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Worth about $20 billion, the search engine industry no doubt belongs to online giant Google. According to the market research firm comScore, Google currently holds 61.6% of the search engine market, while Microsoft only holds 9.1%. After failing to buyout Yahoo, it appears Microsoft is shifting its game plan. In an effort to gain market share from Google, Microsoft has now launched a cashback program to users of its Live Search, the company’s online search engine. The program works by offering visitors rebates on products they buy through using the search engine. Microsoft says that 700 merchants offering over 10 million products are participating in the program. Merchants include: Barnes & Noble, Circuit City, eBay, Foot Locker, Sears, OfficeMax, Home Depot, and Hewlett-Packard, to name a few. The participating merchants have agreed to pay Microsoft a fee for each purchased product generated through Live Search. Microsoft will then forward the fee to the user (buyer) in the form of a rebate (up to 30% of the purchase price).

“Our goal is to make Live Search the most rewarding commercial search destination on the Web. Live Search cashback will help advertisers drive more online sales while giving consumers a new way to stretch their dollars.”

To be eligible for a rebate, users are required to sign up for a Live Search account at the cashback website. The cashback website currently features products from participating merchants. Users can also look for gold coin icons throughout the search listing to denote a “rebate-able” product.  With each qualifying purchase, Microsoft will send an email notifying the user of their savings. The savings are then accumulated in their respective Live Search account. Once an account reaches $5, users will have the option to withdraw their balance.

Read [Live Search] Read [USA Today]