yeah,,at home i too use the google chrome address bar,,,the mouse automatically goes there for the search,,its really cool,,,but in the office,,i(like millions others who use ie6 who cannot change their browsers in office due to admin problems) use ie6 for browsing and i cannot browse through the address bar... and we being tech people it is ok,,,there are marketing, sales, accounting, finance, etc... departments which have people who cannot define what a browser mean,,they tend to open www.google.com in their browsers and search..this might be one of the reasons that people still go to google.com for searching,,,they really dont know that by typing in the keywords in the browser and hitting enter would save enuf time.... nyhw,,i too tend to open www.google.com the first time i start my computer everyday,,,to look at the doodles,,... cheers..
Ramzi Yakob
· 1 month ago
95% of the time I use the Chrome address bar aswell 5% of the time I search from the search box on my iGoogle page (which doesn't show the Google Doodles either).
saamimatloob
· 2 months ago
me tooo.. dont open google.com instead i directly search from the google search option in firefox or just type it in when using chrome . earlier i used to had google as homepage. so it had to open but now that too has changed to facebook :P
Jacob Gall
· 2 months ago
What do you mean "doodles don’t appear in the search results?" This is false.
And... Google is my homepage, so I always see the latest doodle.
Gloson
· 2 months ago
Well, think sometimes they appear and sometimes they do. For example if you do a google search now, you'll see the current logo, the bar code.
Stan_Schroeder
· 2 months ago
Currently, I see the barcode only on Google.com. When I conduct the search, the logo in the top left is the standard Google logo.
Gloson
· 2 months ago
I think you must do a search on the international google.COM, not your country. I tried my country, and the logo on the search results was not a barcode.
TheBox193
· 2 months ago
I think it depends on region / which google you are on. It also looks like google has been doing a logos for other locations that we have not seen on the international (en) google. (at least as far as I can recall) http://img0.gmodules.com/logos/
Stan_Schroeder
· 2 months ago
You're right. I actually tried that but didn't work due to caching, I guess. Edited the article, thanks.
And I sometimes go to the google page (i have a bookmark that takes me there) out of habit, But I'm shifting into searching via the searchbox (cntrl + K in FF)
Jbcarey
K N Ajit Narayan
· 2 months ago
You got it so right, Stan. I come to know about Google logos from you guys. :)
TheCommunityManager
· 2 months ago
For sure I go to Google as it's my default home page...
But you're right it's no use opening a new page to search something
Doubledown Tandino
· 2 months ago
yes. I use google.com. I go to the homepage and use google.com about 50 times a day. at least
Rose B
· 2 months ago
get a search box in your browser!! it's so much easier and saves time
Hugh Lashbrooke
· 2 months ago
I only ever use my browser - Chrome or Firefox depending on whether I'm doing dev or not. I did notice the Google bar code logo on the search results page today though - don't usually see their changed logos there.
Donavon
· 2 months ago
I don't go there when using Chrome. But I do have it as my home page for all other browsers.
Also, just wanted to point out that Google's doodles often do appear in the search results.
Gloson
· 2 months ago
Well, I rarely go to the google homepage to search. I search from Google Chrome. It's just simply 1 step easier. I just don't go to the google homepage, unless if there is a new google doodle :p ;-) .
richierahrah
· 2 months ago
I think tabbed browsing as much as anything else did away with the Google home page. Whereas before, you would set Google as your browser's home page and press CTRL-N, or Apple-N, now you don't need to. I only ever hear about Google Doodles from Mashable or press.
Murali Kumar
· 2 months ago
i do visit google.com at most twice a week :) Yes, most of the time i dont hav to go to google.com I just type in my browser search bar. But, i love to go to google.com and click the gmail link on top to go to my inbox.
Peter Learoyd
· 2 months ago
I never use the Google home page and wouldn't have known of any changes to their logo had it not been for your tweet. I search from within Firefox almost invariably. No point in unnecessary clicks!
johnnylattouf
· 2 months ago
I use Firefox Google search too, but if you noticed the bar code logo is in the search results also, which was not the case before. So without going to the homepage now you can check the new logo.
mosskat
· 2 months ago
Mostly go to see what idea they've come up with next :)
djtaylor
· 2 months ago
I don't use Goolge's homepage at all. I have the Google toolbar in Firefox but change back and fourth between the various search engines. I was wondering what the bar code was next to my search query. Thanks for updating me on the weird bar code.
Anon
· 2 months ago
I hardly ever go to google.com to search... I use the Google Toolbar in firefox almost exclusively for web searches.
justnontoxic
· 2 months ago
Despite having the nifty toolbar up top on Firefox, I actually do open up the webpage. It's actually my home-screen anyway.
Mohammed Al-Taee
· 2 months ago
I don't use Google.com unless you mention there is a new logo there ;)
Daniel
· 2 months ago
the same :)
Sonya A. Willis
· 2 months ago
Same here. I just search from Google Chrome which I do all the time. I do miss seeing the clean Google home page but I use igoogle and have the adorable fox and the Tea House theme to make me smile.
mahdee
· 2 months ago
i use firefox address bar :)
Arezo
· 2 months ago
Nope. I use either Chrome address bar or FireFox's Google search bar, depending on what browser I use. I occasionally visit Google homepage when I hear of interesting logo changes.
facebook-685068864
· 2 months ago
Hi Stan - I like your question and agree with you that the logo changing may be happening too often depending on the perception of the final user. The novelty issue is also a good point you make.
However I do not agree with the point that the logo change is less visible: even by doing a Firefox search, the bar code is visible on the results page. If you watch the speeches by Google team Marissa Meyer you can see that they want to keep the home page as clean as possible and do not particularly care if you visit it - all the communication they want to do can be displayed on the search results.
I'm also not sure if the logo changes are driven by the assumptions listed in the article.
Stan_Schroeder
· 2 months ago
I've added an edit in the text; you're only partially right. Doodles show up in results for searches from google.com, but not for searches from Google versions in individual countries (such as google.hr). It's also possible that Google has been inconsistent about this in the past, but it's hard to test it now.
pepparbrun
· 2 months ago
I usually use it to check the connection when I'm on my neighbors wireless. Best way to see if it works on a slow connection.
Matt Rogowski
· 2 months ago
I go to Google.co.uk to check my iGoogle page but to search I just type in the Chrome address bar. I only ever visit the normal site (i.e. not iGoogle) when I see the small version of a new Doodle on the search results; they always show up there for me.
Luke Albert
· 2 months ago
I don't think that brand recognition is a problem for Google anymore. And what better way to connect with users then have them chat about the latest celebratory logo? I even feel more connected to Google with the changes. It's like learning about news you wouldn't normally have checked out yourself.
And generally, I use the bar in Safari... but I still see the changed logos, as every one that I can remember has shown up with search results. I suggest you get your facts together. :)
DanS
· 2 months ago
I use the Firefox search (Google) or when in work using IE6 (yes, someone shoot the Head of IT), I use Gmails 'search the web' as I leave Gmail open all day.
What are you talking about when you say the doodle is isn't on the search results page? It certainly is.
cmp
· 2 months ago
not in my country.
boastboy
· 2 months ago
When I need to search for South African specific pages I'll open google.co.za, other than that, I use my Safari search bar that defaults to the google.com search
I only go to google.com when i want to log into my webmaster account, tho I'm sure there's an easier way to do that too.. I still like the logos tho.. What bothers me is users typing domain names into the search field.. has put a whole new twist on SEO when users can't find their own site in search, even when they know the address and should be typing it into the URL box. IMHO, most browser interfaces should be redesigned.. The average user just doesn't get the difference between the boxes. I now add theirdomain.com to the meta keywords, just so it shows up in search, regardless of the fact that Google says keywords don't matter.
miss me
· 2 months ago
firefox search all day. but yes sometimes i go to google.com
Mohitoz
· 2 months ago
Agree completely. It requires word of mouth to get someone to see the logo and that's as bizarre as it can get. Now, if they could embed that logo in all search results initiated from the browser's search bar, Google might see some more traction. But first they need to bring back the guys who created the early logos - some of the more recent ones are barely passable.
