Auction Model Dumped in Local Search Trial

IN an interesting move, Google has dropped its ad auction model and is trialling set monthly rates for local advertising in two key US markets, San Francisco and San Diego. The rate is set by Google based on appropriate keyword averages and is designed to make the decisions simpler for businesses – such as plumbers, carpenters, hairdressers - used to the classified advertising model, which is in this case is the competition. No plans to extend it at this stage. Full story at Ad Age. Search Engine Room, October 15, 2009.