Having so-far failed to secure the acquisition of Internet giant Yahoo in its quest to dent the online ad-space dominance of search engine heavyweight Google Inc., American software company Microsoft Corp. is now attempting to lure away Google’s audience with user-based incentives.
Microsoft offering consumer rebates through cash-back Live Search. Image: Microsoft.
More pointedly, Redmond-based Microsoft has this week launched a new cash-back service that delivers rebates to those consumers willing to utilise a special version of Microsoft’s Live Search in order to seek out and purchase their desired items while online.
According to outgoing Microsoft chairman Bill Gates, the software titan is looking to use the rebate strategy “to make Live Search the most rewarding commercial search destination on the Web,” along with helping online advertisers to “drive more online sales while giving consumers a new way to stretch their dollars.”
Consumers attracted to the concept of discounted online shopping across a wide selection of participating merchants can take advantage of Microsoft’s service by simply registering an account and purchasing their items directly from the dedicated Live Search cash-back site, reports USA Today .
Alternatively, consumers using the regular Live Search service can also snatch up the cash-back incentive by looking out for special gold coin icons returned alongside their conventional search results.
The rebate system works by providing customers with a cash return of between 2 percent and 30 percent against the full price of their purchased item; this monetary amount is then transferred into the user’s Live Search account. Amounts above $5 USD can then be deposited into an online bank, a PayPal electronic cash account, or posted to the user via a mailed cheque -- but only after a waiting period of 60 days.
In order to offer its Live Search rebate incentive to prospective shoppers, Microsoft is channelling advertising fees into the service in order to improve the company’s market placement in terms of online search traffic.
To name but a few of the several hundred merchants already partnering Microsoft in its efforts to bolster its search presence, consumers can look forward to perusing products made available from the likes of online auction specialist eBay, Sears, Home Depot, Circuit City, and Barnes & Noble.
KarthikMay 22nd, 2008 - 15:49:19
I was planning to buy a laptop from circuit city for $2000 and now I can go through microsoft and get $60 cash back. $60 is a free money to me. Thanks Microsoft for helping consumers. In days when companies like Apple dictate buy phone from us, service from our partner, songs from us and accessories from us, Microsoft has decided to help consumers by giving them free money.
Report this comment