Search query pages: 1996 to 2005
Posted by Caitlin Smythe on 16 Oct 2008 | Tagged as: Search Engine News
I found this image on the social networking site, Reddit, under the comment “and Yahoo! wonder why Google beat them in the search game…” It`s a collection of screenshots comparing two search query pages over nine years. What is interesting is the bunching of news, services and advertisements on Yahoo!`s pages, versus the relative sparseness of Google`s pages. While Yahoo!`s homepage gets more and more overcrowded over the years, Google`s remains clear and approachable; almost as if it`s inviting users to ask it a question, rather than prompting them to engage.
What does this say about the business of search, and about the human brain?
Perhaps users approach search engines with a question in mind, and they seldom need help to make the first move. The image was submitted by the Redditor “biotech9”, who assumes that Google is winning in business because they let visitors take the initiative at first. While I think Google is a big conglomerate that is winning statistically for a number of other reasons, I think “biotech9” is on the money.
Rather than insisting on the answers, Google simply waited for the questions. Perhaps this is a lesson to some of us out there who are gung ho to race away with proposals and enterprises and programmes for clients before we`ve got to the core of their business. I`ve fallen into this trap, and it`s troublesome to recover from. Why not listen to what they`d like to know, and give them the answers, second? If Google is anything to go by, it`s not a bad idea.
Image Credit: Biotech9
October 16th, 2008 at 9:45 pm
Google’s homepage would be the most expensive piece of real estate on the web. How many companies would die to be found on the homepage? Yahoo and MSN’s homepages are too busy for my liking. I really don’t want to know what the stars are wearing for the Oscars and other things irrelevant to me. Other engines like Doggpile and Ask have tried to keep it clean and simple.
The whitespace Google’s homepage makes it less “busy”. I prefer a clean start where I can really figure out what I want to find and not be distracted by other less important things. 18 links on the homepage is more than enough for me. Include the company’s logo and I’m G for away on finding whatever I want/need.
The homepage reminds me of the KISS principle (“Keep It Simple, Stupid”)
October 17th, 2008 at 9:29 am
igoogle.com’s unique visitors were clocked at almost 200 thousand in September by compete.com.
So maybe people are increasingly using Google’s custom interface, so they have given that fascility to users in their own way, if the user so requires.
I agree totally; the simple interface is key to its sheer convenience, and I’m glad they didn’t sell out along the way and develop “property” on their prime land.
October 17th, 2008 at 9:31 am
Google have attracted millions of visitors to their homepage without actually having anything attractive on it. This is genius and I definitely agree that it is more appealing than being distracted by irrelevant links all over the page as seen on Yahoo.
And yes, they definitely seem to be following the KISS motto. Looks like the way to go! Hopefully the others will follow suit.
October 17th, 2008 at 9:43 am
yip! i fully agree with the above comment. Yahoo! gives you way to much unwanted things on their homepage. you go to a “search engine” to “search” for something, not to look at the weather reports or catch up on the latest news.
October 17th, 2008 at 10:17 am
I couldnt agree more, i have a certain scottish client that im trying to convince
IMHO KISS rule applies more for web than any other medium because of the competitive nature. You will continue reading a poor brochure because it means you have to go and find another company to send you one. With the web youre a second away from your back button and lost to the brand forever.
nice find