Yahoo Revamps Search Results (And Prepares Them for Bing)

Fresh off of its homepage redesign (and the Microsoft search deal), Yahoo has launched a full revamp of its search results page.

The new search page, which is now active for all users, adds a new discovery bar just under the search box, adds a left-hand navigation column (not unlike Bing (

)), and aligns more with the functionality and color scheme of the new widget-based Yahoo homepage.

So what’s the change look like? Perhaps the best way to assess the differences is to do a before and after comparison. First, here is what Yahoo Search looked like before the upgrade:

Study it. Notice the right hand sidebar, the old color scheme, and the search bar in the far left hand corner.

Now, take a look at the redesign:

Here are some of our observations:

- Left hand navigation: The new Yahoo search page is focused on creating a relevant experience. If you search “Mashable (

),” the left-hand navigation comes up with similar search terms and related information. If you search “puppies,” you’ll get a list of searches of different dog breeds, the American Kennel Club, Iams, and Flickr (

) (so you can share those puppy pictures).

- Explore related concepts: This is a dropdown right under the search bar. Clicking on it adds even more related searches that you can explore.

- People Search: Following in the footsteps of Bing, Yahoo Search’s related concepts takes a twist when you search for people. It links you to that person’s Facebook (

), Twitter (

), and other social networks.

- Design: The new search feels like an extension of the new Yahoo homepage. That’s a good thing.

The new search does two things in the end. First, it positions Yahoo for its eventual Bing switchover. The left-hand navigation bar is just like Bing. These changes should help smooth the transition.

More importantly though, it improves the search experience a great deal. It provides some useful features and more continuity in the search experience. It’s nice to see that Yahoo isn’t just going to abandon the search experience and that they will innovate until Bing replaces Yahoo’s search algorithm.

via mashable.com

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