Google has launched a new-look search results page design for the desktop that makes the search bar central to the experience whether scrolling up or down.
Google has been working on the design for a few months now and has also completed a successful testing period behind closed doors. While the new look may not be obvious to the casual viewer at first glance, it does change up the SERPs experience with a new header and visual cues.
The most obvious change is a search bar header that will remain in view at the very of the top of the page when you scroll through the content served up after making a query. The old design was less intuitive here, and a scroll back up was always required in order to access it.
This simple update could give brands a boost in a roundabout way as it will likely lead to users making more searches, which could then drive traffic for high-ranking content. The new page design also features a search header with a rounded bar in place of the previous rectangular-shaped box.
Google also updated its AMP help thread last week. With mobile readiness set to be a major trend again in 2019, webmasters will be able to dip into the new helpful FAQs to make the switch easier. Google offers handy advice on the impact of AMP on rankings and how long mobile optimised pages take to show up in search results.
