Next up in our SEO Epic Fail series is a QR Code mishap. QR codes can be a powerful way for companies to share information with consumers. They can also create epic fails if not implemented correctly.
One of the first QR codes I ever scanned was at a local dessert shop. Their tables featured QR codes that had instructions to scan and complete the form in order to receive a free dessert on your birthday. That sounded like fun, so I scanned and was taken to a non-mobile optimized form. It was quite frustrating to zoom in and zoom out to complete a multi-line form.
Just this week, I discovered that Thirty-One, a direct selling company that specializes in purses, totes, and organizers; had a design flaw in their monthly special flier.
When users scanned the QR code, they were taken to the following page:
The frustrating part is that Thirty-One has a great mobile catalog that updates their special’s page each month. The user could be taken to (and should be taken to):
The second would be a better user-experience.
Being a consultant for Thirty-One and loving their products, I wrote them with this suggestion. They were very appreciative of the input.
QR codes are relatively new and everyone is still learning. My #1 suggestion for everyone is test, test, test. Print your QR code and test on an iPhone and a few Android devices. Does the barcode scan easily? Does it take the user to a mobile optimized page? If it takes the user to a form, is it easy to complete from a smartphone? The more testing you can do up front, the better experience for your users.
Questions about implementing QR codes properly? Email me at glenneth@firstviewonline.com.
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Jun15