Mich
· 2 months ago
I tend to bypass the Google homepage and just type search queries directly into the Chrome address bar, so no, I don't notice the Doodles unless they are pointed out to me.
Mangy
· 2 months ago
I generally do search from third party application. But yes if i see a hype around Google's new log implementation i do visit the homepage. Internet search is the utmost priority in your overall internet behavior through out your daily activities, and when u need to save to you use third party application to get results faster. Also i would be more interested to read or know more about Google's frequent logo changes such as some story behind it, the way they did it for Google chrome before launch.
Brittany Hawk
· 2 months ago
I visit the Goggle page every day. I use it as my homepage on my browser because I frequently start my evenings of web surfing with searching about something or other that had been bouncing around my head that day. Google changes their logo for special days. The bar code, for example is there because today is apparently the 57th anniversary of the invention of the bar code. When you hover over the doodle on their homepage, the hover text tells you what each picture is in celebration of. But, it only says it on the homepage. I remember that they used to just do the traditional holidays, like Valentine's Day, Father's Day, Christmas, etc. It used to interest me every time it was different. Maybe getting people interested is what they're trying to do here. I know that after I found out why the logo was the bar code today, I looked up the history myself and learned something new. :)
sandyssn
· 2 months ago
Apparently, I visit google.com only to check out doodles.
I use igoogle as my default home page. It is my customized page of what I want to see. I have a theme for now. But when I do not have a custom theme I get to see the different logos. If I am on another site I do not go all the way to google.com.
Google is comfortable with who they are and if they can change their logo by that day's topic then good on them not to take themselves so seriously. They are fun.
dogbyte
· 2 months ago
I too use iGoogle as my home page, so see (and enjoy) the logo changes. Maybe it's a dog thing?
BrownGreg
· 2 months ago
Excellent point and it's something I've also thought about. The only time I'll actually go to the Google homepage is when a search I perform in the address bar (Chrome in my case) directs me straight to a site I don't want to visit...
sandyssn
· 2 months ago
Apparently, I visit google.com to check out its doodles.
Brownie Æ Baker
· 2 months ago
I do still go to Google.com, mainly for the Gmail link and Advanced Search options. I know there's a Google search box in FF but I have it set to Wikipedia or eBay.
Ajeng
· 2 months ago
yupp i go to google.com , that's my default home page :)
but if i need to search anything, i'll just click my "home" button and goes directly to google.com, but i don't aware that much if something new-happens in there :p
Marion
· 2 months ago
Hi There Stan,
I think you right, I barely go to the google.com website and use handy bars to search. Just a quick question - what do you mean by ''redesiign'' ? concept or typo ? :'')
thanks Marion
Senthil Ramesh
· 2 months ago
Though Google is my Home page, I never prefer to go for it. I searched mostly from Google toolbar's search field.
Nik
· 2 months ago
Funnily enough, when I heard about the barcode doodle this morning, it took me a second or two to remember where I had to go in order to see it.
qutaiba
· 2 months ago
Wow! My thought exactly today when I saw the barcode logo, and this was the first time I notice the logo since the Da Vinci one. It was interesting because its the first time I see a company modify their logo to the point that you cant see any resemblance to the name.
The last time I opened google.com was when a friend of mine forced me to do so to look up "where is chuck norris" using the 'I'm feeling lucky' button. That was a while back. Since I started using firefox a few years ago I stopped using the main google page, and with chrome its even easier to forget it.
Ashley Pitts
· 2 months ago
You have raised a very good point! I Google so much that I started using Chrome exclusively because I LOVE being able to just type my search directly into the address bar and KNOWING it uses Google. Before that, I used the Google Toolbar with IE, so the really the only time I ever go to the homepage is when I'm using someone else's computer who doesn't have Chrome or the toolbar.
Bertil
· 2 months ago
I've been using the adress bar for almost ten years (typing my search words directly in the URL, separating them with pluses) and I realize how odd this was every time Google had a doodle frenzy. I love the idea that they are becoming more a service then a website, and I guess that the recent acceleration is mostly coming from some smothering from Marissa Mayer, how can't let go her amazing, ultra-lean-bare design. I love how she recently tweeted that the link led to news about the logo (and not to a relevant Google search anymore), but as you point out, that is most likely to become the last warning before those celebrations become a niche interest — unless the logo on the *result* page changes too.
Raju
· 2 months ago
Yes I do. This is because searching directly from the browser makes it open Google in the same tab which means I need to open a new tab and search. This is no different than opening Google homepage in the new tab and searching since Google is my homepage.
lagspike
· 2 months ago
i never go to the classic homepage, i usually go to igoogle, but the theme doesn't let me see the cool new google logos. :(
Cheryl McDonnell
· 2 months ago
I use my browser's (firefox) search engine box, & search google from there most of the time. I seldom go to www.google.com & enter my search requests there.
Mr Omneo
· 2 months ago
I have igoogle as my home page with a non-customised theme so I see the changing doodles. I have to admit I am a little amazed at the reaction to the barcode, it's a trending topic on Twitter and most people seem bemused as to what it's all about and then shocked/disappointed to find out it's 'only' a barcode.
I'm no geek but the barcode pretty much revolutionised things so I don't see it as unworthy of being highlighted. And say what you will about Google, it's certainly got people talking and no doubt their homepage is being hammered by people looking to see what all the fuss is about!
NoCanDo
· 2 months ago
I do, because Firefox doesn't have the sandbox search engine, the experimental one, I'm currently using all the time.
Demoncheese
· 2 months ago
Based outside the US I tend to use keywords in Firefox as it allows me to customise what I want to search more easily than the search bar (e.g. g {search} searches all of Google, gb {search} searches UK pages, gi {search} searches Google images).
I still head to the Google homepage from time to time though.
In terms of the Brand recognition, Google are in a similar position to someone like Hoover where there brand has entered mainstream usage so it is the name and not the logo that really matters - I think people worldwide's first association with the word google would be to the company Google no matter how it was written.
willy hans
· 2 months ago
Yes, I use google for my search, followed by firefox and last is chrome.
Sonkusre
· 2 months ago
I generally use search option in internet Explorer..
Yup, Chromium address bar here or firefox search box when I have to use it. Others in my family use Firefox's homepage (the one that looks ever so slightly like google itself).
kmctechguy
· 2 months ago
I don't use the website that much anymore but I use google even more. I like to just do my general search from the address bar, unless I want to search for videos, pictures, or to buy things, then I use the website. Sometimes I use the website out of habit as it is my home page on all my web browsers.
Vaibhav Kalamdani
· 2 months ago
I always have a habit of going to Google's main site and conduct search. While I agree with you that third party applications are used by many to perform search, I also believe that the creative ideas behind presenting the logo to a user is great on part of Google. I am a fan of the company, and to mark respect to the search giant, I normally add images to my Facebook group (http://www.facebook.com/home.php?#/group.php?gi...) whenever I come across any interesting image.
killerfiller
· 2 months ago
i'm using the default Google search in my portable Firefox.
prantik
· 2 months ago
use Chrome address bar...but i dont think not visiting google.com having much of an effect on Google's brand equity or mindshare amongst customers...as long as the search experience is good enough, that should be fine
Farzad
· 2 months ago
Yes I do - that's the only way I know to access the language tools which in my opinion are another great google service....
vinayjain
· 2 months ago
I am big fan of CHROME... I don't even remember the last time when i went to www.google.com to search something... I use only chrome address bar...
