Bing Introduces Action Buttons: Are These Confusing?
September 24, 2011
As people worldwide groan over the new Facebook layout, I am seriously focused on the big changes over at Bing.
Bing has recently introduced action buttons to their search results. Basically, when you search across seven popular categories (such as airlines, banks, and software downloads,) you will be presented buttons for popular actions on relevant sites instead of given a simple list of links.
Search Engine Watch covers the news in the article, “Bing Introduces Action Buttons to Search Results.” We learn:
Action buttons will attempt to go beyond simple site links to drill into a site’s deeper content. In some cases, the action buttons are the same. However in other cases, they are all new links. For example, checking in to or viewing the status of your flight are both site links and action buttons, yet Book a flight is an action button that does not exist in extended site links. Bing director Stefan Weitz states the site will be constantly looking for actions to add and requests that we “stay tuned.”
So, while others are aiming their “Internet-encourages-stalking” complaints at the new Facebook layout, I can’t tear myself away from this news from Bing. Since when did I need to be told what actions I am intending to take? If I want to book a flight, can’t I just search “book a flight” on my own, instead of being shown a series of action buttons I might be interested in? Thanks, but I don’t need training wheels or “nanny” culture buttons.
Andrea Hayden, September 24, 2011
Sponsored by Pandia.com
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