Ah Ha! Microsoft's cashback program is working - 15% uptick in June searches!
Back in June, I theorized that Microsoft maybe on to something with their live.com cashback program and said: "Personally, I'm anxiously awaiting the June search data from comscore. I think we'll see Microsoft Live search take a little share.".
Well comscore is out this week with their data and DRUM ROLLLL....
The results are bigger than I expected!
In a seasonally slower m/m environment you'll see that Microsoft increased queries 15% and for the first time in a long time that I can remember, increased share .7% which is pretty material in the world of search. And you know what? Not even that many consumers know about this new program. If I'm Microsoft, I'd pour some gas on this little fire and do some more advertising, maybe crank out a print ad or TV ad and test that out. Also, eBay is on sale right now for $31b. If Microsoft starts to believe this ecommerce strategy is how to outflank Google, I think it's increasingly likely they look hard at eBay vs. Yahoo!.
Seeking Alpha disclosure: I am long eBay and Google
Ebay does feature the strange and the weird. The 'soul sale' and the 'life sale' are over. Now there's a '1-year email friend' on sale on ebay.
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&rd=1&item=300244095893&ssPageName=STRK:MESE:IT&ih=020
Posted by: C D Souza | July 22, 2008 at 05:53 AM