Elnatan
· 2 months ago
Google page is my home page IM searching just from it, and using iGoogle too.
Shitij Nigam
· 2 months ago
Chrome address bar or Google.com if any other browser. Mozilla is too slow, and IE, is well, IE.
rajagiri4
· 2 months ago
Well, think sometimes they appear and sometimes they do
I search directly from the google search option in firefox. i used to have my homepage as google but not anymore..
d3bruts1d
· 2 months ago
Nope, I cannot remember the last time I actually opened up Google.com to search for something. Always just hit the search bar in the browser, which yes is set to Google.
robertyburlow
· 2 months ago
Me too.. I typed directly from firefox (I have google toolbar installed). But I still visiting the Google.com occasionally... I think once in a while they put a very interesting logo instead of their standard.
I search from Google toolbar and hence almost never go to google.com.
Pete
· 2 months ago
I've had Google.com in my toolbar bookmarks forever and never really changed the habit of clicking on it when I needed to. I do occasionally search from inside my Gmail inbox, but not nearly as often as from the Google homepage.
ileane
· 2 months ago
I very rarely go to google.com and I must admit that recently it has been just to see whatever the newest logo is (mainly because people put the link in a tweet). You hit on a key point about companies never chaning their logos because they are so concerned about branding, yet Google seems to do it twice a month or more. I guess what it all boils down to is for Google branding is not an issue (we should all be so lucky).
You mention Google not having ads on their home page. I think that is funny because what would the ads be for? Bing seach. lol.
I use Bing because it is on my IE8 toolbar and Clusty if I am not on my home computer.
Thanks for the post.
razvangirmacea
· 2 months ago
That is exactly the reason I built http://www.fav20.com/ to be used as a homepage. It has Google search integrated, but on a homepage there should be a lot of other features, fulfill other user needs (like favorites or most visited websites).
Ashish
· 2 months ago
Even I go to the Google Home Page when the Logo is in news. And i do not want google to change the layout. I stand by the Keep it Simple Philosophy of Google
davebeynon
· 2 months ago
I often go to google.co.uk but it loads my igoogle page by default so don't see the logos until I read about them somewhere else... think it was more of a talking point when it was a rare occurence though.
From my own PC, I use Chrome address bar. If public PC or other PC that doesn't have Firefox or Chrome, then I might go to Google.com to search. I used to like to go to Google.com to look at the logo that changes every now and then.
modernmami
· 2 months ago
Funny you mention it. I either use the google toolbar or type directly into the address bar. I'm always missing out on the custom logos.
Nick Plain
· 2 months ago
For search I usually use the Firefox search box. However I use iGoogle a lot to keep an eye on Twitter, GMail and feeds in one place, so still visit the Google homepage. Sadly the doodle doesn't appear on iGoogle.
Misty Mays
· 2 months ago
I open google especially if I am looking for specifics becuse google has related term and the wonder wheel that helps me in a lot on researching I do.
Arvid Nittve
· 2 months ago
This calls for a poll.
Maria Söderberg
· 2 months ago
But isn't there a point to people NOT visiting the homepage as well, in a Google-isn't a-search-engine-it's-the-filter-through-we-view-the-web-and-thus-the-world kind of thing?
Dec
· 2 months ago
I have Google set as my default home page
Sebastian Alvarez
· 2 months ago
I use YubNub with its command lines in Firefox with Ctrl +K and YubNub as search engine by defect in the Chrome's bar, so I just type "g" for Google or "gim" for Google Images without going to the front page of Google.
Michael A. Volz
· 2 months ago
For years now i only use the searchbar and not the google homepage (Maxthon/Firefox/IE/Chrome).
The google logo is showing on top of the search results btw.
Lauvari
· 2 months ago
i do the search on both, from the google homepage or from igoogle, depends on the computer i am working with
1uk3
· 2 months ago
I search from my homepage which is google.com/ig if I've just opened up a browser window but otherwise I search from the Firefox search bar.
Yayel
· 2 months ago
I used to use iGoogle since this is my homepage and i can look up anything i want from there but i recently started to use the chrome address everytime i open a new tab, so much easier! Also i think we can see this bar code because google its celebrating "bar code's anniversary" which was created 57 years ago!!!
Ashley
· 2 months ago
Yeah, me neither. Chrome.
You should've made this into a poll!
Refractive Communications
· 2 months ago
Google homepage? How quaint. Firefox for me. Interesting observation on a Web service so integrated that it no longer needs a homepage.
NachtWulff
· 2 months ago
I sometimes go to google.no if I want to see Norwegian results (in addition to English) Firefox has google.co.uk as a standard in the search field, but now that I use Google Chrome, I just type the search term(s) into the address field and press enter. It then sends me to google.no
Tech Talk
· 2 months ago
on october 2 Gandhi's Birthday search results also showed the doodle (google india)
Tech Talk
· 2 months ago
I use opera and use the key word g and search it
love khanna
· 2 months ago
i use crome address bar.... or my igoogle search bar...
Jeff Taylor
· 2 months ago
I use iGoogle with different themes on each tab, so I never see the doodles on the homepage. I do search (via Opera's address bar) a couple of dozen times a day, on average, so I guess I see the doodles that way. To be honest, though, I rarely pay them any attention anymore unless they are particularly bizarre, eye-catching, or mentioned on a site like Mashable - they simply occur too often to be noteworthy in and of themselves.
Wander
· 2 months ago
Depends on how well i know what im searching for, if i know exactly what im looking for i use chromes address bar, but if i dont know exactly what keywords to use, i search via google.com, to have a look at the suggestions it gives while typing...
Rohan
· 2 months ago
Yes, I do go to google.com for my searches. Force of habit for me!:) BTW...I am using IE 8 and the default search engine is GOOGLE! Bing is third on the list!
Chris V.
· 2 months ago
The efficient way to do a Google search is via Google Toolbar, if I want to search for images, videos, shopping, news, blog search etc, just one step takes me there.
Travel Accessories
· 2 months ago
I go too many times at google but i do not search too often. I go to it just because it is the homepage of mozilla firefox. Many prefer google because its features to be translate into your own language is beneficial, but i am still prefer google us in my search content than tagalog. Google is good and i rely to it in my searches but in some instances i still prefer yahoo search as i love the search suggestion of yahoo search.
Vikas SN
· 2 months ago
Interestingly! even I don't got to google.com now. Not unless somebody tips me abt a special Google doodle that day. Else Chrome Omni Bar is the way to go for me.
lipinkumar
· 2 months ago
today's logo was the most crazy one!! Bar Code!!!
Becky Grant
· 2 months ago
I use google.com... Just because it's fast to load and usually I open my browser to search for something.
Kartik S.
· 2 months ago
I've realized that the only time I check "Google.com" is when Mashable writes a post about a new doodle. All my other searches happen from the good 'ol Firefox search bar.
Tina Brooks
· 2 months ago
In essence, the only reason I go to Google is to look at their funky logo when someone tweets about it. Otherwise, I have the google search bar add-in for Firefox.
rpcutts
· 2 months ago
google.co.uk is my homepage. So yea, I visit it quite a bit. Mainly just because it loads fast and has links at the top for gmail, reader et cetera. I could make my own local page with these links but I can't be arsed.
I can see why someone would never visit the homepage though. But I doubt google really give much of a stuff. It's the results page that matters to them.
Filipe Martins Amoroso
· 2 months ago
Never use it. I google directly from the browser (Chrome and FF).
