Friday Morning Link-Fest! 10 Links from the Past Week to Start Your Weekend Off Right.

With more and more information becoming available each day, sometimes it gets difficult to sift through what doesn't matter to find what does. 

Deco Dig helps you find your way to the best in digital content.

Hopefully these posts will help you find the good stuff, whether it's neat new features, useful information, or just interesting. 


And who knows? Maybe you'll have something new to talk about at the bar this weekend!


Without further ado...


10. "417.6 Million Bites Later ..." 
(NYTimes.com, February 10 2012) 

Checking in on the family that inspired the world with a finger-biting baby. No, not Mike Tyson, that would be an ear-biting baby. 

This article shows just how powerful and resonant web content can be, if it hits a chord with an audience.

9. "5 Essential Spreadsheets for Social Media Analytics"

(Mashable.com, February 9 2012)

Interesting look into some new methods for measuring social media. And you thought Facebook was creepy before.

8. "Comment and Highlight on Websites with Commento"

(Mashable.com, February 9 2012)

Awesome new browser add-on that lets you clip, comment and highlight things you find on the web.

7. "Google Drive rumoured to be Dropbox rival"

(CNET.co.uk, February 9 2012)

Allow me to start by saying I love Dropbox. Unabashedly. But it makes total sense for Google to do this, and it will probably be awesome.

If you've never used Dropbox before, check out getdropbox.com. It's basically a remote cloud-based storage server that you can use to save files and access from anywhere (with internet). As someone who uses multiple computers, Dropbox is a life saver and helps avoid document version-ing issues.

6. "Why Context Is King in the Future of Digital Marketing"

(Mashable, February 2 2012)

Spot-on post about how important targeting is for digital marketing, and how it's evolving to become even more powerful and useful to marketers.

5. "7 Ways to Lower Your Website's Bounce Rate"

(Mashable, February 2 2012)

I am a strong believer that bounce rate is often a misleading metric because there are so many variables. With that said, these tips are generally good practices regardless of your bounce rate situation.

4. "Want To Buy Last-Minute Tickets To Local Events (At A Discount)? WillCall Is For You."

(TechCrucnch.com, February 2, 2012)

At Deco Dig, we love events. Any event. Sports? Yes sir. Concerts? You bet. Figure skating? ...sure...

We also love getting things on the cheap. Which is why this new toolrocks.

3. "Facebook's Timeline Movie Maker, Starring Your Jacked Ego"

(Fast Company, February 1 2012)

Apparently Deco Dig is full of "jacked ego", because we think this is pretty cool.

2. "Ask the Experts: What is Social Innovation?"

(Fastcoexist.com, February 2012)

Social Innovation is a powerful idea that uses social technology and the web to facilitate positive social change. Check this out and think about ways you can use technology to do good.

1. "The IPO Won't Change Facebook. Online Ads Will."

(Mashable.com, February 2 2012)

Facebook's ad serving platform has really improved since launching, and the more they change it the more profitable it will become, both for Facebook and for its advertisers. 

If you aren't on the Facebook ad-wagon yet, what are you waiting for?


BONUS LINK!
"Notes of a Gastronome: The Taming of the Chef"
(The New Yorker, 2007)


In my eyes, Gordon Ramsay can do no wrong. I'd gladly take his screaming in my ear and calling me a "dumbass" if that meant he would show me how to cook a perfect scallop.

This article, though it is old, is a great example of how a unique perspective, hard work, taking chances, and staying true to your style can get you where you want to go. I found this article incredibly inspiring, and I hope you will too.