Microsoft Hopes To Lure Searchers By Paying Them
Paying folks to use its search engine is an idea Microsoft (NSDQ: MSFT) has flirted with for a long time. See this InfoWorld piece on it from back in 2005. Now WSJ is reporting that the company is set to announce a new variation on this theme, offering users cash back on purchases they make through the search engine. TechCrunch notes that the service is based on its acquisition of Jellyfish, a comparison shopper that provides users with cash back on purchases.
Cash back, of course, is used in all kinds of industries. Even Google (NSDQ: GOOG) has tried a variation on this model for its PayPal-competitor Google Checkout. Will it work? Getting users to switch their search behavior is tough, and it will be a challenge getting it up to scale. If we lived in an economist’s dream world, where every individual acted perfectly rational, then it might have a better chance.
Related StoriesPosted In: Search, Technologies / Formats, Companies, Google, Microsoft
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Comments (5)
May 21, 2008 5:37 PM
Sounds interesting, but I doubt that it can be realized.
May 22, 2008 9:03 AM
You can’t find Cashback on Microsoft Live. In order to find it, you need to search for it on Google:
http://jenslapinski.wordpress.com/2008/05/22/live-cant-find-cashback-but-google-does/
I guess that as long as the search result quality on Live is at that level, Google won’t have to worry too much.
May 22, 2008 2:33 PM
Giving some online services “for free” is a crime (at least for those who have to work for free in order to produce free content) But to pay users for shopping around is disgusting crime—in normal world, strategies like this one would be called dumping and chased by prosecutors. Where are the advocates of free but fair market?
Dec 5, 2008 1:42 PM
May work in some cases
Feb 24, 2009 7:12 PM
yeah right, let them pay my hourly rate then I will use them.