Google Moves Away From Large Navigation Drop Down Menu

A few months ago, Google introduced a new navigation bar that was black and very large. It was part of the Google+ changes across Google’s properties.

Last night, Google announced yet another change to that top bar navigation. The most noticeable change is that most of the main search options are back at the top, placing the less ‘important’ search options in a more menu. This new user interface is a lot like the previous Google look, but keeping with the Google+ features at the top right.

Here are before and after pictures.

Before:

After:

Google said they made these changes based on user feedback and added:

The new design retains many of the feature changes we made in November that proved popular, including a unified search box and Google+ sharing and notifications across Google. The biggest change is that we’ve replaced the drop-down Google menu with a consistent and expanded set of links running across the top of the page.

Related Stories:

Related Topics: Channel: Consumer | Google: User Interface


About The Author: is Search Engine Land's News Editor and owns RustyBrick, a NY based web consulting firm. He also runs Search Engine Roundtable, a popular search blog on very advanced SEM topics. Barry's personal blog is named Cartoon Barry and he can be followed on Twitter here. For more background information on Barry, see his full bio over here.

Connect with the author via: Email | Twitter | Google+ | LinkedIn


SMX - Search Marketing Expo

SearchCap:

Get all the top search stories emailed daily!  

Like This Story? Please Share!

Other ways to share:

Like Our Site? Follow Us!

Subscribe to Our Feed! Join our LinkedIn Group Check out our Tumblr! See us on Pinterest Get Search Engine Land on your mobile device!
 

Read before commenting! We welcome constructive comments and allow any that meet our common sense criteria. This means being respectful and polite to others. It means providing helpful information that contributes to a story or discussion. It means leaving links only that substantially add further to a discussion. Comments using foul language, being disrespectful to others or otherwise violating what we believe are common sense standards of discussion will be deleted. Comments may also be removed if they are posted from anonymous accounts. You can read more about our comments policy here.
  • http://about.me/joshhumble Josh Humble

    Glad to see Google going BACK to the top, always visible nav. Their move to hide the main nav made for more clicks, AND confused user behavior of clicking on the logo to go “home.” Too much minimalism – making access to key elements difficult – is just too much minimalism.

Get Our News, Everywhere!

 
  • Advertise With Us
 

Click to watch SMX conference video

Join us at an upcoming SMX event:

North America

EMEA

APAC

Search Engine Land produces SMX, the Search Marketing Expo conference series. SMX events deliver the most comprehensive educational and networking experiences - whether you're just starting in search marketing or you're a seasoned expert.

SMX Site » | SMX Difference » | SMX News »




 

Search Engine Land Periodic Table of SEO Ranking Factors

Get Your Copy
Read The Full SEO Guide