Adwords Local Advertising and Google Maps.
The AdWords program allows ads to be created for local searches. The same functionality is available for free through Google’s local business center. However, the AdWords local searches are display, according to budget, in more visible positions, similar to AdWords non local search results.
Read more on Google Adwords Local advertising here
Heres is how it works. Someone does a search for your type of business or by your business name along with a zip code via Google Maps. All matching businesses will show up in the results, the local AdWords ads will also be shown before and after these results.
The key differences are that the AdWords local ads are display based on the keywords that have been configured in the AdWords account for the local ad. Also, budget determines how often it is to be shown customers. To insure its being shown you should check you account reports down to the ad group level and view your local add under “Add Variations”
While the free local ad created via the local business center will be displayed based on the name of its company title and its description and can be shown as many times as its searched.
The key here is that although both of these forms of local advertisement should work, the AdWords local advertisement will return your company in its results based on a keyword list while the free local advertisement will only return your company IF the searcher knows your company name already.
