Color Me Clickable: Links and Google’s A/B Test

Google recently experimented with black links on its results pages. Not everyone was pleased with the result, especially since visited and non-visited links looked the same.

In this week’s #UXPinChat we asked people’s opinions on link colors, usability, aesthetics and more. While many of the replies were a little tongue-in-cheek, others wondered what Google was thinking — and if changes were necessary at all.

A1 @uxpin Black is fine, but they NEED a clicked link state of a different color. People react badly to change (see: Instagram) #uxpinchat

— Michelle Matthews (@michematthews) May 13, 2016

If they do, it will take some time to get use to for sure! #uxpinchat https://t.co/ymm2zRMK0T

— Loomie (@loomie_ux) May 13, 2016

@uxpin Google may know the better link color, but this is the big deal: Distinguishing links vs non-links #UXPinchat https://t.co/JoRH99n9r0

— Michael Gremillion (@IselianGaming) May 13, 2016

#UXPinChat Q1 No. Having separate colors is better. #UX #UXDesign https://t.co/0oW7CFD2dC

— Veronica Rivera (@justvcreative) May 13, 2016

.@ux_benjamin Seriously! I guess since it's an A/B test, I trust Google to have a solid hypothesis for changes like this #uxpinchat

— Michelle Matthews (@michematthews) May 13, 2016

If we are talking about the links that they force for dates and times in email, etc. then they should. #UXPinChat

— Gregory Rosenhan (@gregrosenhan) May 13, 2016

A bit outside my area of expertise, still very valuable. I'm in! #UXPinChat @uxpin #Google #testing #data https://t.co/dkkw5xfwGu

— Daniel (@aduszkiewicz) May 13, 2016

A1 At least it's not hot pink. haha! :D #uxpinchat

— Loomie (@loomie_ux) May 13, 2016

@IselianGaming @loomie_ux @uxpin YASSSSSS make it glittery too pic.twitter.com/FKeGHhnqB9

— Michelle Matthews (@michematthews) May 13, 2016

A2 @uxpin What is the need for changing color on Google? Pure experimentation? If so, not a UX exercise to me. #uxpinchat

— Michelle Matthews (@michematthews) May 13, 2016

@loomie_ux @uxpin A2 right here. Hot pink, it's the new link. #UXPinChat

— Michael Gremillion (@IselianGaming) May 13, 2016

A2 @uxpin They should be looking at colors & color usage that guides people to the info they are searching for. #uxpinchat

— Michelle Matthews (@michematthews) May 13, 2016

White… #tudum_tsss #UXPinChat https://t.co/ZIrhzJjRpd

— Daniel (@aduszkiewicz) May 13, 2016

.@uxpin Hard to truly answer, IMO. We are all so used to blue. Large bias. Twitter uses teal? What about different background? #UXPinChat

— Michael Gremillion (@IselianGaming) May 13, 2016

A2 Anything but neon, please. My eyes can't take it. #uxpinchat https://t.co/ih0rsxMW1S

— Loomie (@loomie_ux) May 13, 2016

Q2 #UXPinChat Maybe @Google could try this palette. #UX #uxdesign pic.twitter.com/Nt8J2XrAbG

— Veronica Rivera (@justvcreative) May 13, 2016

.@uxpin Habit tells me blue, but that red isn't bad. Tells me error/problem though. Why can't I drop the highlight on 5? #UXPinChat

— Michael Gremillion (@IselianGaming) May 13, 2016

A3 @uxpin Which ever one performs best in testing.