We’ve all heard the old axiom about the pen proving mightier than the sword. As it turns out, it’s true.
Power words prove the rule. A power word (also sometimes confused as a trigger word) is a word that evokes an emotion and a response. It instills in people the desire or need to respond to whatever you’re presenting them with.
That’s great for entrepreneurs and marketers. If you can use power words to boost your conversions and build your following, your business will become healthier as a result.
But what exactly constitutes a power word? And how can you use these words effectively?
We’ve come up with a list of 200 power words that boost conversions and help persuade customers. However, we’re not just going to throw a long list of words at you.
Instead, we’re going to tell you exactly how each set of words can contribute to conversion rate improvements. Whether they inspire greed or vanity or they’re best used in headlines or on landing pages, we’ll clue you in so you’re not left with guesswork.
What Are Power Words?
Think of power words as the wrecking balls of content marketing. They’re incredibly effective. Instead of destroying things, however, they build them up.
You’ve probably encountered lots of power words over the last week, whether you’ve heard them used in television commercials or seen them in Facebook Ads. Marketers use power words to convince people to respond immediately to a call to action.
Of course, any word could be considered powerful. So how do you identify (and use) them?
In most cases, power words have at least one of five qualities. They’re:
Consider these two words:
The first word is pretty mundane. It could refer to just about anything, from a four-car pileup on the highway to a concert with your favorite musical artist.
The second word, however, immediately evokes a response. You hear the word and you want to know what’s happened, who’s affected, and what can be done to stop the problem.
You don’t yet know what the scam involves or who it’s hurt, but you feel something just by looking at the word.
Now, let’s put it in context with a headline:
“Investment Scam Bilks Millions of Dollars From Retirees”
If your word fits one or more of the five qualities we mentioned above, you’re probably looking at a power word.
Of course, it’s not always that simple. You have to know where to put those words and how to use them to evoke as much emotion as possible. That’s what we’re going to cover in the rest of this article.
Why Should You Use Power Words in Your Marketing Strategy?
As consumers, we see lots of words every day. In fact, we’re inundated with words, whether we’re reading emails, a novel, or the closed captions on a YouTube video.
Because of this saturation, we need every word to count in our marketing copy. If it doesn’t elicit a reaction, it’s the wrong word.
There are lots of emotions, though. Good marketing copy should cause readers to feel specific emotions that cause them to make decisions immediately.
The best power words trigger emotions like curiosity, anxiety, excitement, and awe.
What Power Words Help Trigger Emotions for Improved Conversions?
Now that we’re clear on the definition of power words and why you should use them in your marketing copy, which words are most effective? We’re going to provide you with 200 examples in the context of specific emotions and situations.
The type of emotion you want to evoke will depend on the situation.
For instance, if you’re targeting consumers who are already brand-aware, you’ll want to engender excitement and urgency. You want them to buy right away.
Keep in mind that the term “power word” is sometimes a misnomer. Like “keyword,” it can refer to a phrase instead of a single word. For instance, a popular power word is “Right Away” because it implies urgency. Don’t be put off by the fact that it’s two words.
Capture Greed
Everyone is a little greedy, whether they want the last slice of apple pie or they desire a higher salary. Appealing to greed can help you become a better marketer.
Depending on the types of online courses and other digital products you sell, you might be able to capture greed among your audience and convince them to convert. It’s all about suggesting a bargain or helping people attain what they want.
Some of the most effective greed power words include:
1. Save Money
2. Bargain
3. Free
4. Earn More
5. Get More
6. Bonus
7. Profit
8. Lucrative
9. Cash
10. Inexpensive
11. Extra
12. Reasonable
13. Budget
14. Marked Down
15. Reduced
16. Sale
17. Slashed
You might notice that we’ve substituted a few complex words for their simpler alternatives. Inexpensive, for instance, is often more favorable than “cheap.” Why? Because “cheap” implies poor quality.
Think about how your power words will impact people in different ways before you use them.
Inspire Curiosity
Did you ever read the Curious George books when you were a kid. If so, you learned that curiosity is a virtue. We all have it – and we all want to satisfy it.
Think about curiosity for a moment. It’s what inspired you to start your business, to learn more about your existing skill set, and to expand your education. It might be the reason you’re reading this article right now.
When we hear or read something intriguing, we’re hard-wired to check it out. We want to know more.
You can use that instinct to boost your conversions through power words. Our favorite curiosity power words include:
18. Secret
19. Unveil
20. Discover
21. Learn
22. Harness
23. Uncover
24. Join
25. Confidential
26. Hidden
27. Insider
28. Private
29. Secluded
30. Covert
31. Under-the-Radar
32. Clandestine
33. Exclusive
34. Distinct
Evoke Laziness
Sometimes, it’s okay to be lazy. In fact, laziness can lead us to find better ways to accomplish specific goals.
