Valentine's Day Card with a QR Code

Good idea, adding a more visual depth to you average Valentine's Day card.

After scanning this QR Code your are brought into a cute short animated video with hearts and a puppy.

If i had to say something a little critical and guess that's why i created a blog, is the QR Code is a little busy.
Marks & Spencer's in this case should maybe have used a link shortener and hence opens that little bit faster.

However, there has been some opinion that shortened URL's affect SEO?

"There are mixed opinions from SEO experts as to whether shortened URLs can actually harm an SEO campaign so here is what Google had to say about the issue.  Matt Cutts from Google has made a video post about the subject in which he states that shortened URLs are no different to any other form of 301 redirect and ask such no harm should be done to your site by using them.  In fact, he even goes as far to say that they receive the same amount of page rank value as normal URLs". Phew!!!

Last of my 2012 QR Codes- Hello 2013!!!

Dee’s Real Meals

Country of Origin: Ireland

This QR Code is a little small but it is still very effective with the necessary white space around the code which helps create scanning definition. This code scans well and has a really good outcome. There is a short registration form to fill in your details where special offers will be sent to you and you are part of a V.I.P Club. This could be looked at as a QR Code best practice.

Bavaria Beer
Country of Origin: Netherlands

This QR Code (Bavaria) even looks jaded in appearance. It is positioned on plastic packaging that envelopes beer cans. Due to this, the plastic covering stretches easily. This makes the QR Code distorted and almost impossible to scan. Additionally, this is a very dense code which also adds to the complexity of scanning it. In this case, it is a QR Code fail. It has also been observed however; that Bavaria has actually printed the QR Code on each individual cans inside this pack which now scans effectively. However, the scan result is not mobile optimised.


Overall in 2012, the scanning results from the Product Packagaing findings were very poor.

It is clear, that these problems can be easily overcome but there are lessons needed by the QR Code provider to ensure their QR Codes are effective and benefical. Otherwise, QR Codes may only result in poor user experiences and in turn lack of trust in the codes.

QR Codes : 2013

Ok, it's been a few months since i've reviewed QR Codes so i've so much to write about.

Over the next while, i'll review some more QR Codes on products and then let you know about exciting developments in QR Codes and what the future is looking like in 2013.



FIREMAGIC - QR CODE BY BORD NA Mona

This ‘Fire Magic’ QR Code by Bord Na Mona is a managed code by ScanBuy. However, when this code is scanned it says that “This code is currently inactive. Please try scanning other codes. ScanBuy give the opportunity to reinvent old QR Codes and change their outcomes, (even with the same code) so it is unusual and frustrating that this code does not scan. This is a QR Code fail.

Vit-Hit Drink - Country of Origin: IRELAND

This QR Code from Vit-Hit is a little small and at times slow to scan. The user is brought to a Facebook connection page where the ‘Like’ button is suggested.  This QR Code is encouraging the user to connect with them via social media. This outcome is common yet brings no real benefit to the consumer. In addition, the Facebook page (not in all cases) strays away from totally marketing their product with information not associated with the drink. 

Chef’s Cuisine

Country of Origin: Ireland

Though a little small in size, this QR Code from Chefs Cuisine scans well and fast as it is a short and direct link. However, the link just refers the user to their web address which is not mobile optimised. In short, this QR Code does not provide any great benefits to the user; in short this is a QR Code scan fail.

Next Post - One of my favourite QR Codes from last year.