I actually rely on Mashable to keep me updated about the Google doodles! :)
websitetraffic
· 2 months ago
I use iGoogle as my desktop all day long, everyday, now for several years. I believe the results are very close to what I'm looking for. Social media or other sites may provide search engines, but I still prefer to go to Google for performing searches I have.
The interesting point about using different shapes or logos instead of its logo is that even with bar code, you think to yourself,"Oh, look at Google's Logo today!" Google is a powerful brand, not just a logo.
On the other hand, I like the flexibility and its innovation in breaking through conventional norms. Google doesn't change its page, but it offers functionalities like Google Caffeine when Bing emerges.
Google has got an algorithm that dictates how the entire world's sites are ranked. So, everyone, who is looking for search engine visibility, follows those rules. If someone doesn't like such visibility, it's up to him/her, but a huge opportunity will be missing in such businesses.
I don't want to defend Google because it's the biggest, but these are the realities we're living with. Also, I don't like the idea of being totally dependent on one source for several stuff! What's needed to be done is some mechanism that surpasses Google in one of its features so that people turn away their faces from this particular feature.
40deuce
· 2 months ago
actually, today the barcode logo showed up in search results after I googled through the safari search
lawsofatttraction
· 2 months ago
I rarely go to google as I use firefox. Although my firefox does open on googles homepage. I like seeing the logo changes as they are always related to what is happening in the world.
On another note, I have just come across your site and it is really interesting. You have massess of really valuable content.
I would say google is a bit like breathing, we do it, we're not conscious of it, but can we live without it? Does it really matter if people dont go to the google homepage?
Jalada
· 2 months ago
I think a lot of people use Google.com as their homepage. Maybe not in the Mashable-reader crowd, but perhaps the people that don't know the difference between a browser and a ham sandwich.
Name
· 2 months ago
a) home page: google.com/ig b) Firefox plugin search.
Maria Teresa
· 2 months ago
Well, they did introduce iGoogle a while ago... I've seen some folks using it as a homepage, for me, it takes too long to load so I gave up on it. But in any case, I'd say I still open google.com, maybe as an habit of doing everything from my keboard, just: ctrl+t > open new tab, write the first two letters > go down one position > hit enter, and there I am in less than five secs, and the best part, I can start writing my search query right away -without ever touching the mouse-. In other cases, when I'm "hand on the mouse" I do use Firefox' search bar... useful useful tool.
johnhutson
· 2 months ago
I'm so on autopilot I dont even use the other search bars I have. I open a new tab and Google.co.uk is my homepage so I see it every day when I open Firefox. There are plenty of things I do the slow way out of shear habit!
It's an interesting thought to be concerned about though - with other methods, traffic to the actual homepage is bound to be dropping.
Of course, other than brand recognition and appreciation (mostly) it was Google bringing you the results, there isn't a specific need for people to go there.
allusagirl
· 2 months ago
I scanned it with the Pic2Shop app from the iPhone (scans bar codes) and it didn't pull up anything fun.
Stevo
· 2 months ago
I think google.com's new purpose in life is a reliable test page to see if your internets are still cranking. that's all.
Stephen Robinson
· 2 months ago
Nope, as its built into the chrome address bar, so I never do see the changed logos either.
Gregorio Espadas
· 2 months ago
I always use google.com; in fact, it's my default homepage.
Keith Kmett
· 2 months ago
Aside from iGoogle, I rarely hit the Google homepage on my PC. On my iPod Touch, I use it all the time, but I don't think the mess with the logo that much on the mobile apps.
ricardomt
· 2 months ago
Yeah, same thing here... I have been always using Safari's search box, both on my Mac and iPhone.
Craig Gomolka
· 2 months ago
I use the google toolbar and I never have to go to the google homepage. I don't need the extra step.
Saad Al Dosari
· 2 months ago
This is right! I am not going to Google.com any more. Also, the idea of changing the Google logo in tribute for some causes or events is acceptable and could be even seen as a good brand move because people will think of Google as company that really cares and interacts with its customers. But what with the strange designs (e.g. the bar code!!)?
Ricardo Nunez
· 2 months ago
I visit google.com. I have it as a homepage. Also, I use other methods
4down Productions
· 2 months ago
On my computer the Chrome address bar is the most convenient... I end up doing a lot of IT work.. so I see the Google.com page the most when I need to search something on another persons computer.. either way Google is still the ONLY search that I use..
Hal Rottenberg
· 2 months ago
I never do, I use Chrome's address bar. But you know who does? My wife. She's not a geek, and she doesn't like change. She has her home page set to google.com, and when she always goes there to search.
davidjmain
· 2 months ago
Yes, but Google.co.uk and most often searching UK Pages. I prefer to use the Google search on www.rummaging.co.uk (which I built) :-)
linovino
· 2 months ago
I think you are dead on. I always just use the search section at the top of my web browser. But, also keep in mind that when you do type in google.com, it's hard to even get to the homepage because it automatically takes you to igoogle when you type in google.com (I had to try 3 times). Also, I don't pay as close attention as you do, but is that "I'm feeling Lucky" button new as of today too?
Thomas
· 2 months ago
I use it as my home page, and usually for my searches.
jeux educatifs
· 2 months ago
To go to google go to the top of the page and there is a adress bar then you click and delete it all then type www.google.com...... I always goto google with using this funda..
Chuck Teller
· 2 months ago
I use the firefox quick search and my iGoogle home page. Love to see more research on who uses iGoogle and what percentage of their time is spent there.
Tiffiny
· 2 months ago
I go to the google homepage every time I do a search. The actually change the logo more often then just every couple days. I guess I just like the "old school" way of searching.
Richard
· 2 months ago
I mostly use the Chrome omnibox for searching google. As the author already wrote - it's one step less.
But google.com is my homepage and i was very surprised when i came home drunk yesterday night, booted up my computer, opened my browser and saw a barcode, where the google logo once was.
Altinkum
· 2 months ago
I always use google to check where my site is and others site are. Never occurred to me to use a browser search. Comfort zone perhaps.
Leonardo Gomez
· 2 months ago
My start page is iGoogle so, when I open the browser to search, well, it's right there... :)
Abdurrahman Gemei
· 2 months ago
I'm always having Google as a homepage and I just click the home button to go there and search. I don't search from Firefox's search field really it is directly from Google.com.
Linda Roeder
· 2 months ago
I use my Firefox browser bar to search. If I'm on my cellphone I go to the homepage though.
Linda Roeder
· 2 months ago
I use the search bar on my Firefox browser. Unless I'm on my cellphone, then I go to the homepage.
Andrey Golub
· 2 months ago
I'll make you launching but it's the same thing a colleague has just asked me! "DID YOU SEE THE NEW GOOGLE'S LOGO (a bar code) OF TODAY"? I say no, why I should care about these stupid logos of Google and, even better, if I never visit "google.com" directly?
I think the search bars have been invented to save our time. I have no time to waste and I'm browsing almost the whole day :). So I have plenty of these bars installed, maybe 20 or 30, and statistically use most of them daily.
rose21
· 2 months ago
i use firefox. at work i would say that at least 30 times a day i hit apple + T, and then tab to get to the good search bar. it is the fastest way to get to google for me. so no i dont go to the homepage. when i do see a google doodle i do like to check it out and see what it is, but it is usually a slim chance i will have the opportunity. i am starting to become a fan of the firefox smarter fox add on that allows you to highlight a word and you automatically can google, wiki, tweet or oneriot. although i have only used the google function here.
lmkenny
· 2 months ago
I need something as a default home page in FireFox! :)
Gus
· 2 months ago
I haven't typed google.com in forever. I used the search bar in Firefox, and now with Chrome I just type into the URL bar. In fact I'm so hooked on it that when I use IE (usually on someone else's machine) and I get Bing results instead of Google I'm very disturbed.
boydchan
· 2 months ago
I usually use google from firefox search box & type google.com directly sometime. I just noticed myself that I use google.com less than before after I use firefox as a default browser.
