There is a difference though, if I want to know something then I search for information, I go from one shop to another and do research to discover the best product. Which is kind of a pull mechanism.
What advertising does is a push mechanism, where they try to flood my brain with nonsense so that I get confused and don't buy the best product for me, but instead buy something the advertiser sells.
Product and price discovery can be done by me doing research, so saying that it's advertising enabling that is just dishonest.
Putting up a sign in front of your shop saying "New Mousetrap - Improved Design" is advertising.
If you make a better mousetrap and nobody knows about it, your mousetrap is irrelevant.
Sure, not all advertising generates benefits to society, just as not all products do.