Jim Murray

6 years ago · 2 min. reading time · ~10 ·

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Nothing Is Perfect, But beBee Comes Pretty Damn Close

Nothing Is Perfect, But beBee Comes Pretty Damn Close

~ Jim Murray ~
Communication Strategist ® Writer ® Editor © Op-Ed Blogger
Art Director ® Project Manager * beBee Brand Ambassador
Partner with Charlene Norman @ Bullet Proof Consulting

With an experience base that bridges
the Digital Divide by a good two decodes,

| work with direct clients large & small,
designers, art/crective directors & consultants
fo create results-driven, strategically-focused
communication in all on & offline media.

Phone: 289 687It is the nature of all things to be flawed. Sometimes in small and barely noticeable ways. Sometimes in ways that scream at you.
The same is true for the things we create. They’re not perfect. And frankly, if they were, they might be boring.
The flaws or shortcomings or glitches are what give everything its human touch.
Lately I have caught wind of some weirdness on beBee, concerning an ambassador who, evidently was overtly critical of beBee and ended up losing his ambassadorship in the process.
I don’t know all the details, but apparently it had something to do with that old chestnut of members being used for their content to enrich the owners, blah blah blah.
Well I have some news for anyone who thinks that way and that is summed up in a few short words:
Nobody forced us to be here.
Many of the bees who are here are simply looking for better/more meaningful/more fulfilling/more rewarding/more interesting social media experience. And IMHO, beBee delivers this in spades.
Yeah, it’s true that we provide the majority of the content that powers the site. But that was our decision, not beBee’s. You can just as easily be a lurker here and never contribute a thing.
The whole idea of resenting something that you signed up for with an allegedly clear head and some sort of understanding of how this shit all works is absurd.
You provide the content and beBee provides the audience. This is about as fair and democratic as things get in this crazy world. And if you come from LinkedIn, you understand, or should, just how one- sided and undemocratic things can actually be in some places.
My experience here versus my experience on LinkedIn is like night and day. In fact, I can remember a time on LinkedIn when I actually considered packing it all in and trying my luck at a novel or something.
That’s how pissed off I was there.
beBee would have to turn into an uncaring monster and Javier would have to turn the site over to some draconian algorithm before my situation would ever approach my LI experience.
But I don’t blame LinkedIn. Why? Because I signed up. I posted a lot and built a following there that I still have. And I was free to pull out anytime.
Because that’s the nature of the beast.
beBee gives you the platform, and your content is what makes it work for you. How anyone can logically be pissed about that is beyond my comprehension.
Are there things about beBee that could be better? Sure. But being part of a large and growing social media site where the management actually responds to your questions or comments is pretty much a rarity in today’s world.
Anyway, that’s all I wanted to say. BeBee is the best platform I have ever had for my writing. Period.

Jim Murray is a communication strategist, writer, art director blogger and beBee brand ambassador for Canada. His partner, Charlene Norman is a business systems and operational analyst. Their collaboration is called Bullet Proof Consulting, headquartered in St Catharines, Ontario and designed to serve forward thinking businesses in the Niagara and Golden Horseshoe regions of Southern Ontario. Web site coming soon.

You can find out more about us at: http://tinyurl.com/y9zc9gvx

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If your business has reached the point where talking to an experienced  communication professional would be the preferred option to banging your head against the wall or whatever, lets talk.

Download my free ebook Small Business Communication For The Real World here:
 https://onwordsandupwords.wordpress.com/2013/11/24/small-business-communications-for-the-real-world/
All my profile and contact information can be accessed here:
https://www.bebee.com/producer/@jim-murray/this-post-is-my-about-page


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Comments

Phil Friedman

6 years ago #38

#47
And I hope the coward in the shadows with the teensie, tiny hands is having a good time with his (or I guess her) minus button. Hey, this is social media and it doesn't take a lot of courage to say what you want to say!

Phil Friedman

6 years ago #37

#47
Yeah, me likewise. Although someone took it seriously enough to register a minus for your comment. And it weren't me.

Jim Murray

6 years ago #36

#46
I know I was just pulling your leg.

Phil Friedman

6 years ago #35

#45
Actually, I am saying that some -- not by any mean all -- beBee Ambassadors evidenced a mistaken impression of what their role is. Like some minority shareholders who think they really have something to say about how a company is going to be run. Cheers!