Tamsen
· 2 months ago
google.com is my home page, so it comes up every day!
Juan Incaurgarat
· 2 months ago
i always use the search bar located at the top/right corner of my friend Shiretoko (firefox 3.5). never the less, my home page is set to go.inifise.com, which can search on google, wikipedia, youtube n twitter
cheriecalgary
· 2 months ago
google.com is my home page. I always start searches there. Never bothered with the address bar. Old habits die hard I guess.
pixieslash
· 2 months ago
i use the google homepage all the time, and i always see the new logo changes. last night i saw the barcode while i was looking up song lyrics and thought it was cool.
Hugh Briss
· 2 months ago
Why would Google care if you ever visit their home page and be using logo updates to entice you to do so? There is no advertising on Google's home page so what benefit would they get from having you go to the home page first before conducting a search?
That being said, lots of people have Google set as their home page. I know I do and not because it's a great place to start the day but because it loads fast and I can get on with my surfing.
mari
· 2 months ago
I search various google components by name eg google analytics, googlemail, google alerts,etc. directly from search on explorer, it saves two clicks. If I want something more it's on my fingertips on top of any google page. why should i go to google home, however I do like to see the changing logos. it's nice and it's a surprise for the day.
Hugh Briss
· 2 months ago
It would appear that you are incorrect about the Google logo not showing up on search results pages because I clearly see the bar code logo at the top left of every page.
palbi
· 2 months ago
Google.com is my default page when I open my browser, which I think is the case for lots of people. So , it is kind of granted that I would open it at least once per day
candacemcc
· 2 months ago
I use an iGoogle start page or the Chrome search bar, so I don't see the Google logo changes (unless I read about ones like the barcode and am inclined to check it out, but not to search)
Maura DeBartoli
· 2 months ago
I hadn't really thought about it until this post, but yeah - I'll just type it into the Google search bar in Safari (unless I'm using Firefox because in that case my search bar is the Bing plug-in). But the Google doodles are great - they keep people popping back to the site itself once in a while.
Lochnload
· 2 months ago
The frontpage of Google has to be the least developed and unrealised mega-traffic internet real estate on the planet. (All that traffic and not a single ad, it is enough to make a grown webmaster cry).
Google.com used to appear everytime I opened a new tab (I set it to that) but since I installed Google toolbar I get a 'most visited' page which is quiet useful (plus I cant be bothered finding out how to change it back). Interestingly - google.com is nolonger on it.
Another question - How many years has it been since you pressed "I'm Feeling Lucky" button - I reckon, if they disabled it, nobody would notice for months.
Andy Santoso
· 2 months ago
Same, I use directly with Chrome and FF. I think it's our natural behaviors to use the easy way doing something.
About Google frequent logo changing, maybe it's just their routine and scheduled. :)
Yogesh Agarwal
· 2 months ago
yes...i still prefer to use google.com... infant thats my homepage :-)
jeremyswinfengreen
· 2 months ago
l I often go to google because from there I can access my email as well as undertaking vertical search (images mainly but also maps) and also get to my google analytics etc
Skip Knox
· 2 months ago
Why would Google care if people come to its home page? That's not where the advertising is. And people *do* go to the results pages.
I don't see the point of the article.
Oh, and I do indeed go to iGoogle. It's one of my startup pages.
Oh, and I do indeed search from there because I not infrequently am searching for phrases or I scope the search in some ways. For single-word searches, I agree that the bar is easier.
Ryan
· 2 months ago
I use the homepage, mainly out of habit. But I'm trying to train myself to use the firefox search bar more.
Thomas
· 2 months ago
I use Google Chrome, which means I just use the address bar. However when working on Stylesheets I use Firefox and my homepage there is; you guessed it Google.com - I noticed the bar code, first reaction was: "What the hell is this? I didn't open this site!" but then I noticed it was just another google doodle. So yeah, changing the logo so drastically makes it incomprehensible, at least for me.
I'm not sure if I care if google changes their homepage into something. On the other hand I use google for almost everything: google docs, google calendar, gmail and probably soon google wave :)
marketingdarling
· 2 months ago
It's so bizarre that you comment on this today...I was just thinking how innovative Google is for changing up their logo for special occasions. They're called 'Google Doodles'. Not only is it entertaining but informative. When you click on the logo it takes you to a string of search results about the topic. Google created the chrome toolbar and igoogle and mobile google to make it easier to search. They provided tools that they knew would lead us away from the home page...they know what they're doing!!!! They may even have a way of figuring out how the search was generated.
They have been doing it for a while and it wouldn't make sense to just stop sharing their originality and creativeness with the millions of users every day.
I was using the Google toolbar and igoogle, I would occasionally stumble on the Google home page. I got logged out of my igoogle and the Google home page reset as my home page. I forgot how much I loved discovering what they had done with their logo every day. However...I do find that a smaller version of the logo appears in my search results page no matter where I search from...maybe this varies for different countries??
Now even if it's not set as my home page I will try to visit the Google main page at least once a day to admire their ingenuity.
The Google home page design is simple and easy. Ever heard of the bacronym KISS - Keep It Simple Stupid!
Madeline
· 2 months ago
I also just use the search bar within whatever browser I'm using (usually FireFox) but google.com is my home page. However, because it's iGoogle, I don't see the logo unless I click "classic home."
leftofsean
· 2 months ago
I dumped Firefox because it was running horribly slow on my home and work computers. Even a reinstall didn't help. So I'm using Safari now. My homepage is set to google/ig so I can view my Reader instantly. The only time I ever go to google.com is when I'm on someone else's computer.
Maranda Gibson
· 2 months ago
My homepage is Yahoo, but I usually go to the Google website to conduct searches, I've found the results to be more relevant than a Yahoo search. I pay no attention to the Google Doodle unless it's brought to my attention or if it's something really strange (like the barcode.)
linksgiving
· 2 months ago
I normally use Googlebar Lite in Firefox
Rose B
· 2 months ago
the title's so hilarious! I thought about this weeks ago..I never go to www.Google.com thx Firefox Add-ons :) <3 Google
Charles
· 2 months ago
I work in a library, and what amazes me is how many people think that Google IS the Internet. They will sit down at a PC, wanting to check their Yahoo! email, so they will type "www.google.com" in the address bar, and then search Google for "www.yahoo.com". I have observed this type of behavior from dozens of users, so it boggles my mind to think of all the ones who do it who I have not observed.
Monika Runstrom
· 2 months ago
Even though I rarely go to Google.com (usually just for the doodles and only when I hear about them from Twitter or Mashable) I noticed that when I Google something in Chrome, the search results page I am taken to still has the barcode in the top left corner instead of Google's logo. You can't hover over to see what it is as the text just says 'Go to Google Home' but the doodle is still there for me to see without having to go explicitly to Google.com first.
medxcentral (Jim)
· 2 months ago
Yes. Google.com is currently third on my most visited pages when I open a new Chrome browser tab.
Benjamin Dobson
· 2 months ago
When I have to use IE, I go to google.co.uk. Usually, though, command-option-F (Safari) or alt-D (Chrome) does it.
azelmer
· 2 months ago
I also just use the search bar within FireFox, but google.com is my home page so I see it daily.
Andrew Natoli
· 2 months ago
Though I've adapted to Firefox's search bar, I'll still go to Google.com here and there to search. Sometimes I find its almost faster for me to type google.com then enter my search rather than moving my mouse the extra pixels to the right.
..I obviously don't navigate and type quick or anything...
