《中英對照讀新聞》Google branches out with print ads Google 以平面廣告擴大版圖

◎陳宜君

Google rocked the advertising world when it started selling print ads–a sign its impressive lead in online advertising isn't enough for the ambitious, fast-paced search engine company.

Google開始販售平面廣告，震撼廣告界，顯示其在線上廣告令人興嘆的領先地位，對這家雄心勃勃、步調迅速的搜尋引擎公司來說並不夠。

Google's foray into offline advertising came in the form of full-page ads in PC Magazine and Maximum PC. Google bought the space for the ads, divided it up, and depending on the page, sold it to four or five companies that wanted to advertise.

Google以在「個人電腦雜誌」與「極限個人電腦」雜誌的全頁廣告形式，突襲離線廣告領域。Google買下廣告頁面，將之分割，視頁面而定，賣給4到5家希望刊登廣告的公司。

In this latest move, Google is betting it can exploit its relationship with hundreds of thousands of small businesses that already advertise online by its search results. The idea is to help advertisers gain exposure in the offline world at cheaper rates, or with less effort, than they otherwise could have.

Google在此一最新行動中，打的算盤是該公司有把握能善加利用與數十萬家早就在其搜尋結果中刊登廣告的小型企業的關係。該公司的構想是幫助廣告主在離線世界以比其他廣告方法還低廉的費率，或是花費較少的力氣，獲得曝光。

新聞辭典

branch out：片語，擴大（興趣、活動等）範圍；例句：The bookstore has decided to branch out into selling DVDs.（那家書店決定擴大營業範圍，增加販售數位影音光碟。）另外，branch off則有轉入岔路、分心之意；例如：They branched off from the main road and turned down a country lane.（他們離開幹道，轉入鄉村小路。）

rock：動詞，搖擺、使震驚。rock the boat是指破壞、搗亂之意。例句：We've been doing it this way for years; don't rock the boat by trying to introduce new methods.（我們多年來都是這麼做；別引進新方法來攪亂。）

bet：動詞，在本文中是指對將發生的事情有把握；例句：I bet it rains tomorrow.（我敢肯定明天會下雨。）bet one's boots（或bottom,dollar,shirt）是說極有把握；例如：You can bet your boots that he'll be late again.（準沒錯，他明天又會遲到。）