Jim Murray

6 years ago #34

Phil Friedman. So basically you are saying "People are crazy and times are strange"... (Bob D)

Phil Friedman

6 years ago #33

Wow, @Jim Murray, I am blown away by some of the comments in this conversation. in particular by the recalcitrant Ambassador involved. I believe one of the most attended groups of posts that I published was my "beBee vs beBee" series, starting with "Affinity Networking Is On the Line" (July 2016) and finishing up with "BeBee At the Crossroads: Wrapping Up This Series" (April 2017). There is a complete list of links at the ending post: https://www.bebee.com/producer/@friedman-phil/bebee-at-the-crossroads-wrapping-up-this-series I find ironic is that most of my suggestions and cautions about direction, were met with hostility, as being too negative and disruptive -- including one of my earliest recommendation for providing the tools to hive owners to topic filter the content carried by their respective hives and to be able to exclude from their hives users who consistently mis-posted inappropriate content. Now, I am seeing the complaint that many of those suggestions, which were vociferously opposed, both publicly and privately by some users, have not been implemented. Seems petulant to me. To my mind, the only promise ever made by Javier \ud83d\udc1d beBee was to distribute 100% of an author's posts to 100% of that author's followers 100% of the time. Beyond that, the rest is entirely at their discretion, since they are the owners of the platform. Seems pretty clear to me. Cheers!

Milos Djukic

6 years ago #32

Individualism & Collectivism - The Missing Link. Heath, Joseph, "Methodological Individualism", The Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy (Spring 2015 Edition), Edward N. Zalta (ed.), https://plato.stanford.edu/archives/spr2015/entries/methodological-individualism/ Smiley, Marion, "Collective Responsibility", The Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy (Summer 2017 Edition), Edward N. Zalta (ed.), https://plato.stanford.edu/entries/collective-responsibility/#Rel

Milos Djukic

6 years ago #31

Individualism & Collectivism - The Missing Link. Heath, Joseph, "Methodological Individualism", The Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy (Spring 2015 Edition), Edward N. Zalta (ed.), URL = . Smiley, Marion, "Collective Responsibility", The Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy (Summer 2017 Edition), Edward N. Zalta (ed.), URL = .

Jim Murray

6 years ago #30

#32
You're weclome Javier \ud83d\udc1d beBee. I love love it here and want it to grow. But it's your baby, at the end of the day and I have huge respect for that fact.

Jim Murray

6 years ago #29

#31
Knock yourself out , Jerry Fletcher. But if you make any money off it, I want half.

Phil Friedman

6 years ago #28

Wow, @Jim Murray, I am blown away by some of the comments in this conversation. in particular by the recalcitrant Ambassador involved. I believe one of the most attended groups of posts that I published was my "beBee vs beBee" series, starting with "Affinity Networking Is On the Line" (July 2016) and finishing up with "BeBee At the Crossroads: Wrapping Up This Series" (April 2017). There is a complete list of links at the ending post: https://www.bebee.com/producer/@friedman-phil/bebee-at-the-crossroads-wrapping-up-this-series I find ironic is that most of my suggestions and cautions about direction, were met with hostility, as being too negative and disruptive -- including one of my earliest recommendation for providing the tools to hive owners to topic filter the content carried by their respective hives and to be able to exclude from their hives users who consistently mis-posted inappropriate content. Now, I am seeing the complaint that many of those suggestions, which were vociferously opposed, both publicly and privately by some users, have not been implemented. Seems petulant to me. To my mind, the only promise ever made by Javier \ud83d\udc1d beBee was to distribute 100% of an author's posts to 100% of that author's followers 100% of the time. Beyond that, the rest is entirely at their discretion as the owners of the platform. Cheers!

Phil Friedman

6 years ago #27

Wow, Jim Murray, I am blown away by some of the comments in this conversation. in particular by the recalcitrant Ambassador involved. I believe that one of the most attended groups of posts that I published on this platform was my "beBee vs beBee" series, starting with "Affinity Networking Is On the Line" (July 2016) and finishing up with "BeBee At the Crossroads: Wrapping Up This Series" (April 2017). There is a complete list of links at the ending post: https://www.bebee.com/producer/@friedman-phil/bebee-at-the-crossroads-wrapping-up-this-series To this have to be added, the numerous conversations you and I have posted about beBee and social media in our "He Said He Said" series. I find ironic is that most of my suggestions about direction and improvement, and my cautions, were met with hostility right from the beginning, as being too negative and disruptive and insufficiently positive -- including one of my earliest recommendation for developing and providing the tools for hive owners to topic filter the content carried by their respective hives and to be able to exclude from their hives users who consistently mis-posted inappropriate content. Now, I am seeing the complaint that manestio were nd vociferously opposed, both publicly and privately, have not been implemented. Thanks for bringing this to the forefront and clearing the air.

