Google changes search result layout

Google doesn’t often make changes to its search engine but today they released changes that simplified the logo and increased functionality on search result pages.

Many users have already shown their distaste for the changes in multiple online communities but I stand behind Google and believe that the new filtering adds to the usability of the search engine.

Google has made changes to the logo, search buttons and added a left panel. Changes are minimal but they’ve increased the functionality and percentage of users filtering results.

Left side menu

The new left-side menu now contains options for quick filtering results by news, maps, books, images, blogs and a more button. Three different technologies are powering the filtering options. Universal Search, Google Squared and Search Options Panel.

No Algorithmic changes

It appears that with the information we have received from Google that all the changes are only cosmetic and not related to the algorithm or how search results are ranked.

Google takes after Bing?

Along with the buzz of the layout changes a lot of users feel that Google copied Bing’s layout structure and I had a similar mindset when I first reviewed it. But it’s hard to believe Google would copy Bing since they command less than 20% of their market share and with that knowledge it wouldn’t be wise to copy your competitors when you’re winning by such large margins.

While there are similarities in the structure the functionality isn’t at all. Google’s left panel gives the users much more filtering options while Bing only has related searches and history. It won’t be long before we see Bing add new options within the left menu.

Visual similarities between the two are nothing more than a coincidence.