Local business ads are AdWords ads associated with specific business locations. They appear on Google Maps, Google, and across Google's advertising network.

Why local business ads?

Google's goal is always to offer users relevant information through our search results and advertising. Local business ads help users by showing them products and services that are physically nearby. For advertisers, local business ads provide a way to reach more local customers.

Local business ads are different from regional and customized campaign targeting ,another way to reach users in a specific geographic area. Campaign targeting doesn't require a business address in your targeted area, whereas local business ads are designed to drive traffic to your physical location. Regional and customized targeting are ideal if you have an online-only business or if you're mostly interested in driving traffic to your website.

Whether you run a small business or a large chain, local business ads enable you to target multiple locations within a single ad group using the same keyword list -- yet another way of targeting more customers more effectively. Learn more about how local business ads are targeted to users.

What will my local business ad look like?

Local business ads can appear in several formats, depending on where they appear. On Google and other sites in the Google Network, your local business ad appears similar to a regular text ad. A fifth line of text may appear with the street address of your business. If your ad is shown in one of the top spots, it can also have an additional expandable map associated with your address.

On Google Maps, your ad can appear right on the map, and you can pick a special icon related to your business. If a user clicks on the title of your ad, she will be taken to your website. If the user clicks on the icon, an info window expands with interactive links. A user can click on these links to connect with you faster, including "Get Directions," "Add to My Map," "Send," and where available, "Street View."