Source: Search Engine Roundtable by barry@rustybrick.com (Barry Schwartz). Read the original article
TL;DR Summary of Microsoft Tests Light Gray Underlines for Bing Sitelinks
Microsoft is experimenting with light gray underlines on Bing sitelinks in search results. Traditionally, Bing sitelinks appear without underlines. This subtle design change aims to enhance link visibility, though its impact on user experience remains unclear.
Optimixed’s Overview: Enhancing Bing Search Experience with Subtle Sitelink Design Changes
Introduction to Bing’s New Sitelink Underline Experiment
Microsoft is currently testing a new visual treatment for sitelinks in Bing search results by adding light gray underlines. This is a departure from the standard presentation where sitelinks typically appear without any underlining.
Details of the Design Test
- Visual change: Introduction of faint gray underlines beneath sitelinks
- Current status: Experimental and not yet widely deployed
- Detection: Spotted by an industry observer who shared a screenshot on social media
Potential Impact and Considerations
While the underline provides a subtle indicator of clickable sitelinks, the difference may be too minimal for most users to notice. This raises questions about how design nuances affect user interaction and visual clarity in search interfaces.