Google Gets a Makeover

For years, Google’s simple, uncluttered layout has been appealing feature for searchers.  Yesterday, Google revealed that they are evolving from their traditional search results page to a more advanced display.  The Google search toolbar located at the top of the screen has been moved to the left-hand side. Soon searchers will be able to refine their searches by news, updates through social media channels, blogs and much more all from one place.  Google has also given searchers the option to define a specific timeframe of their search results.

This new overhaul has many critics scratching their heads and noticing glaring similarities between Bing’s display results and Google’s proposed layout.  Many Googlers aren’t particularly thrilled with the transition from Google’s simplistic organization to the more advanced format. However, industry experts feel Google’s improvements were only a matter of time.  With the upcoming Bing (MSN) and Yahoo merger; MSN will be taking up a larger percentage of the search market.  According to the latest Hitwise results; Yahoo occupies approximately 14.9 percent of the search market and Bing roughly 9.43 percent.

Love or hate the new layout, one thing is clear; the competition between Google and MSN is becoming more intense.  I have a feeling that Google’s recent makeover is only the first of many changes searchers will see in the near future.