When we launched cashback nearly six months ago, we mentioned that we're going to use these three criteria to measure the program:
Well, we've been measuring, and today we can report that we've increased the number of product offers available in Live Search cashback by 30%, indicating strong advertiser interest in the program and early results on its ROI. Stephanie Tilenius, GM of eBay North America, has told us, "Microsoft Live Search cashback has improved our ROI on paid search by 50%, and based upon our shared success, eBay is increasing its search marketing spend with Microsoft Live Search by threefold." ShoeMall, a cashback advertiser also mentioned that the cashback program has increased their sales 6x since it began participating, prompting ShoeMall to devote even more marketing dollars to the program. In addition, we've seen a monthly average of 4.5 million unique users participating in cashback — they've conducted more than 68 million commercial queries.
In these tough economic times this early traction speaks to the differentiated and unique value proposition of Microsoft Live Search cashback for both consumers and advertisers. According to a custom comScore study, in Q2 2008, Microsoft Live Search referred almost 12% of total commercial online transactions and 13% of total online spending among key retail categories.
We're encouraged by cashback's first six months, but this is just the beginning — we have more up our sleeves. Keep watching.
Kok Waii Wong, Group Product Manager, Live Search cashback
PingBack from http://www.tmao.info/six-months-in-live-search-cashback-is-cashing-in/
The term 'cashing in' sounds like it is ending! That's not a good choice.
Nice to see it is doing well -- now if only the support was more responsive - I've been kept waiting for a month on a transaction that did not get cashback credit. Would not recommend it based on that alone.
I noticed that the 25% cashback offer from ebay is no longer available...is this permanent, or just temporary? I sell auctions on ebay with the 25% cashback offer, so this could be a blow to my customers! Please say it isnt so...
So is the Ebay 25% cashback gone for good, or is it just on a (hopefully short) hiatus?
This article indicates all is well. If that is so , then why did you pull the eBay 25% cashback offer? Sounds like what you have "up your sleeves" is to pull the best offer you've had up to this point. Don't see how that bodes well for pushing traffic to your search engine or for increasing business to your subscribers/advertisers for that matter. Know it was advertised as could end at anytime, but this is very disappointing, especially after the post just 2-3 days earlier indicating that this would be ideal for Christmas shopping. If that was the case, why didn't you tell us that we needed to do all of our Christmas shopping in the next two days? Unfortunately, this will serve as just another blow to Microsoft. Sad...truly sad.
Have to agree about the cashback eBay offer. I was very disappointed that something that had been promoted less than 2 weeks ago, especially when it specifically mentioned shopping for Christmas, had already ended. It's not even Thanksgiving and the offer is already gone.
I have earned cashback but can not get the ebay "get cashback" button to open the web page. Can you help me? I opened a account and on ebay is says you have earned $200.00 but when I click the lead, it says you can not open this webpage??
Does noone watch this? I've seen no reply from a moderator for yesterday and today. Seems suspicious when all the support personnel drift into the woodwork and you wait for over 10 hours on the support chat forum only for it to knock you off. And the problems aren't just limited to the few of us who have posted here - but to thousands all across the country. The support for this service is just pitiful!
Has anyone noticed that product searches on Live.com don't even hit eBay the last couple of days????? wtf??
I just learned about the eBay cashback offer on Nov. 10 from a Buy it Now offer and was planning to open an account. Imagine my surprise and frustrations the last 2 days when none of the product searches would bring up the eBay cashback offer. It's pitiful that I had to use Google to find this blog and learn that no one else knows what's going on and that no one seems to care...
I found 2 25% cashback on Ebay yesterday the 15th Nov 2008 however when I tryed to purchase the item I guess I should refreshed my page because my 60 minute session time had ended, so now Im paying $450 instead of $337.50.
Just something you have to watch out for if it comes back....
I was about to make my X-mas purchasees... did some research on items and by the time I got there yesterday (15th.) nothing.... actually it's almost less than that...
I tried to search info about it and total silence.... like it never happened... was I dreaming about the Microsoft Cash Back? It seems like because there is no ebay link in live search at all, on ebay I found a page still talking about it but that's all... The moderators, management, the insiders are all quiet... I hope all this silence leads to a stormy new campaign with even better offers than the 25%.
If nothing happens until Thanksgiving ... well... I just delete everything MS related and buy a MAC ... :))
Yes, where did the eBay link go? Is it over? Was planning to do some eBay Xmas shopping yesterday and couldn't get an eBay cashback link to appear. No luck today, either. How about an official word on whether it's gone for good? MS?
Well.... I was thinking... (happens sometimes...) and I think I got it.
CashBack is like the person behind the swing... since now it's going well (see the result stats) it rests a little.. if the sales going to slow down CashBack is back to give it another push... But maybe I'm wrong.. maybe he just stepped back, tripped and busted his head open...
You never know w/ MS :)
PLEASE BRING BACK THE 25% DISCOUNT !!!!