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October 1, 2008
Microsoft Launches SearchPerks; Like Credit Card Rewards, Except for Search
Microsoft is today launching a new incentive program for Live Search. The program is called SearchPerks, and it works very much like a credit card reward program.
Every time you search, you earn tickets. You can earn up to 25 tickets a day. Tickets can later be redeemed for all sorts of rewards including music downloads (5 for 525 points) and airline miles (1000 miles for 1800 tickets).
Here's how it works. Sign up for the program, and download a simple piece of code. That will give you a Perk Counter for your desktop.
You can begin earning tickets today, October 1, all the way through April 15th of next year. You can begin claiming your rewards on April 16. However, you can only sign up for the program through December 31, 2008 and the program is capped at 250,000 people.
Microsoft will be evaluating the program and could possible expand it if all goes well.
Microsoft's Frederick Savoye, senior director at Live Search, assured me that this is an incentive program that fits into their three overall pillars of search:
- Delivering the best search results
- Simplifying key tasks such as booking airline, travel, shopping, finding user opinions, etc.
- Innovating the business model
So while programs like SearchPerks and Cashback may seem like Microsoft is just trying to pay people off to use Live Search, the team remains strongly devoted to improving technology and the user experience.
What do you think of this program? Will you sign up? Let us know your thoughts in the comments.
Posted by Nathania Johnson on October 1, 2008 3:01 AM
Comments
Jamie Riddell October 2, 2008 10:24 AM
In my opinion this is Microsoft's desperate attempt to catch the all-seeing, all-mighty, all-powerful Google... but isn't bribery a bit too far!! I mean C'mon!! Ive heard of a free service... but paying people to use your service!! That's gotta be too far!!
Sooo... what's next for Microsoft's online marketing strategy... I take it the next logical step will be to buy searchers products for them at the end of using a live search!! Comedy! lol...
SEO Angels October 3, 2008 8:28 AM
I think it is a good way to go.. If you need to take on google and capture any market you need to take drastic steps. giving a gift to users for using live search for six months might not be that loss making an idea as it seems. Microsoft would infact recover a lot of the money from advertising. Even google was giving away 10-20 $$ when it launched its checkout service to counter paypal. Google lovers should not cry foul!
UB October 11, 2008 1:33 AM
Started the progrom the first day to completion.
When I asked when I would receive my points after awhile received an email stating my points had been terminated for possibly using automated system or bots. Why would I need to use a bot to do 25 searches?
fpxmnr May 22, 2009 10:13 PM
Does it really come down to paying people to stay? The concern here is the quality of click throughs is low as people are using the service to earn credits.