John
· 2 months ago
Ctrl x 2 = QSB!
vandachan
· 2 months ago
Google.com is my default homepage so I go there everyday. Though I know there is a google search box at my Firefox toolbar, I still love to goto Google.com everyday basically I just love to look at their doodles...
Matthew
· 2 months ago
I use iGoogle as my homepage, and search from there, otherwise I was the Chrome omnibox.
deb novack
· 2 months ago
I also never go the Google homepage, with the exception of today! My friend told me I had to check it out, so I did. The barcode not be important news but it have just today heard about it twice: from my friend, then from you. In my book, that's pretty good branding exposure!
Fern Chasida Rabinovitz
· 2 months ago
I usually search from the search engine bar in firefox and directly in the address bar in chrome. sometimes if i want to do an advanced search i'll go to google.com but usually i'll just edit my search after performing the basic one from firefox or chrome
Christian Norton
· 2 months ago
I'd guess about 80% of my searches are the, highlight right click search selection on google variety. The rest are the menu bar.
Cory Angen
· 2 months ago
I don't. It's my homepage when I open Firefox & I still use the search bar.
coxy
· 2 months ago
I rarely search Google at all. My homepage is http://uk.ask.com/ but I usually search from the address bar using Opera's search shortcuts.
ConnorJack
· 2 months ago
Yes when I open up Firefox, no when i'm using firefox
stephniep
· 2 months ago
I am one with google everything. Always use ut and love it!
gubatron
· 2 months ago
(Command+K FTW) Firefox search bar since day one. Firefox is banking on those comissions and tax free for it is a foundation. Oh, and I think Google owns in some way Firefox, so in a way that must be one great tax evation strategy for Google, while pretending to not be evil.
But I've seen plenty of people do the dumb thing of going to google.com and then searching. I'd say most non savvy people do that, or have Google.com as their home page.
jaycclee
· 2 months ago
I seldom use google.com. Normally, just using Firefox/Chrome directly to search what I want. And I don't really think Google needs to do anything to attract people back to use their main portal (google.com). Since that's the classic Google we know. I don't want Google to become like Yahoo! or Bing.
ryanve
· 2 months ago
I never go to the Google home page either. I use Ctrl+K (which in FF puts you in the search bar, and in Chrome puts you in the address bar with the "?" mark ready to search). I could do it blindfolded.
babydoll25
· 2 months ago
YES! Yes I use the Google "homepage" as my homepage. (Except when I use Chrome!) I use many of Google's services like Gmail, Google docs, ect... I find going to that page allows me access to all of those features in one convenient place. Plus, I like the fact that it IS devoid of any advertising. Thank You for allowing me to comment.
Travis Fantina
· 2 months ago
Most of the time I search through my Google homepage or directly in Safari.
Travis Fantina
· 2 months ago
Most of the time I search through my iGoogle or directly in Safari.
Eric Sedgley
· 2 months ago
I actually tried to open www.google.com last night, but apparently because I use the iGoogle start page, it just sent me there, so no google bar code for me :( - I think I still see it occasionally on my Blackberry though, although I use Google's search app there too.
KhanDubai
· 2 months ago
I reckon, google is probably coming up with a new branding, or they just don't feel the need to do it anymore, since google is no more a "brand" that needs a logo, it's just another word in every other dictionary.
Since I'm not that unfortunate as many others, I have no firewall on my work PC, so I never need to go to google.com. Unless i wanna check the doodles, like today's. How interesting :D
Mark Faggiano
· 2 months ago
I never go to Google.com. I use the Firefox search bar.
Jacey
· 2 months ago
It depends. Sometimes I feel compelled to go to google.com so that I can see all of the other top searched terms that come up as I am typing in whatever I am searching for. But for the most part, I use the Chrome Google search tool...it is super convenient and fast. I didn't understand the barcode logo today...until I scrolled over it...it is a lame logo change today. And pointless.
Don LaVange
· 2 months ago
I have google.com set as my home page for every browser. I search either from the main search area or from my firefox toolbar, whichever is closer to my pointer. The reason I keep google.com as my default page is the same reason it's been that way since I discovered google.com the first time years ago and switched from AltaVista. It was clean and simple.
I enjoy the logo changes. I'll never use bing or any other search engine or start page or portal because I want my browser to come up quickly.
Now that firefox lets me type in the address location to access things in my history that method and google searching are all I do with the browser.
Kefyn Judson
· 2 months ago
I use the search from Safari. Defaults to Google.
Alexis
· 2 months ago
I go to google.com if I get on my computer specifically to google something. At all other times I use the bar in Mozilla as you do.
RM - InBoundMarketingPR
· 2 months ago
I hardly ever to go google.com, I always access with Firefox or Safari. I find them faster & more convenient.
Thanks for sharing this post!
mtantawy
· 2 months ago
i go to google.com because it opens the iGoogle which brings me latest news from many websites but for search, i use either firefox's little search box or chrome address bar
Chris Bell
· 2 months ago
I use the Firefox search bar combined to Google combined with the Juice add-on. I also have iGoogle set as my homepage so if I open up Firefox for the first time specifically to search for something I sometimes just use that search interface.
Name
· 2 months ago
I find I can't think unless I'm staring at a white screen with "Google" in huge letters. Not to mention, the only reason I don't use Firefox's built-in search is because I like the field to clear when I'm done. I don't want to be browsing and in the corner of my eye I see an old search term just sitting there. I'm a tad irritable when I'm in the zone.
Rish
· 2 months ago
Yes man! I never come to know about the new google logos, untill I open my reader :)
Jessica
· 2 months ago
I'd say about 75-25. Google.com is my home page, so I do see the logo when I open my browser. Typically I don't go back to the page to do a search...I usually use the search box in the Firefox toolbar. I have Google.com as my home page b/c it's simple and loads fast, though I know I could just use a blank page.
barringtonarch
· 2 months ago
i use the search bar at the top of safari
plasticmadness
· 2 months ago
I don't, ever. I only use the browser search box. I never know of Google cool logos unless there's a buzz on Twitter or in here.
Christopher
· 2 months ago
While I do not go to google.com as much as I used to, I do still love their logo changes. As you said, most companies would never change their logo, but Google does. I always enjoy going to Google and seeing that is is a holiday or someone's birthday. While they should not ruin the fun by doing so many, I still appreciate the frequent changes.
Amanda
· 2 months ago
Google.com is my homepage, I like to start my browsing session with a nice clean Google.com slate then I'll either use the Google toolbar add-on in Firefox during my browsing session or click my home button to wipe the slate clean again.
candace
· 2 months ago
I have Google as my homepage. I also have other sites such as Yahoo. However, I normally use goole to search. But, today, my page was changed. It showed a barcode which I'm not happpy with. Reason being, as we all know, barcodes represents a way for something to track something. For instance, at the checkout counter it scans a product to charge the price and it feeds back to the store how many of an item is being sold and when. I feel this is another way for "BIG BROTHER" TO KEEP TRACK OF US!! I DO NOT LIKE IT AND FEAR IT AS A GOD FEARING PERSON. HAVE YOU HEARD OF THE MARK OF THE BEAST?? I AM UPSET ABOUT THIS. In addition, I had heard that the present government is trying to keep track of what we say in the net...could this possibly be a part of that? Very weird and scary. I do not like it.
Jessica
· 2 months ago
That is one of the most ridiculous things I've ever heard. Or I guess read.
rahulnavet
· 2 months ago
Google doodles still interests me alot though with a choice dedicated search bar in IE & Mozilla., I can't see any special need of searching from www.google.com Homepage thing is a matter of personal feel. I prefer to start with a blank page and visiting the history page of doodle once a while to have a look at all of them together. Moreover, something special will alway make headlines. On the regional appearances, all I can confirm from Australia (.au) is that doodles do appear on the search result pages.
heatherleah
· 2 months ago
I have a personalized iGoogle.com page that serves as my homepage at home... and my most visited page at work. I search for there, but see the personalized Google logos when the search results load.