There are lots of power words for laziness, including:
35. Quickly
36. Shortcut
37. Guilt-Free
38. Hack
39. Easily
40. Without [Negative Consequence, such as “Effort, Time, or Pain]
41. Instantly
42. Reduced
43. Save Time
44. Results
45. Fast
46. Rapid
47. Swift
48. Pronto
49. Snap
50. Accelerated
The goal here is to show people that they can get something done faster and easier without sacrificing the end result. If you can hit a pain point or overcome an objection in the process, you’re ahead of the game.
Feed Consumers’ Lust
We often think of lust in the context of romantic love, but Merriam-Webster defines lust as “an intense longing.” That could be for anything that satisfies a craving or desire.
With that said, sex does sell. Many people make purchasing decisions because a beautiful woman or handsome man was used in the television commercial for the product.
Additionally, a product that promises to improve one’s desirability can sell quickly. You just have to find the right power words to get your point across.
For instance, maybe you create online courses for men who want to improve their dating etiquette. You could use lust power words to convince them you have the answers to their questions.
A few of the best lust power words include:
51. Craving
52. Desire
53. Sinful
54. Sexy
55. Covet
56. Yearn
57. Forbidden
58. Sensual
59. Wanton
60. Ache
You can use these power words together or by themselves to help boost your conversions and instantly improve your copywriting.
Appeal to Vanity
No matter how humble we feel, we usually have at least one or two sore spots when it comes to vanity. Whether it’s losing weight, getting fitter, improving one’s hair color, dressing better, or otherwise improving one’s physical appearance, we all have the desire to look nicer.
Many prosperous marketers have used power words related to vanity to help sell more products – and not just in the beauty and fitness industries. No matter your Knowledge Commerce product, if you can appeal to your target customers’ vanity, you might sell more products.
For instance, a photographer might want tips on how to take more appealing self portraits. The same goes for an artist.
On the other hand, a public speaker might want to look better for those occasions when he or she steps in front of an audience. It’s a natural inclination.
Following are some of the best power words for appealing to vanity:
61. Beautiful
62. Attractive
63. Legendary
64. Cute
65. Youthful
66. Aglow
67. Alluring
68. Graceful
69. Dazzling
70. Exquisite
71. Refined
72. Fair
73. Enticing
74. :Lovely
75. Handsome
Make People Feel Powerful
When you make someone else feel powerful, you gain their trust. It’s a little-known fact in marketing that helping people feel powerful is more effective than exerting power over others.
In other words, you want to appeal to your target customer’s sense of power and self-possession. People who feel weak often don’t buy products because they’re insecure and vulnerable.
Power words that make other people feel powerful include the following:
76. Forceful
77. Elevated
78. Supreme
79. Paramount
80. Potent
81. Mighty
82. Able
83. Command
84. Influence
85. Control
86. Prevail
87. Accomplished
88. Conquer
89. Clever
90. Omnipotent
91. Potential
92. Ascend
93. Prestige
94. Upper Hand
Simplify Consumers’ Lives
We all want to find a simpler way to accomplish the goals we set and get what we want. It’s not always possible, but we’re on the lookout for a solution.
When you imply or suggest that your product offers an easier, simpler alternative to the generally accepted method of achieving a goal, more people will buy from you. That’s why it pays to use power words that suggest you can simplify consumers’ lives.
Some of the best power words that suggest simplicity include:
95. Simple
96. One-Time
97. Never
98. Ease
99. Accomplish
100. Reduce
101. Cut Down
102. Clarify
103. Save Time
104. Speedy
105. No-Frills
106. Shorten
107. Decipher
108. Decode
109. Unravel
110. Beat
111. Break Down
112. Free Up
113. Relieve
114. Assist
115. Aid
116. Eliminate
117. Control
118. Expedite
Exude Authority
While you don’t want to make your audience feel inferior, you do want to gain their respect for your company and products. That’s why it’s essential to exude authority when you prepare marketing materials.
Authority often comes from outside sources, so you can use power words when referencing third-party statements. For instance, if an expert has given you a testimonial, you might use a power word to introduce it.
Similarly, you can use your own data or someone else’s to prove that something is important enough for your audience to stop and pay attention. Adding a power word gives the data or statistic more gravitas, which instantly helps you gain authority.
If you want your audience to see your business as authoritative, use power words like these:
119. Dominate
120. Unparalleled
121. Ideal
122. Proven
123. Scientifically Shown
124. Data
125. Percent
126. Agree
127. No Doubt
128. Foolproof
129. Guarantee
130. Promise
131. Accurate
132. Definitive
133. True
134. Legit
135. Confirmed
136. Actionable
137. Unquestionable
138. Actual
139. Definite
140. Flawless
Suggest Safety
Everyone wants to feel safe, whether we’re tucked in our beds at night or trying out a new sport. When you use power words related to safety, you make your prospects feel more secure dealing with your business.
