The battle is hotting up between the big boys: MoneySavingExpert.com and MoneySuperMarket.com
Whilst they appear to be very different sites, they’re actually very similar. MoneySuperMarket, often touted as the UK’s first monumental affiliate site grew from a strict product base (with Mortgage 2000). It evolved in to the behemoth that it is today with multiple products, tons of visitors and a £1bn floatation.
MoneySavingExpert started (apparently) as a consumer champion site: reviews, advice, help and guidance through the muddy waters of finance and consumer spending on the internet. The success has largely been down to the customer involvement or so-called UGC. More importantly however is the premise that Martin Lewis, MSE Kingpin, is entirely altruistic. The disclaimers that they *sometimes* monetise their links only scratches the surface of the underworld deals that make sure the money keeps coming in to MSE Towers.
Both are victims of their own success – Moneysupermarket.com is often seen as the bad boy of the comparison world, encouraging quick-buck sales techniques, blackhat SEO reselling data multiple times and neglecting the customer’s rights. MoneySavingExpert, due to the nature of its thirsty audience, needs to keep pumping out dubiuos advice, deals and coupons…. this often leads to some terribly poor advice like the recent IceSave scandal or patronising its customers by offering free cups of coffee.
Don’t get me wrong, they’re both very successful businesses and they’ve done an incredibly good job at being profitable – and well done to them. I just hope that this clear sign of competition improves their practices – makes them think about service to customers and not just about how they can squeeze every last drop from customers wallets.
Hat Tip to Rob for the Hitwise data
Capital One
Credit Made Clearer
lovemoney
Relationship with Your Money
CashQuestions
Personal Finance Problem Solver
Life Cover
Insurance Made Easy
{ 6 comments… read them below or add one }
Its interesting to see those graphs amazing that MS is in decline while MSE is rising so sharply but it is entirely down to the profile of Martin Lewis, he is everywhere!!! All over GMTV and other TV shows, in lots of papers and publications he has made an art out of free advertising for his company and website so respect is due for that? He seems to be playing a better game at the moment?
Off topic but I live over the road from MoneySupermarket.com I’ve been pestering them for a job for the last month or so without success I might add
I want to work in this sector, have experience in marketing, design and financial affiliate sites nothing doing though!
I read that as “the profit of Martin Lewis…”
LOL
Very interesting to see the stats.I have never been a fan of M.L and would go as far as to say i switch stations if he comes on but as Matt says he certainly knows how to market himself and i am sure most of the consumers using his site don’t have a clue just how much money money he is making from their click throughs.
It’s all a bit ironic really….Moneysavingexpert/Martin Lewis have been funded by Moneysupermarket themselves, as an affiliate using Moneysupermarket content and apply links for various financial products over the years.
Anyone else turn over when Martin Lewis comes on the telly,that bloody voice of his droning on and on makes my teeth itch,i would’nt mind so much if he had any financial qualifications but Martin FFS shut the fuck up
Yes Jimmy i do!! Be interested to see the latest stats and whether moneysavings expert is continuing to grow and expand faster than moneysupermarket. Considering moneysupermarket floated for £843 million i wonder what value the city would put on money savings expert and does M.L own it 100%?