People surf the Internet for all kinds of things. Think about yourself for a minute, why do you connect?

Watch the latest gossip from the stars, the latest football results, find an answer to a question, browse adult content, come on, some of you do!

Whatever the reason, it’s probably related to solving a particular problem or for pure entertainment.

I have a problem at home as there is only one laptop, one iPad and one iPhone with internet access, but four of us in the family crave content continuously!

Have you noticed how much more time we spend online instead of just watching TV?

So the family problem is that 4 doesn’t fit into 3 and there’s often fights and fights after tea to get to the laptop or iPad first to browse well anything really it’s just having that power in your hands!

Being an online marketer, I understand and appreciate the importance of good quality and engaging content to keep people entertained and it is one of the best ways to reach your target market at little to no cost.

Many of the so-called internet “gurus” say that content marketing is the next buzzword and that there are many products being compiled as we speak to help people collect content to help promote themselves or their business.

So I recently came across a new report and survey of consumers, Yep, REAL people! on what they really like to read and find the most entertaining and engaging.

Sit back and think about it for a second, this is what people REALLY WANT to see and read, valuable stuff I’d say!

After studying this report, I converted it from an easy to understand format into a good old “Top 10” format as follows:

1. Tell a story– People LOVE stories, it comes from childhood and can take people on a journey that you control

2. Inspired– Content that can inspire or motivate us to do something or give us hope

3. Challenge our assumptions– Something that defies our normal vision and is controversial

4. Make us laugh or smile– We like to feel good, human biology says that this leads us to the best “state”

5. Confirm our assumptions– Find comfort in reaffirming our beliefs or points of view

6. Unexpected twists– Think of a good murder mystery book, what makes you keep reading? the possibility of the unexpected, we like to be surprised

7.Secrets– Content that reveals something you really want to know but has been kept quiet about

8. Overcoming adversity– Those moments when David defeats Goliath.

9. Personal value– Content that reminds us that, as human beings, we really matter

10. Building dreams– Content that gives us hope and that dreams can come true

If you think about it, the above is what we as individuals like to see on a personal level and a lot of it is based on human emotion.

None of the above screams “come and buy my beautiful product” if you are selling one, but it engages people and allows us to use our imaginations and this is where the connection lies.

We are unique in the animal kingdom in that we are bundles of emotion. It only takes one song or one piece of written poetry that can make us cry!

You take advantage of our deep routed “states” if you can master this in your readers/prospects that you have reached GOLD.

Many people tell me that they can’t do any of the above because it’s too hard.

What I always say is to think of personal experiences and write them down in a format that you would explain to your best friend in the pub. That way, the emotion is more likely to surface and people are more likely to relate to you.

In the wonderful modern world of the Internet, it can even do this for you.

If you have an idea that builds on one of the ten above, go to sites like eLance and there are literally hundreds of people who will be happy to help if you give them an idea.

Consider the ten areas above, this is fresh new research that is like gold dust. Just give people what they want, don’t guess!

That’s from me, I’m going to snatch the iPad from my nine year old who I’m sure is watching inappropriate videos on YouTube, now how do I set that parental control back up?