Google Business Profile (GBP) reviews and QR codes work together to enhance local SEO by increasing visibility, driving customer interaction, and signalling relevance to Google’s algorithms. The core mechanism involves leveraging review quantity, velocity, and content, combined with the direct link a QR code provides from offline to online presence.
As of December 2025, GBP now includes advanced review management features, such as automated sentiment analysis and the ability to directly respond to reviews with rich media. Google’s local ranking algorithms currently prioritise businesses with a higher volume of recent, positive reviews – particularly those containing relevant keywords describing services (e.g., “best coffee Melbourne”). QR codes, generated directly within GBP, link customers directly to your profile for reviews. In 2026, Google is rolling out enhanced QR code analytics within GBP, providing data on scan rates and conversion to reviews. Australian businesses should be aware of ACCC guidelines regarding incentivised reviews; Google’s policies prohibit offering rewards for positive reviews. The ‘Promote on Google’ feature, available in select Australian regions, allows businesses to display QR codes on Google Maps and Search results.
Ultimately, GBP reviews and QR codes function as a feedback loop, where offline interactions are seamlessly connected to online visibility, influencing local search rankings.