Most importantly, you don’t want your prospects to think they’re taking a risk by buying from you or by testing out your strategies and tips. They should feel as though you’re protecting them from harm by providing safe, actionable information.
Try these power words related to safety:
141. Safe
142. Secure
143. Sound
144. Free of Danger
145. Preserve
146. Guard
147. Protect
148. Healthy
148. Smart
150. Cautious
151. No Risk
152. Absolute
153. Sure Thing
154. Unmistakable
155. Genuine
156. Clear
157. Trusted
158. Freedom
159. Haven
160. Retreat
161. Protection
Build Trust
It might sound the same as safety and authority, but trust is actually an entirely separate concept. You build trust with your prospects and customers over time, so trust-related power words should remain consistent across your marketing copy as well as your informational products.
The idea is to suggest that other people can rely on you over and over again to deliver what you promise.
Try these power words related to trust:
162. Complete
163. Ultimate
164. Best
165. Super
166. Truly
167. Results
168. Should
169. Superior
170. Worthwhile
171. Advantage
172. Delightful
174. Effective
174. Supported
Ignite Anger
Anger and rage can ignite passion and fuel action. You might already know this if you’ve ever gotten angry and taken immediate action, whether you yelled at someone or told other people about the experience.
Similarly, if they know that they’ve been duped, they’ll want to remedy the problem. When you provide the solution, you build trust (as noted above).
You can help ignite anger in a safe way using these power words:
175. Rebel
176. Despicable
177. Spiteful
178. Agonizing
179. Hate or Hated
180. Furious
181. Deplorable
182. Untrustworthy
183. Steal
184. Scam
185. Jealous
186. Desperate
187. Vengeful
Engender Fear
You might think that engendering fear in your audience would be a bad thing. After all, why would you want to scare people?
The reality, though, is that there are different levels of fear. You don’t want your prospects to fear for their lives, but a little anxiety can go a long way to boosting your conversion rates.
For instance, maybe you create online courses about photography. Your potential customers are worried that their customers or family members won’t like their images.
You can hit that pain point using fear-based power words. Let them know that you recognize their anxiety, but that you also have a solution.
Try these fear-related power words in your marketing copy:
188. Danger
189. Take Advantage
190. Miss Out
191. Lost Opportunity
192. Embarrassing
193. Mistake
194. Panic
195. Threat
196. Abuse
197. Disappointment
198. Cowardly
199. Distressed
200. Inferior
Power Words Examples
Now that we’ve given you 200 power words to chew on, let’s take a look at a few examples. How can you use these words to boost conversions?
For the purposes of this article, we’ll use a specific example. Let’s say that you create online courses on public speaking. Following are a few ways in which you might use power words for headlines, product names, landing pages, and calls to action.
Power Words in Headlines
When it comes to headlines, you want to grab your prospect’s attention fast. The easiest way to do this is by presenting the promise right up front.
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Power Words in Product Names
When naming a Knowledge Commerce product, use power words to suggest what your product will deliver once the customer converts. How will you help improve or accentuate the customer’s life?
Power words help elevate a boring product name to one that evokes emotion and demands attention.
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Power Words on Landing Pages
Whether you use power words on your landing page headlines, body copy, or bullet points, you can benefit. Landing pages are designed to be conversion machines, so you don’t want to give up the opportunity to make a sale or gain a new email subscriber.
Don’t be afraid to A/B test your choices. Landing pages often don’t work as well as you’d hoped on the first try. Mix them up and compare results so you’ll know what words work and which don’t.
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Power Words on Calls to Action
Remember that a CTA has fewer words than a headline or other similar piece of copy. You can make it longer if necessary, but shortening it with snappy power words can make your job much easier. Additionally, you can add commas between power words to pack and even stronger punch.
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Conclusion
Using power words isn’t just some psychological hack. It’s a proven way to boost conversions on your Knowledge Commerce products.
To help you out, we’ve given you 200 power words that you can use in your headlines, product names, landing pages,and calls to action right now. Mix and match to your heart’s content.
Keep in mind that certain power words evoke specific emotions. We’ve categorized our words into several different areas, including curiosity, laziness, vanity, powerfulness, authority, simplicity, safety, trust, anger, fear, lust, and greed. Sometimes, these emotions overlap.
Start by reviewing the power words we’ve listed. Which ones do you think would appeal to your target audience?
You can experiment and A/B test your choices to figure out what works best with the people who buy your products. Let us know how it goes!
What are your favorite power words for boosting conversions?
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