Yahoo Testing New Blue Bar Search Results Format

Yahoo is running limited testing of a new search results page format with a blue search bar above the sponsored and organic Yahoo results.

Yahoo Blue Search Results

Both Karl Ribas and Jim Boykin captured images of the new Yahoo Search format in action, and both screenshots prove that Yahoo is mixing up the options and user experience within the Yahoo ‘Blue Bar’.

The first example shows vertical search options such as Images or Shopping posted as linked text over the left hand search box.

Yahoo Search Results Bar

A second example is a bit different, with the text pointing to Yahoo offerings such as Mail or MyYahoo. In this example, the user was not logged into their Yahoo account. Search options are then available via a dropdown menu which is merged with the search button.

Yahoo Channels

In both examples, Options are given in a drop down menu housed on the right side of the Blue Bar.

Yahoo Blue Search Bar Options

Yes, the new design is sleek and a nice change for Yahoo, as the Blue Bar takes some of the search dependency from the browser enhancement toolbar market, and places options within the browser window.

Ideally, more vertical search or Yahoo Shortcuts functionality would be available in the Blue Bar, freeing up more critical space in the results section for sponsored search via Yahoo Search Marketing.

Written By:
PG

Loren Baker | Search Engine Journal | @lorenbaker

Loren Baker is the founding editor/creator of Search Engine Journal and remains an advisor and Editor In Chief to this publication.

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Comments

  1. Googleman says:

    Google 4 Eva!

  2. [kbox] says:

    Looks pretty good. I haven’t used yahoo for years though, It used to be my default engine when i was new to the web.

  3. daryoko rispurwanto says:

    Thanks for ur information

  4. I need Word Translator in multiple language will be great

  5. Portland SEO says:

    The new design looks pretty good. I noticed that Yahoo is not displaying the number of results. Let’s hope they change this before they commit to the new look.

  6. Tubag Bohol says:

    Yahoo’s search results are not that updated. They need improvement.

  7. mark says:

    Looks nice, but Google SERPs are better.

  8. I think it’s about time that they try new things… I’m tired of having 3 times the same patterns ;)

  9. vinay says:

    wow kol yahoo is makin nice changes

    all da best to yahoo hope google gets tuff competition from yahoo

  10. Nick says:

    Hey Mark – why are Google SERPs better? Do you mean the results are better or is there some layout thing i’ve missed? Apart from Yahoo sticking with numbering their results (which google were doing on searchmash the other week) they look pretty identically dully to me!

  11. haha
    this just sux

    ppl dont stick with google cos
    of design
    or cos of serp

    they stick cos they love em…..

  12. mark says:

    Hey Nick – I feel the results are much better and more relevant to what I’m searching for.

    Furthermore, I enhance my Google’s serps, like number the results, by using a firefox extension called “Customize Google” – http://www.customizegoogle.com/

  13. Nothing I couldn’t do with Google and some Firefox addons.

    It’s nice to see that there is till competition though.

  14. Nick says:

    Wonderful… Competiti0n is on.

  15. Nick says:

    Wonderful… Face OFF is on

  16. It looks much better but the search results keeps the same:)

  17. dBiz says:

    I thought this was a ghost file but it looks great except for the number of search results which they need to add to the new look.

  18. dBiz says:

    It’s still kool

  19. Free PS3 Man says:

    I like googles better.

  20. antwan says:

    ok im a young male who workin on website i just wanna know how to create my search engine bar please help me.

  21. Hi. You know what guys? I think this is very good idea, but I am affraid but not for me :|

  22. Free Wii says:

    Google is and will always be 10 times better than yahoo.