At home, I search Google by using the search bar on Firefox. Google is the only search engine I use.
Michele
· 2 months ago
I am old fashion - I still go to www.google.com and do my searching that way. I was one of those people back in the day that would call my family, friends and co-workers to tell them to look at Googles logo for that day - when they would change the logo. I get a kick out of that.
Erik
· 2 months ago
It's my homepage, so I always see the logo when I boot up my browser (or just open it, if it's fast to load like Chrome :P ). But generally I do use the Chrome omnibbar.
tahiti
· 2 months ago
my google logo is missing and even when i safari no pictures!! wots going on!? please help! m*m*
Fernando
· 2 months ago
Weird... I was thinking about this today...
River
· 2 months ago
Do they still have a homepage? :-0 G is on my browser's toolbar; why would I ever go to their homepage?
Tristan Caldwell
· 2 months ago
Given that the name is synonymous with "internet search" and the word appears in the search boxes built into firefox, Safari and Chrome, I doubt Google stand any chance of losing brand recognition. furthermore, the fact that people don't visit the homepage means nothing when many people spend several hours a day on GMail and Google Calendar. While some choose to use a client, Google has built robust features into their web platforms to keep people coming to their site.
Devi
· 2 months ago
I usually search right from firefox. But today, i did visit the google homepage and saw the barcode. I also use igoogle, making it even harder for me to get to plain old www.google.com
Anand Srinivasan
· 2 months ago
"Maybe Google has realized that people simply aren’t that interested in visiting Google.com, and they’re spicing it up with different logos every couple of days."
Why would they need to force users to visit the homepage. They are not monetizing it anyway...
Jens P. Berget
· 2 months ago
I use the address bar in Safari, but sometimes I go to Google.com. I think I do it without really thinking about it. And it depends if I'm going to search for text or images, or if I'm going to use a different language (Norwegian).
I use gmail.. so my google is a personalized igoogle page. This is a very good question/article.
Gaurav Shukla
· 2 months ago
i use firefox search bar or firefox address bar..... they r convenient...
Jack
· 2 months ago
It seems the Google homepage has become obsolete, with most people using the Google Toolbar for their searches directly from IE or Firefox. However, this in no way hurts Google. There is still just as many people using Google for their searches and they are not losing out on advertising revenue because there were never ads on the homepage to begin with. -Jack domusinc.blogspot.com
Shanna
· 2 months ago
I only search Google from google.com. I use firefox, and I have a bunch of icon-only bookmarks in my bookmarks toolbar, and google is the second bookmark, behind my e-mail. I guess I'm just used to going to the homepage.
I use the search box in Firefox almost exclusively for Wikipedia. That's just my system.
Dimple Thakkar
· 2 months ago
Absolutely still go to Google.com...multiple times a day.
Jessica
· 2 months ago
As far as I've always seen, Google.com changes their logos on holidays, anniversaries of important events, and sometimes for a quirky reason...like the anniversary of the invention of some obscure yet important thing in our lives. I think they do it for fun and for maybe a bit of education, b/c when you click on the logo it takes you to a bunch of search results about the thing it represents. Since it's my home page I do see it at least once a day so I usually catch the change. I think it's kinda entertaining.
Adam Shannon
· 2 months ago
Chrome address bar, but some times I do type "g" which goes to google.com and then search.
girlvaughn
· 2 months ago
I do go to Google -- but I also still use my yahoo email address
Name
· 2 months ago
I completely agree with you on this topic. When I open up FireFox, I simply press ctrl+E and thus my google experience begins
docspike
· 2 months ago
i was using awesome bar and search box for a long time..only recently due to buzz on logo changes and doodle thing, that i have been visiting the google home page:)i dont know how long that will attract people to the page, especially when they change it every other day:)
B2B Telemarketing
· 1 month ago
Great article! I like ti see the google logo changes.
Mashofpoo
· 1 month ago
how many people write now for mashable? come on, how can you take this site seriously. It's a spammy blog that rips off post and does whatever it takes to push out content. LAME. #FAIL
Alexander von Studnitz
· 1 month ago
I personally more use the search box in Firefox or Chrome for it but sometimes I do go to google.com to make a more specific request or if I have the urge to.
But what I've experienced from friends and family, that Google is the way they use the web. They go to Google Homepage for browsing to Facebook! Or newssites or any other site.
In fact they do go to google.com, type Facebook in there and click the first result instead of facebook.com. This is a fact overlooked by many readers here which are affine to tech and/or are geeks. So the typical geek found here may think that the homepage isn't worth anything or useful anymore, but the everybody user in fact uses as a replacement of the adress bar(which is actually a really good behaviour for google).
Search Crazy
· 1 month ago
I use Google.com. I am addicted to find information with Google. At the last time I search with Yahoo, not to become more addicted to Google. I think everyone should ever use a different search engine, not just the one.
Stephen Tive Pirrie
· 1 month ago
when was the last time you went to twitter.com?
Super Jamie
· 1 month ago
Google's aim is not to get you to visit their homepage, Google's aim is to get you your search results as quickly as possible and get you off their page. This way, you will be satisfied with their services and use their search engine again. This way there will be more people saying "Man Google is so great. Oh, hey, look at those ad things in the sidebar..."
All Comments
https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/addon/...
and we being tech people it is ok,,,there are marketing, sales, accounting, finance, etc... departments which have people who cannot define what a browser mean,,they tend to open www.google.com in their browsers and search..this might be one of the reasons that people still go to google.com for searching,,,they really dont know that by typing in the keywords in the browser and hitting enter would save enuf time....
nyhw,,i too tend to open www.google.com the first time i start my computer everyday,,,to look at the doodles,,...
cheers..
5% of the time I search from the search box on my iGoogle page (which doesn't show the Google Doodles either).
earlier i used to had google as homepage. so it had to open but now that too has changed to facebook :P
And... Google is my homepage, so I always see the latest doodle.
And I sometimes go to the google page (i have a bookmark that takes me there) out of habit, But I'm shifting into searching via the searchbox (cntrl + K in FF)
Jbcarey
But you're right it's no use opening a new page to search something
Also, just wanted to point out that Google's doodles often do appear in the search results.
Yes, most of the time i dont hav to go to google.com
I just type in my browser search bar.
But, i love to go to google.com and click the gmail link on top to go to my inbox.
So without going to the homepage now you can check the new logo.
However I do not agree with the point that the logo change is less visible: even by doing a Firefox search, the bar code is visible on the results page. If you watch the speeches by Google team Marissa Meyer you can see that they want to keep the home page as clean as possible and do not particularly care if you visit it - all the communication they want to do can be displayed on the search results.
I'm also not sure if the logo changes are driven by the assumptions listed in the article.
And generally, I use the bar in Safari... but I still see the changed logos, as every one that I can remember has shown up with search results. I suggest you get your facts together. :)
Very, very, rarely go to Google.com
but yes sometimes i go to google.com
Google changes their logo for special days. The bar code, for example is there because today is apparently the 57th anniversary of the invention of the bar code. When you hover over the doodle on their homepage, the hover text tells you what each picture is in celebration of. But, it only says it on the homepage.
I remember that they used to just do the traditional holidays, like Valentine's Day, Father's Day, Christmas, etc. It used to interest me every time it was different. Maybe getting people interested is what they're trying to do here. I know that after I found out why the logo was the bar code today, I looked up the history myself and learned something new. :)
http://www.google.com/logos/ is great for those that miss all the doodles!
