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Topic: Enterprise Software

Hitwise: Microsoft's cash for search program working (sort of)

Summary: Microsoft made a splash this week by adding new perks to its "hey we'll pay you to use our search" program and may actually be making some progress--sort of--with it.Hitwise has some interesting research on the topic.

Larry Dignan

By for Between the Lines |

Microsoft made a splash this week by adding new perks to its "hey we'll pay you to use our search" program and may actually be making some progress--sort of--with it.

Hitwise has some interesting research on the topic. In a blog post Hitwise director of research Heather Dougherty notes the following:

  • Traffic on MSN Cashback and SearchPerks is up;
  • Actual searches on MSN's properties are flattish;
  • MSN may be getting more traffic (all to its Cashback section);
  • The majority of MSN visitors had household income of less than $100,000.

My read: Microsoft is paying up just to keep its market share flat. The concept: Microsoft will pay so Google can grab Yahoo's market share.

Also see: Microsoft’s search perks gambit eyes 22% of market up for grabs

Microsoft tries to lure more searchers with another giveaway

We can debate whether this program is a good use of dough, but it does seem to be getting the word out about Microsoft's search properties. MSN Cashback was 3.75 percent of Live.com traffic 11 weeks ago. Today: It's 6.29 percent. The big question is whether these new MSN fans will stick around.

Topics: Enterprise Software, Banking, Browser, Microsoft

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7 comments
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  • Hitwise: Microsoft's cash for search program working (sort of)

    I see it as a promotional move to get people to try Microsoft Live Search. Once they do and see that the results are relevant to their search terms and not just a bunch of blogs bundled together filled with ads they will become permanent users. The team at Live Search really knows how to attract potential customers, and soon the only one to keep flat with be Google, and that's being positive about it considering the company is fastly declining.
    Loverock Davidson
    Reply Vote

    • iWon.com did this a while back...

      It is definitely a good way to exit the search game (as iWon is
      no longer a player in that market). Does say something when
      you have to pay people to use your product, though (and it
      isn't saying anything good about it).
      B.O.F.H.
      Reply Vote

    • 8.5

      I really liked [i]The team at Live Search really knows
      how to attract potential customers[/i].
      Taz_z
      Reply Vote

    • 6.8 . . . But what did your MS rep say ???

      Need the official spin to get over 7.0
      Basic Logic
      Reply Vote

  • Google pays to ....

    web sites delivering its ads. That's how google generates half of revenues. Right?
    joemartn
    Reply Vote

  • RE: Hitwise: Microsoft's cash for search program working (sort of)

    Microsoft's search initiative is a joke. The cash back program is merely a fallback position for them. The problem for MS is that they don't have market share to fallback on with only 8.3%. I get the impression that a great majority of the public is even aware of Live search. So MS will have to spend at least as much as the Vista advertising campaign if they hope to save Live search. I hope search sucks up a lot of Microsoft's resources.
    randall.shimizu@...
    Reply Vote

  • RE: Hitwise: Microsoft's cash for search program working (sort of)

    I just subscribed in your RSS feed, undecided if I <a href="http://www.nfl-wholesaler.com/" style="text-decoration: none; color: black;">nfl wholesale</a> did it specifically however? First rate articles and other content from the way.
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    Reply Vote
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