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Microsoft Still Paying People to Use LIVE Search

Posted 10/01/08 at 05:30:03 PM |  by Andy Salisbury

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That’s right, you didn’t misread the headline – Microsoft is looking to pay you to use their search engine (again). Not with real money mind you, but points that can be redeemed for prizes (read: Chuck E. Cheese).

The program, called SearchPerks, will give users of Microsoft’s LIVE Search a point each time they search, with the possibility of accumulating 25 per day. However, users will only be able to collect these points once they’ve agreed to download and install a small program that allows Microsoft to track their usage.

In the past, Microsoft hasn’t been successful in getting new users for their search engine, currently only holding 8.3 percent of the search engine market. With the Live Search Club, Microsoft saw an initial boost in their search engine usage of nearly 3 percent, but the results failed to hold. The success of the search engine appears to be directly tied with the incentive programs that Microsoft offers.

If you’re looking to get in on the point-spending goodness, be sure to sign up soon. Microsoft is only allowing people to sign up until the end of the year, or until they get their target of 250,000 participants.

I bet you never thought all those searches for Lindsay Lohan would one day be profitable, did you?

Image Credit: Microsoft

COMMENTS:
11
TAGS: 
windows, microsoft, Software, Google, Live Search
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COMMENTS
avatarI'm having trouble getting

Submitted by Keith E. Whisman on Sat, 2008-10-04 19:05

I'm having trouble getting Live search to work now. Friday and Saturday I've had no luck at all. It just gives me a blank page that tells me that Inet explorer cannot display the webpage message.

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avatarDaily list of suggested search items:

Submitted by dcrail on Fri, 2008-10-03 09:17

Firefox

Thunderbird

Ubuntu

Google desktop

Open Office.org

Linux

logitech

 

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avatarHey MS Live Seach did give

Submitted by Keith E. Whisman on Fri, 2008-10-03 01:25

Hey MS Live Seach did give me what I was looking for. I searched ass and got an ass Hulk Hogan...

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avatarI wish google would pay me

Submitted by N25PHILLY on Thu, 2008-10-02 13:08

I wish google would pay me for never being able to find anything related to what I am actually searching for

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avatarMittens!

Submitted by dcrail on Thu, 2008-10-02 08:35

While curse words are fun, I've been using Live search at work, and the results just aren't as good as google.

When searching for hospital names, the hospital's web site will be first result in google, and half way down the page with Live search.   But at least Hulk Hogan's face pops up when searching for Ass.  They've got that going for them, and that's nice.

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avatarAnd got the 25searches in

Submitted by Keith E. Whisman on Thu, 2008-10-02 02:03

And got the 25searches in five minutes by searching curse words.... LOL.. It's even fun to do this.

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avatarIt is an XBox 360 wireless

Submitted by Keith E. Whisman on Thu, 2008-10-02 01:59

It is an XBox 360 wireless controller for the pc and I got the software.

My first live search was Ass and Hulk Hogan's picture came up at the top of the screen.. .. LOL..... LOL .... ROFLOL...............

Right now I'm trying all the 4letter words I know. I can do that 25times a day...

 

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avatargot it just to get free

Submitted by pellier on Wed, 2008-10-01 16:56

got it just to get free stuff

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avatarCanadians left out int the cold

Submitted by zodi on Wed, 2008-10-01 15:49

Ahh yes microsoft forgot us canandians again in this deal. 

Maybe thats why I have nevered used Live search.  No incentive and google works so well....well most of the time.

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avatarAGreed with you fellow

Submitted by AntiHero on Wed, 2008-10-01 16:28

AGreed with you fellow canadian. The bastards always leave us out of the circle, however..the prizes weren't that great anyway. 5500 tickets (approximately 5000 searches) for an Xbox 360 controller.

An add on to the article, Lindsay Lohan is icky, lol. 

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avataris that Xbox controller for

Submitted by Keith E. Whisman on Thu, 2008-10-02 01:48

is that Xbox controller for PC?

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