Starting this week Google is trying out a new type of search ad and pricing system in the San Francisco and San Diego markets. Currently, advertisers set up an advertising campaign, pick keywords, and bid on them to select when and where their ads will appear on search pages. Google will test a new flat rate pricing model. They will offer advertisers and non-advertisers a search ad for a flat fee. Google software will analyze different factors and determine what the average price for an ad is and will control where and when an ad appears. In other words, if you are a current advertiser, Google will use your keywords and bid prices to automatically set up accounts for your competitors. As a serious advertiser on Google, you want to pay them for traffic and you optimize your marketing efforts to get relevant traffic from Google. Now, Google will use your efforts as a free market research tool for competing businesses. Not good news for local advertisers who take their marketing campaigns seriously.