Google is comfortable with who they are and if they can change their logo by that day's topic then good on them not to take themselves so seriously. They are fun.
but if i need to search anything, i'll just click my "home" button and goes directly to google.com, but i don't aware that much if something new-happens in there :p
I think you right, I barely go to the google.com website and use handy bars to search.
Just a quick question - what do you mean by ''redesiign'' ? concept or typo ? :'')
thanks
Marion
The last time I opened google.com was when a friend of mine forced me to do so to look up "where is chuck norris" using the 'I'm feeling lucky' button. That was a while back. Since I started using firefox a few years ago I stopped using the main google page, and with chrome its even easier to forget it.
I'm no geek but the barcode pretty much revolutionised things so I don't see it as unworthy of being highlighted. And say what you will about Google, it's certainly got people talking and no doubt their homepage is being hammered by people looking to see what all the fuss is about!
I still head to the Google homepage from time to time though.
In terms of the Brand recognition, Google are in a similar position to someone like Hoover where there brand has entered mainstream usage so it is the name and not the logo that really matters - I think people worldwide's first association with the word google would be to the company Google no matter how it was written.
http://www.a6.com/d.php?ref=home&id=137&r=fb&b=f
Originally from: http://www.a6.com/home.php?r=fb
Enjoy!
http://www.seodoom.info
Roberty Burlow
Basketball Backboard Dimensions
You mention Google not having ads on their home page. I think that is funny because what would the ads be for? Bing seach. lol.
I use Bing because it is on my IE8 toolbar and Clusty if I am not on my home computer.
Thanks for the post.
I mostly use the chrome omnibar or firefox's awesome bar to google. and google have a redesign in mind http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yh8rWgrlKb0 source: http://www.techcrunch.com/2009/10/05/googles-ex...
The google logo is showing on top of the search results btw.
You should've made this into a poll!
or my igoogle search bar...
BTW...I am using IE 8 and the default search engine is GOOGLE! Bing is third on the list!
Many prefer google because its features to be translate into your own language is beneficial, but i am still prefer google us in my search content than tagalog. Google is good and i rely to it in my searches but in some instances i still prefer yahoo search as i love the search suggestion of yahoo search.
Mainly just because it loads fast and has links at the top for gmail, reader et cetera.
I could make my own local page with these links but I can't be arsed.
I can see why someone would never visit the homepage though. But I doubt google really give much of a stuff. It's the results page that matters to them.
I actually rely on Mashable to keep me updated about the Google doodles! :)
The interesting point about using different shapes or logos instead of its logo is that even with bar code, you think to yourself,"Oh, look at Google's Logo today!" Google is a powerful brand, not just a logo.
On the other hand, I like the flexibility and its innovation in breaking through conventional norms. Google doesn't change its page, but it offers functionalities like Google Caffeine when Bing emerges.
Google has got an algorithm that dictates how the entire world's sites are ranked. So, everyone, who is looking for search engine visibility, follows those rules. If someone doesn't like such visibility, it's up to him/her, but a huge opportunity will be missing in such businesses.
I don't want to defend Google because it's the biggest, but these are the realities we're living with. Also, I don't like the idea of being totally dependent on one source for several stuff! What's needed to be done is some mechanism that surpasses Google in one of its features so that people turn away their faces from this particular feature.
On another note, I have just come across your site and it is really interesting. You have massess of really valuable content.
I would say google is a bit like breathing, we do it, we're not conscious of it, but can we live without it? Does it really matter if people dont go to the google homepage?
b) Firefox plugin search.
In other cases, when I'm "hand on the mouse" I do use Firefox' search bar... useful useful tool.
It's an interesting thought to be concerned about though - with other methods, traffic to the actual homepage is bound to be dropping.
Of course, other than brand recognition and appreciation (mostly) it was Google bringing you the results, there isn't a specific need for people to go there.
Also, the idea of changing the Google logo in tribute for some causes or events is acceptable and could be even seen as a good brand move because people will think of Google as company that really cares and interacts with its customers. But what with the strange designs (e.g. the bar code!!)?
But google.com is my homepage and i was very surprised when i came home drunk yesterday night, booted up my computer, opened my browser and saw a barcode, where the google logo once was.
I think the search bars have been invented to save our time. I have no time to waste and I'm browsing almost the whole day :). So I have plenty of these bars installed, maybe 20 or 30, and statistically use most of them daily.
That being said, lots of people have Google set as their home page. I know I do and not because it's a great place to start the day but because it loads fast and I can get on with my surfing.
Google.com used to appear everytime I opened a new tab (I set it to that) but since I installed Google toolbar I get a 'most visited' page which is quiet useful (plus I cant be bothered finding out how to change it back). Interestingly - google.com is nolonger on it.
Another question - How many years has it been since you pressed "I'm Feeling Lucky" button - I reckon, if they disabled it, nobody would notice for months.
About Google frequent logo changing, maybe it's just their routine and scheduled. :)
I don't see the point of the article.
Oh, and I do indeed go to iGoogle. It's one of my startup pages.
Oh, and I do indeed search from there because I not infrequently am searching for phrases or I scope the search in some ways. For single-word searches, I agree that the bar is easier.
I'm not sure if I care if google changes their homepage into something. On the other hand I use google for almost everything: google docs, google calendar, gmail and probably soon google wave :)
Google created the chrome toolbar and igoogle and mobile google to make it easier to search. They provided tools that they knew would lead us away from the home page...they know what they're doing!!!! They may even have a way of figuring out how the search was generated.
They have been doing it for a while and it wouldn't make sense to just stop sharing their originality and creativeness with the millions of users every day.
I was using the Google toolbar and igoogle, I would occasionally stumble on the Google home page. I got logged out of my igoogle and the Google home page reset as my home page. I forgot how much I loved discovering what they had done with their logo every day. However...I do find that a smaller version of the logo appears in my search results page no matter where I search from...maybe this varies for different countries??
Now even if it's not set as my home page I will try to visit the Google main page at least once a day to admire their ingenuity.
The Google home page design is simple and easy. Ever heard of the bacronym KISS - Keep It Simple Stupid!
..I obviously don't navigate and type quick or anything...
But I've seen plenty of people do the dumb thing of going to google.com and then searching. I'd say most non savvy people do that, or have Google.com as their home page.
Since I'm not that unfortunate as many others, I have no firewall on my work PC, so I never need to go to google.com. Unless i wanna check the doodles, like today's. How interesting :D
I enjoy the logo changes. I'll never use bing or any other search engine or start page or portal because I want my browser to come up quickly.
Now that firefox lets me type in the address location to access things in my history that method and google searching are all I do with the browser.
Thanks for sharing this post!
but for search, i use either firefox's little search box or chrome address bar
Homepage thing is a matter of personal feel. I prefer to start with a blank page and visiting the history page of doodle once a while to have a look at all of them together. Moreover, something special will alway make headlines.
On the regional appearances, all I can confirm from Australia (.au) is that doodles do appear on the search result pages.
At home, I search Google by using the search bar on Firefox. Google is the only search engine I use.
I get a kick out of that.
wots going on!? please help!
m*m*
Why would they need to force users to visit the homepage. They are not monetizing it anyway...
This is a very good question/article.
-Jack
domusinc.blogspot.com
I use the search box in Firefox almost exclusively for Wikipedia. That's just my system.
But what I've experienced from friends and family, that Google is the way they use the web.
They go to Google Homepage for browsing to Facebook! Or newssites or any other site.
In fact they do go to google.com, type Facebook in there and click the first result instead of facebook.com. This is a fact overlooked by many readers here which are affine to tech and/or are geeks. So the typical geek found here may think that the homepage isn't worth anything or useful anymore, but the everybody user in fact uses as a replacement of the adress bar(which is actually a really good behaviour for google).