Use Microsoft’s Search Engine and get Cash Rebates
US citizens now have a better deal when it comes to purchasing things online. People now can use Microsoft Live to find products, and get cash rebates when they purchase products through Microsoft’s
Live Search Engine.
Under the cash program revealed Wednesday, Web shoppers who sign up for an account and buy items found using Microsoft’s Live Search cashback site will receive a percentage of the purchase price deposited into their account.
When the total reaches $5 (euro3.17), the shoppers can redeem their “cold, hard cash” via eBay Inc.’s PayPal. Microsoft said the rebates are funded with a portion of the money it collects from advertisers.
So far, more than 700 merchants, including Home Depot and Zappos.com, have listed products on the site reports AFP.
What it means to bloggers?
It means Microsoft is skipping the middlemen (like you and me) and working directly with the product sellers. So, now consumers can go directly to live.com and buy stuff, instead of going through other third-party referrers. Therefore, from consumers’ point of view it’s a great service. Google Product Search (previously froogle) has been around for some time already, but they have failed to come up with this idea. And I personally think, Microsoft’s cashback might actually work!
As for bloggers, I think it’s a matter of time before Microsoft involves bloggers in this program and comes up with a publisher program. Probably bloggers will be able to use Live’s “search form” on their blog and sites. When someone searches for a product from your blog and if the search results in a sale, then the blogger will be paid some percentage.
If Microsoft comes up with publisher program, then it will be competing directly with other publisher programs like WidgetBucks and Chitika. When this happens I wouldn’t wish to be in Chitika’s position ;)
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By Web Design Media on May 23, 2008
That’s why MSN will always be far behind Yahoo and google, everything they do it for US people only.
Ralph
By Ades on May 23, 2008
but i think that’s what majority of companies do, they test the US market first and if successful go international. being in Malaysia, I am too left out of this cashback program :(
By Dining Tables on May 23, 2008
I think so too. It is a matter of time before all of us are involved one way or the other.
By PS3 on May 24, 2008
The fact that they are happy to pay for searches is a big indictment of how far they are behind the other engines.
By Top Rated on May 24, 2008
I think you can group yahoo into the same membership of sites that only cater to US visitors. How long has Yahoo version of AdSense been in Beta with US visitors? Almost 2 years now I think.
I’m with PS3 on this one though. I really don’t think people will switch to MSN just for the cash back. Visitors will use the best tools to help them find what they’re looking for. If MSN wants more search users, the need a better search engine . . . period.
By Marketing Man on May 24, 2008
I agree this is not the USA-net its the Inter-net. I guess its were there money comes from and if it works they can expand.
By Gecko on May 24, 2008
cashback just doesn’t make any sense, people will always use the best tool, unless the reward from the cashback program is really good.
I think msn should work with theird party(bloggers), just like google and their adsense custom search.
By shawal on May 24, 2008
Brilliant Idea….
By crystalloids on May 25, 2008
I guess we need to see what impact this innovation has on the market generally.
By Free Playstation 3 on Jun 2, 2008
Thats a fantastic idea, it would be nice to see it rolled out to the uk
By PS3 on Jun 2, 2008
lets face it who doesnt want cash back?