I hope you enjoy this blog post. If you want Hello Bar to grow your leads, click here.
Author:
Michael Wicker
Published
July 5, 2024
I hope you enjoy this blog post. If you want Hello Bar to grow your leads, click here.
Author:
Michael Wicker
Published
July 5, 2024
Why would you need a power words list? Well, words have the power to make a huge impact on your marketing efforts.
Ever scroll through social media and suddenly an ad catches your eye, and you have to know more? That’s because certain power words unlock people’s attention and make them want your product.
Did you know that changing just a single word in your copy can boost conversions by up to 139%? That’s right! Whether you’re crafting call-to-action phrases, email subject lines, or social media posts, the right words can make all the difference.
Here’s the thing: a lot of marketers need to pay more attention to the power of words. They focus on fancy graphics or crazy deals, but forget the most important part of copywriting – what they actually say. Using the right words can grab attention, spark emotions, and drive action.
To ensure they do, we’ve put together this extensive 650+ power words list in 21 categories. These words will turn website visitors into raving fans and you’ll have them saying “Yes, please!” in no time.
Power words are words that evoke a psychological or emotional response. They inspire your audience, catch readers’ attention, or convey energy or motion — or all of the above. They are special powerful words that, when used in the appropriate context, elevate your marketing campaign to another level.
That sounds a little overblown, doesn’t it? But it’s true.
Marketers have experimented with power words for decades, finding new ways to use them for maximum conversion rates. We can benefit from their research today by testing power words on our calls to action, headlines, sales pages, landing pages, and more.
Just remember that power words — also called strong words — only work when they’re used in the right context.
The latest research suggests that people don’t always know why they make specific choices. They have a preference, but they can’t put it into words.
Well, a power words list can help.
You might have experienced this yourself. A friend asks you to taste one glass of wine and then the other. She asks which one you prefer.
You point to the second glass. She asks why.
You stare at her blankly. You know you liked the second wine, but you can’t articulate the reason behind your preference.
Even more amazingly, you might make a different choice on a different date. Perhaps your palate has changed, or maybe you’ve just eaten a different appetizer. Marketing is just as much art as science, and power words can help tip the scale by appealing to subconscious choice.
Your target customer won’t read one of your calls to action and think, “Hey, that’s a great use of a power word!” But subconsciously, they might decide to convert based on that word.
Having a power words list handy sure sounds like a good thing now, right?
Many power phrases are used because of their specificity. Instead of saying that something is “great,” for instance, you could supplement a power word that communicates something more precise to the reader.
“Great” could mean anything. Is it beautiful? Delicious? Elite? Healthy? Life-changing?
You get the picture.
Similarly, incorporate power words to evoke a certain emotional response from your readers. You want them to have a visceral response to your copywriting.
Think about television, books, and movies. Have you ever encountered a story that fell emotionally flat? There was conflict, tension, and good characterization, but you just didn’t feel anything.
Contrast that with a story that makes you cry. Big difference, right?
You can also use power words to trigger curiosity. If people want to know more, they’ll click. That’s a good rule of thumb to follow in all marketing content.
It’s kind of like the room in an old house that’s locked up tight. You have to know what’s behind that door. Sating curiosity is one of the most primal psychological impulses among human beings.
Power words are great for creating a sense of urgency to compel readers to act quickly. You can use words like “limited,” “now,” and “hurry” to make customers feel like they need to take immediate action or risk missing out.
Imagine seeing a pop-up that says, “Only a few left – grab yours now!” versus one that just says, “Available.” The first one makes you want to act immediately lest you miss out.
Do you know that 88% of customers say trust is important before buying from you?
Well, one way to make your audience feel more secure about your offerings is by using power words that convey trust and reliability. Sure, you must wow them by offering quality products and services; that’s a no-brainer.
However, words like “guaranteed,” “proven,” and “certified” can reassure customers that they are making a wise and safe choice.
Headline writing is one of the most important marketing techniques to master. Furthermore, inserting examples from this power words list into your headlines and subheadlines can make even a boring example much more effective.
For instance, let’s say you’re creating a top bar for your website. You want people to sign up for a free account.
Pretty good, right? But let’s figure out why.
You could write that headline completely differently. It might look like this:
Tell your customers about a sale or discount with a Hello Bar Like This. Get Your Account Today.
There’s nothing wrong with that headline, per se, but the absence of power words makes it a little underwhelming.
The actual headline uses words like “announce” instead of “tell” and “grab” instead of “get.” It also uses the amazing power word “free.”
If you want your headlines to sing, follow these simple rules:
Pop-ups and landing pages are powerful marketing assets in their own right, but consumers are used to seeing them by now. You need to add that extra “wow” factor if you want higher conversion rates. Using a power words list will help in both cases.
A pop up is any window or overlay that appears in front of a specific website and invites user interaction. A slider pop up appears to slide in from the top, bottom, right, or left of the screen, while an exit popup appears when a user tries to leave the website.
You might use an exit intent popup, for instance, to capture email addresses or announce a short-term sale. Slider pop ups are ideal for making users aware of flash sales and free shipping deals.
Regardless pop-ups should use power words if you want to convert visitors. Let’s look at two examples to see how they work.
Here’s the first exit pop up:
Here, we have a pretty typical exit intent. It’s not very exciting, though. Do you feel compelled to click?
