GA Creative blog

Now that the frenzy around the launch of Microsoft's Bing search-no, make that decision-engine has died down, I figured the timing's right to take a last-to-the-party look. Disclosure: Microsoft is a GA client, but we have no involvement with marketing Bing or previous search services.

Last Wednesday, I opened the Bing tour page and immediately loved the featured search categories, the nifty icons and rich imagery - just to be frustrated when the only way I could jump from the tour page to the main site was by making Bing my default search provider. Talk about an all-or-nothing proposition!

Those who do make it to the Bing home page, rather than traveling through the search function won't be disappointed, however, as I discovered when I checked out the fully ramped website this week. Amazing imagery and a simplified navigation beckon users to dig in. Bing also ups the game on providing a user-friendly experience - the hover feature displays a quick summary of each Web page when you move your cursor over the right edge of a link. Videos on Bing start playing when you move your cursor over the still image of the video - no pressing play or going to a new page - definitely my favorite feature so far.

In taking a look at the coverage to date - I mainly came away with the impression, no - make that the knowledge, that I'm a search novice. I might use search, but others practice the art (or is it the sport?) of search. While coverage has been overall positive, reviewers and commenters have revealed tips and tricks, and levels of depth of search that I never knew existed, on Bing, Google and Yahoo as well as others.

Upshot? Bing will develop a following, and it may even tip some market share. It definitely offers a fresh alternative - and who shouldn't be happy about that? Still haven't checked out Bing? For a great overview, start with Katherine Boehret's product review in last week's Wall Street Journal, or Ryan Singel's article in Wired.