
NFC, QR, or both?
NFC and QR are two ways to open a destination; neither submits a review automatically.
- NFC gives compatible phones a tap interaction after the customer accepts the phone prompt.
- QR gives customers a visible camera-based alternative.
- Both together provide a useful fallback when a customer prefers one method or a device does not respond to the first attempt.
For a public counter, a dual-format display is usually the most flexible choice. Still, test the exact production item. Avoid claims that every phone, case, browser, or lighting condition will work.
Cost is more than the unit price
Compare the complete deployment cost:
| Cost layer | Include |
|---|---|
| Product or printing | Current product price, print run, holder, or fabrication |
| Branding | Artwork preparation, proofing, setup, and possible remake |
| Deployment | Shipping, placement, staff explanation, and destination testing |
| Upkeep | Cleaning, reprints, link checks, and damaged-item replacement |
| Optional software | Only the ongoing tools the workflow genuinely needs |
Use current catalog prices instead of copying a number into a planning document. That keeps the comparison accurate when a variant or pack changes.
A five-step placement test
- Put a prototype at the intended location.
- Stand where a customer naturally waits and check visibility.
- Tap and scan using representative iPhone and Android devices.
- Confirm the correct Google Business Profile opens.
- Ask staff whether the prompt is easy to include without pressure.
Success means the product is available, the link opens correctly, and staff can offer it neutrally. Do not evaluate a display by demanding a review count or a particular rating from employees.
Keep the invitation neutral
The hardware only shortens the path to a review destination. Offer the same opportunity consistently, without incentives, requested wording, positive-only selection, or staff quotas. A simple script is enough:
If you’d like to share an honest review, you can tap or scan here.
The customer decides whether to post and what to say. Review Google’s current Business Profile and Maps contribution guidance before changing your request process.