If you can't beat 'em,
try free money

Microsoft is rolling out a loyalty program whereby users are paid to use Live Search, reports The Seattle Post-Intelligencer.

Searchers earn a percentage when they use Live Search to find — and ultimately buy — select retail items. Payments will be made to users after 60 days to minimize the likelihood people will return the items they purchased.

The Live Search for Cashback program operates on Jellyfish.com, a cashback rewards service Microsoft acquired last year. Microsoft's retail partners already include Office Depot, Sears and Home Depot.

This is not the first time Microsoft has used incentives to reward Live Search users. Last year it tried paying companies a commission for making employees use Live Search. And Live Search Club, a series of ad-promoted games where users earn credits for solving puzzles that necessitate use of Live Search, won Microsoft extraordinary growth in the search market.

Live Search for Cashback will be introduced later today at Microsoft's Redmond-based advertiser summit.