1. Try to be original. No one cares if you do stuff the same way the rest of us do. If you haven’t got something new to say, don’t bother.

2. Unless it’s about opinions, keep them to yourself unless you’re an expert on the subject. You have a right to your opinions, but that doesn’t necessarily mean the rest of us care. If it’s an opinion, say so.

3. Check your facts. Check them again. Cite sources for things that other folks might want to check, or to read more about.

4. If you really must create one of the things, if your muse is just pounding on the back of your eyeballs wanting to release some wisdom, at least think about calling it something besides “Top Five (blah, blah).” It’s so last century’s David Letterman, but unfunny.

5. Remember, you don’t have to list five things — really. If you run out of things to say, stop at four, or two, or….