That’s my assessment of the recently launched search engine by Microsoft, Bing. Yes, it’s a ‘pretty’ interface (my photographer friends will love it!).  And I do like that my blog is still ranked #1 for the term, “susan mckenna.” (hey, I have priorities too!) However, I’m more concerned with function over fashion and looks have never meant much to me if there’s no substance. Sure, all of you Mac loyalists (largely artists and designers, right?) with an eye for the aesthetic may love the new design interface.  That’s nice.  Now grab your iPhones and run along now.

Microsoft's new Bing, Serach Engine

For now, I agree with the pros like SEO Expert Steve Wiideman, who says, “In regards to Bing, I’m in agreement with some of the Rockstars here at smx that the change does create some skepticism.” In fact, adds Wiideman, “according to search economists such as Mark Mahaney of Citi Investment Research, as well as search experts Bruce Clay and Todd Friesen of Oilman SEO, we all share the same skepticism about Bing. [after all,] this is Microsoft’s 3rd try at building a search engine powerful enough to gain market share. Adoption rates AFTER THE HYPE will tell if Bing is worth putting any energy into. For now, it’s a 9% market share  [search tool] that isn’t worth putting emphasis on.”

Steve concludes, “Also, can you imagine saying ‘oh, just Bing it’ the way you say ‘Google it?’ Me neither.” Bada Bing, Steve!

My final thought on Bing: people like my father (and there’s a lot of those bada-boomers out there) — who have been online since Prodigy was the only Internet browser — will not like it. Why?  Because he can’t find what he needs fast enough beneath all those pretty pictures. I can already see him on this page — “how do I search?” he’ll ask me, frustrated already from having to scan the page through his thick glasses.  Sure, for those of us online every day all day, we see the big magnifying glass icon to the right of the text entry area and we know intuitively that this means “go” or “search” and it needs to be clicked to find the results page.  But my Pop won’t.  I’m sure I’ll get a call in the middle of an afternoon asking me how he can “finish my darned search!”  Clearly the UI design  team for Microsoft did not consult with one of my favorite Internet design (and usability) experts, Steve Krug, author of “Don’t Make me Think.” That’s a pretty easy concept that Bing has failed to apply.  Search engines are for searching and so I’d vote to keep out the frills and leave the picture stuff to Flickr.

(Speaking of Yahoo), on Tuesday this week, Yahoo announced an index change, the first major update since early April.  What does all this mean for the search optimization world?  Not a lot, says Search Engine Expert, Steve Wiidman. “I think all the changes are just a sign that the industry is maturing. I love seeing my fresh content indexed faster in Yahoo!” Steve stays. I couldn’t agree more!  And listen up Yahoo! execs: You are in dire need of a re-organization too.  To me, Yahoo is in extreme danger of becoming the MySpace of Search Engines — the search site that coulda-woulda-shoulda-been “the one.”  Don’t get me wrong, I still advise my clients to spend money and optimize for Yahoo.  But like the market, we spend 80-90% of our time focusing in on Google, which is, undoubtedly, the one, when it comes to search.

What are  Your Thoughts? Please share them with me here or on twitter.