Writing content takes some skill. If you’re used to writing for other media besides the web, you might have to learn what goes and what doesn’t when it comes to content writing. Here are five things you don’t want to do when writing content.

Don’t: Rush your headline

You might not think that half a dozen words could be so important, but when they are your headline and the first thing readers will see, they matter a lot. Your headline will impact whether your reader will move on to something else or see what you have to offer. Make sure your headline tells your reader what to expect and do it in an exciting way. Instead of “Lose Weight in 5 Steps” try something more along the lines of “5 Easy Ways To Drop 10 Pounds.” If your headline is bland, it will make your audience think your content is as well.

Don’t: Go off on tangents

It’s normal to mention different related things in your content, but you don’t want to explain them in great detail and go off-topic from your original subject. If you do mention something, include a link to more information in case your readers want to know more about it. Remain as focussed as possible on the topic you mention in the headline.

Don’t: Write for length

Your goal when writing content shouldn’t be to write as many words as possible. Your goal should be to get the information to your readers. It’s important to remember that people are busy and don’t always have time to read long pieces, especially if they’re on the go. They would rather read a 600-word piece than one that runs 1,200 words. Learning to write tight is a skill that is will benefit you as a content writer. Explain things in as few sentences as possible and eliminate any necessary words.

Don’t: Focus on yourself

When writing content, you want to focus on your reader more than yourself. If you’re writing “we” or “us” more than you’re writing “you,” you are focusing on yourself too much. Even if you have something you want to sell, you should still be attempting to help your reader whether they buy it or not. Don’t spend your entire piece explaining why they need to buy from you. Offer them genuine tips that will help with their problem. This will endear you to your reader. They will feel you care more about them (or at least as much) than you do about yourself.

Don’t: Be boring

There is so much content online you have to be competitive. You have to stand out from the rest. You want to be creative and offer ideas that aren’t offered by everyone. If you’re the same as everyone else, your content probably won’t get much attention. If you spend time creating more original content, you’ll likely attract more readers. People are always looking for fresh ideas. You can also spice up your content by presenting them in a fun way such as numbered or do/don’t lists.

When writing content, you want to stand out as much as possible from the rest of the content online.