Milos Djukic

6 years ago #26

"The Fractal Revolution in Society, beBee affinity network is the first social media. Fractals forever." from "The Fractal Revolution in Society, Social Media First", LI long-form post, published on September 4, 2016 https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/fractal-revolution-society-social-media-first-milos-djukic
Mr Owen was removed as Ambassador. No more comment deserved from me. Thanks for your support Jim Murray.

Jerry Fletcher

6 years ago #24

Jim, May I quote you? I'm especially taken with: "The whole idea of resenting something that you signed up for with an allegedly clear head and some sort of understanding of how this shit all works is absurd." And I fully concur with: "...the owner shapes the vision of the company."

Jim Murray

6 years ago #23

Dean Owen. I'm sure that Javier and Juan are literally swamped with advice about how to move forward. Maybe I was in the agency business for too long but I have come to believe that the owner shapes the vision of the company. If you stick to that principle you should have a better than even chance of making it. But if you don't than the learning is from your own mistakes, and not the advice you go from somebody else. I'm doing whatever I have time for to help beBee succeed, as I'm sure we all are in our own ways. I don't know what happened between you and beBee management. To be honest I don't really give a damn. That's between you and them. BeBee is coming up on 3 years of age. It's still in its infancy. If you don't feel they are moving fast enough, that's your opinion. I don't have an opinion on that because it's not my company.

Jim Murray

6 years ago #22

#25
Thank Don \ud83d\udc1d Kerr. I do have my moments. They mostly senior moments, but I'll take what I can get.

Jim Murray

6 years ago #21

#15
I'm sure that Javier and Juan are literally swamped with advice about how to move forward. Maybe I was in the agency business for too long but I have come to believe that the owner shapes the vision of the company. If you stick to that principle you should have a better than even chance of making it. But if you don't than the learning is from your own mistakes, and not the advice you go from somebody else. I'm doing whatever I have time for to help beBee succeed, as I'm sure we all are in our own ways. I don't know what happened between you and beBee management. To be honest I don't really give a damn. That's between you and them. This post is just my point of view on it. which, all things considered is not too shabby. BeBee is coming up on 3 years of age. It's still in its infancy. If you don't feel they are moving fast enough, that's your opinion. I don't have an opinion on that because it's not my company.

Jim Murray

6 years ago #20

The digital marketing industry loves to tout the idea that video content is king. But for people who use social media for marketing, the best kind of content is that which is dictated by their strategy. Believe it or not, I have had great success in social media without ever producing a single video. Why? Because I'm talking to people who like to read. Duh. Everything about communication is contingent on who you are talking to and what you want to tell them. Same as it ever was. People who have no experience in the days before digital media should check out some of the fundamentals of communication before making generalizations about the best ways to reach people on line. Video content is not king. Strategically focused content is. Form follows function. Same as it ever was.
#16
Good Point Chas \u270c\ufe0f Wyatt.

don kerr

6 years ago #18

Jim Murray "The whole idea of resenting something that you signed up for with an allegedly clear head and some sort of understanding of how this shit all works is absurd." Nailed it in one there Jimbo!
#14
Jim you are as always very sharp on analysis, and it could almost fit in a 140 characters tweet. I do not watch a video if there is at least no Attractive relevant title, a decent concerning tagline and minimum required to take off...a meaningful description that will stick ( i hope for the best) to a possible quality content. Gee I am speaking like you now LOL ! Juan Imaz what is you input as a successful blogger ?
For those who have participate to innovation(s) before...You will all agree it doesn't happen overnight, takes ideas, brainstorming, MVPs, experts, budgets, beta testers...If beBee's team is planning to release something they'd like to keep as a market surprise, give them credit, encourage them, let them adjust what they want to adjust. Please...nothing last forever...only bad digital behaviors stored on Google Cache search engine. Show some respect.
#20
Please don't play on Words..beBee will succeed, because they take their time to deliver a well functioning and well featured product. WeChat is in no way an innovation, it is a simple IP protocol sessions platform, their success lay in free download, no subscriptions and a good multilingual versioning. i would also precise that Wechat isn't free at all at the end of the day, some have an unlimited bandwidth telco package with their carriers, those who have a limit will pay the carriers with extra costs for bytes consumption. Really...

Dean Owen

6 years ago #14

#19
If this is a fight, we are all on the same side. I want beBee to succeed.
For readers: A comment section is not made for personal fights or claiming false points. Discussing Jim's views is encouraged. We chat is a great topic to debate about. Let's do this.
#15
Dear Dean. please...we get your points...you are hurting you own personal brand by systematically stating false points in your comments. You had a crisis, you resigned, good we understand that. No one will ever hire you or keep you in their teams if they happen to find what you post here. You are embarrassing yourself by demonstrating your lack or respect, faithfulness and showing that you ignore what an affinity propagation algorithm is. I consider what you are constantly doing as cyber-harassment. You have to know your legal limits, which you seems to ignore despite Javier \ud83d\udc1d beBee patience. As a brand Ambassador i must report your behavior, as it is written in the mission statement. Bring your points, but stop bashing what you do not understand. That is illegal, whereever you sttay.

