Last updated: 2026-10-26 Short answer: “Google AdWords” is simply the pre-2018 name of Google Ads. Search ads show up when someone types a query; display ads are visual placements on websites, apps, YouTube and Gmail. Search engine marketing (SEM) normally refers to the paid-search side. If you run a business in India and keep hearing these terms from vendors, this explainer translates them into plain language using Google’s own help articles. 1. AdWords, Google Ads and SEM — untangling the names Many Indian agencies and job listings still say “AdWords”....