These a days team at Google is busy in coming out with lot many different new products. At times it is making us, the advertisers very confused with terminology.
First they had Google Adowrds Local Extension. Where-in your address can be displayed in ads when someone is searching for you. It is just extension of Google Adwords.

Then they started Google Local Ads. Available on a fixed price per month. Currently they are testing it in beta phase at SF and San Diego only.

The difference in these two was, in adwords extension, you see just the address, whereas in Local Ads, you will see a blue balloon on ad as well as on the map.

Today, while searching for Plumber Montery, I started seeing blue balloons in adwords extension as well. First I thought that they started Local Ads all over the country, but later I realized that it is just regular adwords extension.  So now I am at total loss of understanding. There is essentially no difference in adwords local extension and local ads, so why will anyone advertise at adwords and pay $4 a click, when I can purchase Local Ads at just $50 a month.

But oh wait. This is just available in Google Chrome only. On Firefox, the search displays still old format.

Lol So now another feature of using Google Chrome. You will get adwords local extension with balloons.

My request to big G – Please don’t go Yahoo way. We appreciate your concept of keeping it simple. We understand that you are a corporate now and all that big stuff. But please keep it simple. Don’t confuse us with tens of different formats, same advertisement being offered with two type of google ads, different ad formats on IE, Firefox and Chrome. Please go the way you are famous for, that is SIMPLE way.

Notice 1 & 2 in blue balloon. Also notice 1 in blue balloon in map as well – This is on Chrome

Same search on Firefox. No blue balloon – Just a Plus sign and address

Nitin Tripathi