.png)
.png)
Oh, we do love to tweet at Taxation. This month marks the second anniversary of our glorious conversion to Twitter, that most simple and elegant of social-media websites.
The limit of 140 characters per message (including spaces and URLs) appeals to a journalistic passion for brevity and wit. The constant influx of information and inspiration outshines rolling TV news with its adherence to strict editorial agendas and wearying repetition.
By following Taxation on Twitter, you’ll be kept informed of our latest news, features, reviews, tax cases, reader offers and more.
You may find that we tweet some information more than once. This isn’t an error – or, indeed a ploy to annoy followers – but a deliberate, benign attempt to get through to as many web users as possible.
It’s a minor PR strategy, but one that is widely used. Different people check their Twitter accounts at different times of the day, and they tend to scan through their plethora of messages.
There’s a likelihood, then, that followers won’t spot our tweet at first posting because it was hours ago or it didn’t stand out among others. It’s got more of a chance, mathematically speaking, of catching eyes on its second or third appearance. (We don’t retweet more times than that. Usually.)
As a Taxation follower, you’ll also notice that each of our tweets features the phrase #TaxationUK. For readers who are unfamiliar with Twitter, this is called a hash tag. Clicking on it will take you to a landing page of tweets containing the same annotation.
At the time of writing, Taxation is in full control of #TaxationUK: our tagged tweets predominate – but we invite Twitter-using tax professionals to employ the tag. If we all get to it, we could cause the phrase to trend. That is, British taxes could become one of the site’s most discussed topics of the day.
Naturally, we ask that you’re appropriate in your use of #TaxationUK. Please don’t bother with the tag if you’re, say, letting the twitterverse know you’ve just had your hair cut.
On a similar subject, some web commentators believe Twitter users should combine their personal and professional messages in one account (to offer followers a rounded and ‘human’ view of the tweeter).
Others are of the opinion that work and private time shouldn’t mix in social media. Taxation falls into the latter camp, which is why our tweets are strictly relevant.
That’s not to say one should be humourless or aloof when using Twitter. We like tax jokes and friendly exchanges with other users, which are are key – as you'll learn from Like a bird, Mark Lee’s tweeting guide for agents.
Join the fun
Twitter is a most ubiquitous site. Try avoiding any mention of it while working in the media for a day: you’ll have more luck licking your own elbows.
But it’s not the only way with which Taxation engages its web audience. Interaction with users has been a recurring theme in my articles of the past, being that it’s one of the main facets of my role as online editor.
I don’t expect to strike up personal digital relationships with all of you. I don’t want that many Facebook friends. (Imagine how many Bejewelled Blitz challenges I’d have to accept.)
I do, however, hope you’ll leave comments on Taxation.co.uk (you’ll need to login first; see below), start discussions on our LinkedIn group, UK Tax Professionals, and take part in this site’s weekly polls. See you online!
|
If you are a subscriber to Taxation magazine, you are entitled to full access to Taxation.co.uk – and you will have login details for the site. If you have misplaced them, email us here. Include in your message your full name, postal address, and subscription number if you have it handy. You will receive a reminder of your username and password within 24 hours. |