Dean Owen

6 years ago #11

#16
Hmmm, 1.1 billion users and growing at 35% a year. Daily active users (not monthly) 768 million. They are doing something right....

Dean Owen

6 years ago #10

If the ambassador you are referring to is me, the fact is that I resigned since I am worried that beBee has taken a wrong turn in which exponential growth is almost a impossibility. I have relayed my concerns to upper management in the hopes they listen as I truly want beBee to succeed. I am also disappointed that beBee consistently fails to deliver on promises and new functionality that were due "very soon" like stings, stickers, a block function, photo carousels, a new and powerful platform, and most importantly, a relevant feed, the promise of which is what drew me to the platform in the first place. I have seen little in the way of innovation this last year, but more shifts in tag lines, from affinity networking to personal branding platform to content distribution hub, but investors are not stupid and will not be fooled by words. True innovation is happening at lightning speed, and to witness it, I suggested they open a WeChat account, a social media platform that dwarfs all others in terms of daily active users and will soon be bigger than Facebook. beBee focuses on building functionality that will please the content provider, but they need to focus on the other side of the equation, your typical internet user. I am heavily invested in beBee and want it to succeed which is precisely why I am doing what I am doing. If a blogging platform is the best they can offer, it will always be niche and the competition fierce. They need to build a communication tool. WeChat is fast replacing phone calls, emails, banking, shopping, face to face interviews, the list is endless, and all on a super user friendly and simple interface. I mean no harm, and I certainly want my 120 or so articles to be viewable for years to come so that when my daughters feel so inclined to learn about their father, it will all be on beBee.

Jim Murray

6 years ago #9

#12
The digital marketing industry loves to tout the idea that video content is king. But for people who use social media for marketing, the best kind of content is that which is dictated by their strategy. Believe it or not, I have had great success in social media without ever producing a single video. Why? Because I'm talking to people who like to read. Duh. Everything about communication is contingent on who you are talking to and what you want to tell them. Same as it ever was. People who have no experience in the days before digital media should check out some of the fundamentals of communication before making generalizations about the best ways to reach people on line. Video content is not kind. Strategically focused content is. Form follows function. Same as it ever was.

John White, MBA

6 years ago #8

#12
Lyon Brave, we would all love to see a Live Buzz from you. Also, keep in mind that LinkedIn does not offer video to the average user. You must be one of their anointed Influencers to get video on LinkedIn.

Lyon Brave

6 years ago #7

It's perfect for a blog site, but video content is king. People have been saying if beBee does not perfect their video aspect they will not keep up with the times and in many ways, i think this advice is right. I heard them is something called beBee Tv.

David B. Grinberg

6 years ago #6

Thank you, Jim, more wise words from a wise man!

Paul Walters

6 years ago #5

Jim Murray Wise words as always

Phil Friedman

6 years ago #4

#7
You are correct, Chas, but there are giant crabs and other assorted mutant species that glow in the dark. Cheers!

Phil Friedman

6 years ago #3

As you know, Jim, in early 2014, when LI invited -- yes, invited -- the first 25,000 or so of us to "publish on LinkedIn" (their words), it promised to help us build and support our individual personal networks of readers. Then after many of us contributed millions of dollars worth of intellectual property, it reneged on its promise and started choking off our access (distribution) to our self-elected connections and followers. The situation on beBee is very different. The only promise made to writers by Javier \ud83d\udc1d beBee was that beBee would distribute 100% of an author's posts to 100% of his or her followers 100% of the time. And they have kept, and are continuing to keep that promise. The gods of social media know that I've been as critical of beBee as any other writer on the field, and even, for some still undefined reason, had my Brand Ambassador status revoked. But I don't see that there is any basis for accusing beBee of taking advantage of anyone. BeBee delivers on its promise re distribution. The rest is unrelated side issue which may or may not affect one's decision to stick with the platform -- something that is entirely voluntary, anyway. "Do not mistake precocious arrogance and ignorance for insight, nor the detritus of ego for the building blocks of fact." -- The Wisdom of Chung King, Second Scroll, circa 650 AD.

Jim Murray

6 years ago #2

Paul \. True dat.

Phil Friedman

6 years ago #1

#1
Paul \ > "There I would spend my days constructively surrounded by bikini-clad damsels whose sole function would be to keep my beverages full and cold." With all due respect, Paul, if you are serious about what you said in that quote, you need some major help. :-)

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