Microsoft is expected to offer cash back to users of it’s Live Search platform, when they go on to make a purchase. In an effort to bolster their share of the search market an announcement is expected at the advance08 event today.
Microsoft Live Search Cash Back is to be launched in conjunction with eBay’s PayPal and John Donahoe has recorded a taped message to go out in conjunction with the announcement.
Microsoft’s official statement reads “On Wednesday, we will be announcing a major new initiative that our search teams have been driving. We are getting better and better with our core algorithmic search, and at the same time, we are investing to differentiate in vertical experiences and to disrupt the current model.”
Microsoft will use the technology obtained from the acquisition of JellyFish, where buyers who make a purchase through the service receive a portion of the advertising revenue Jellyfish receives from the seller. Soon instead of visiting Jellyfish the cash back will be available on the Live Search site.
The big question is will you switch from your current search engine for some hard cash? Will you make Microsoft Live your default search engine? Most important of all, can they deliver the same quality of search results as Google and if not will cash convince browsers to put up with an inferior experience?
7 Responses
More information is coming through on this – when your balance gets to $5 or more it’ll be deposited into your PayPal account or a cheque mailed.
Cash back rates will be set by retailers, and product in search eligible for cash back will have a gold coin icon with a US dollar sign in the middle.
Good news for retailers is that it’s PPA (per per action) so they’ll only pay up for sales, unlike Google where they have to pay for clicks.
The sad news is that at launch it’s only available for US users 🙁
Well I use them in the uk, started about 2 months ago with a free £50 voucher and have seen great results, the traffic going to my sites seems decent and have had alot more sales so far from this than using google!! so fingers crossed for more!
Stu
I’m guessing a lot less people use paid search on MS Live, so the competition would be a lot less than on Google. Even if there are less browsers (I think MS has about a 9% market share of search) less advertisers can make it worthwhile 🙂
yes thats so true, my biggest two competitors don’t use it so that helps no end, plus its alot less per click than google to be honest I still have’nt used up my free £50!! I set up a seperate account for each of our websites to get £50 for each.
This is the link to sign up for the £50 free:
https://www.tryadcenternow.co.uk/default.aspx?s_cid=atlas_uk_2086_search_google_adcenter_Microsoft+Advertising
Stu
So if you cashback was available in the UK would you offer it to buyers as an incentive to trade with you?
yeah defo anything for more sales!!! 😈
Its great getting paid for searching.