Microsoft looks to buy way into search (again)
Updated 11 p.m., with details from Microsoft's Live Search site.
REDMOND, Wash.--Microsoft is looking to buy its way into search, and I'm not talking about Yahoo.
The software maker plans on Wednesday to launch a cash back program to those who buy things after using its search.
Microsoft has details of the program up on its Web site, including a list of frequently asked questions.
"We want to earn your loyalty and reward it with cashback savings for your everyday online shopping," Microsoft said. "We are 'The Search That Pays You Back!' "
As previously reported, Microsoft is due to show off its latest enhancements to its search product at the Advance 08 advertising conference here. Microsoft Chairman Bill Gates is set to offer the main address of the event on Wednesday. I hear the company has more than just the cash back effort up its sleeves.
In any case, it's not the first time Microsoft has tried to use financial incentives to boost its search share. It has run a number of programs including its Live Search Club that offer rewards for those that use its search.
The Live Search Club effort briefly boosted Microsoft's search market share last year, but the gains have proved short lived. Microsoft has been losing ground since then and has returned to a single digit share of the market.
The news was reported earlier Tuesday by Search Engine Watch and the Seattle Post-Intelligencer.
According to the reports, Live Search Cash Back, is based on Microsoft's acquisition last year of Jellyfish, which has been piloting such a program, the reports said. Jellyfish said on its Web site Tuesday night that it was "currently offline to perform necessary service upgrades and enhancements."
Meanwhile, there's still no word on Microsoft's other, more expensive effort to buy search market share.
It's worth noting the fact that to get cash back users have to create an account and be logged in, presumably becoming a more valuable advertising customer for Microsoft as well.
Do you think this helps or hurts Microsoft's credibility when it comes to search?
During her years at CNET News, Ina Fried has changed beats several times, changed genders once, and covered both of the Pirates of Silicon Valley. These days, most of her attention is focused on Microsoft. E-mail Ina.
%20%7C%20Beyond%20Binary%20-%20CNET%20News&srcUrl=http://news.cnet.com/8301-13860_3-9949250-56.html){kind=small}
What's their next ploy. An advertising campaign along the lines of: "Pretty pretty please use our search engine. We'll love you forever. Promise."
I'm trying to think what else can you do with search? Google jumped on the bandwagon through advertisement. But, personally I'm not happy with it.
SO many of my search's take me to bogus sites when trying to find things. Example today Basement reonvation took me to many other sites that *List* Reonvation companies, which then link me to another list and so on and so on. All getting paid on click through traffic.
In the end I picked up the local yellow pages to find what I wanted.
Microsoft should focus it's effort into cutting features from it's current Operating systems and office packages to make them smaller and faster.
http://www.startjoint.com/shopcompare.aspx
-
by DanFerrer
May 21, 2008 8:46 PM PDT
- It seems Microsoft is doing the right thing from a competitive company pespective - trying to beat Google where it hurts the most, especially considering it is a 'one product company' - if it damages Google'search business it will seriuosly compromise its profitability ... no wonder why Google invests so much (20% of their engineers ) time trying to find new niches ... anyway, I'd like to see Microsoft or any other company challenging Google - I do believe this Search Monopoly is not good for anybody.
-
Reply to this comment
-
(15 Comments)