MSN to Offer Bribes for Searchers

MSN is going to offer prizes to searchers in an effort to peal market share away from Google. Yahoo! is said to be considering a similar offer. Details of MSN’s plans can be found here: MSN Search and Win.

This would be interesting if it were novel. IWon started in this fashion by offering cash prizes to users who searched and read news stories on their site. They still offer prizes, including a chance to win $25 million.

Despite this, IWon has zero market share.

Google is in the lead for a single reason – relevant results. No gimmicks, slight-of-hand or cash bribes needed. Until MSN, or any other engine for that matter, produces results that searchers find as or more relevant, Google will continue to lead the pack.