Yahoo homepage redesign: 2006 vs. 2002

In 2002, the CNET announcement of Yahoo’s new look highlighted the advertiser-driven focus of its homepage redesign:

Yahoo is planning to launch a newly redesigned home page that features a cleaner layout and a better showcase for advertisers…The redesign is being fueled partly by advertisers, which are increasingly demanding more real estate on highly visible spots such as Yahoo's home page. Advertisers are irked that they can only buy minimal exposure on the main page of a site that draws a massive audience. The site sells a banner that is half the standard size of comparable ads on the Web. It also sells a square ad, or what it calls a "mantle" ad, in the center of its page for video or rich-media ads.

In 2006, Yahoo’s homepage redesign is presented in Web 2.0 community terms:

For us at Yahoo!, it all comes back to people: We're committed to making complex technologies like email, instant messaging, and search more powerful and easier to use for everybody; embracing the collective wisdom of crowds; and harnessing the power of people and their choices across Yahoo! and its communities.

At Yahoo’s meeting for analysts today, however, the discussion will likely return to an advertising-focused monetization analysis of the new homepage.

What further improvements can Yahoo make to its homepage? Join the conversation: “Talk Back” below to share your design strategies.