Cashback Gives Lift to MSN/Windows Live Shopping Search

When Microsoft launched its Cashback program last year, many in the search and tech community snickered. It seemed laughable that Microsoft had to pay people to search. A year later, the joke is on the doubters.

New data out from Nielsen shows a 615% growth in MSN/Windows Live Shopping Search in the past year. It should be pointed out, however, that shopping search engines account for a small percentage of the overall search market. However, Microsoft’s goal of attacking search niche by niche might just be on the right track.