We don’t.
Now, let’s look at a different variation on the same exit intent.
We’ve jazzed it up a little, right? It’s far more intriguing thanks to a few well-placed power words.
You’ll have to read the rest of the article to pinpoint them.
The idea behind a landing page or pop up is to get your reader’s attention immediately. That means conveying exclusivity or authority, building excitement or trust, and communicating prestige.
In other words, you want people to immediately react to the offer you’re giving and feel impelled to act.
Power words don’t work in all situations and at all times. That’s where A/B testing comes in. By testing different versions of your pop-ups, you can see which power words and phrases work best.
Sometimes, one word can make a big difference in getting people to take action. A/B testing lets you try out different power words to find out which ones get the most clicks and conversion rates. It’s like a game where you find the winning combination.
Use Hello Bar to automatically test different versions of your headlines, body copy, and calls to action. Rather than guessing, we’ll let you know which one “won” and works best for your pop-ups and audience!
The same rules apply to call-to-action phrases and buttons when it comes to our power words list. Here, though, you want people to click immediately.
Use mind-blowing power words that evoke excitement, simplicity, trust, scarcity, and prestige. Focus your readers on the specific benefit using a power word that makes the person want to achieve something immediately.
By adding the power word ‘Today’ in this CTA, goodFood creates a sense of urgency, convincing the reader to get the product lest they miss out.
Image via goodFood
A significant part of email copywriting is getting as many of your subscribers to open that email as possible. They need to feel like there’s a secret to learn, hence including power words that inspire curiosity in the best email subject lines.
Now, the average open rate for business emails is 34.2% with a 2.66% average click-through rate. Among other strategies, you can use a power words list to boost this rate.
You can use a few powerful words in email subject lines to make people excited, appeal to their desires, or promise to help them feel complete. If appropriate, don’t hesitate to throw in a dash of humor.
Naming a product is always a lengthy process. You need just the right name to convey what the product does and to exercise creativity. Here, you incorporate descriptive words that highlight unique features or benefits, ensuring your product stands out in a crowded market.
You can go a step further and use power words such as “revolutionary,” “premium,” “limited edition,” and “irresistible.” These can make your product seem more attractive and get people to notice it immediately.
Also use power words that create excitement, trust, prestige, scarcity, and lust based on what your product does and your target audience.
Rather than any generic name, O.P.I has used a power word here. Using ‘Infinite’ to describe this product shows its long-lasting or durable quality.
Image via O.P.I
Sales pages are yet another area in which power words can prove extremely effective.
Anger and rage can be channeled positively into more sales. When you ignite anger, you inspire people to take action.
For instance, let’s say that you’re selling an online course on marketing techniques. You could start your sales page with a headline like this:
That headline is bound to induce anger. People will want to rebut your claim that their old-school practices are lame.
But they’ll also read on because with anger comes curiosity. Your reader thinks, “Hey, that’s not fair! But what if he knows something I don’t?”
Therein lies your advantage.
These types of power words, which I’ll explain in more detail later, can also work well on sales pages. Trust power words help customers feel more comfortable in your hands, while sloth power words communicate that you don’t want to waste your prospects’ time.
Think about what makes you feel safe when shopping online. These words can make a big difference!
If your product or service can simplify the user’s life, use that. The same goes for saving money. Greed can go a long way.
You wanted an example of a subheadline with lots of power words, right. You got it. ↑↑↑
Hello Bar allows you to not only use power words to increase conversions, but also to test them against one another. You never know whether users will respond better to one word over another, even if they’re closely related, so you need a comprehensive marketing tool to help you decide.
Best of all, you can create your free account today. Start pushing top bars, sliders, and exit popups live today so you can capture more information from your visitors, advertise special products, and let customers know about special discounts.
Now, we come to the list of all lists, the power words you’ve been waiting for. I’ve categorized them based on the type of emotion they evoke, so you might see some words listed twice. They simply fall into two or more categories.
Keep in mind that this list is not exhaustive. If you find a power word on this list that you love, but you think there might be something better, pull out your handy-dandy thesaurus. There’s no need to limit your creativity!
You don’t want your prospective customers to feel angry or afraid. Or do you?
Even negative emotions can increase conversions. When people are scared, they want solutions to drive the fear away. When they’re angry, they want to settle themselves down.
Following are some of the best power words to evoke fear and anger among your audience.
That’s a lot, right? Fear and anger are among the most common emotions. They’re also universal. When we get angry or afraid, we behave in predictable ways, so you can use that knowledge in your content marketing.
Nobody trusts your business right off the bat. It’s like putting two strangers into a room and asking them to take bullets for each other. Doesn’t happen.
You build trust over time, but you can use power words to speed up the process. Trust signals, such as social proof, can add even more credibility to your marketing messages.
Following are some of the best trust words to use:
Have you ever heard the phrase “buttering someone up”? That’s exactly what you’re doing with these power words. You’re making your audience feel beautiful, prestigious, adored, lusted after, and powerful. Sometimes, all it takes is one word.
Just use a few power words in this category so as not to overdo or come across as smarmy in your marketing messages. Subtle cues often work best for this type of audience.
Notice that these words are all positive. They’re feel-good words that you hear in television commercials every day. They’re also all over the internet, so feel free to seek out synonyms to widen your power word vocabulary.
Sloth — a.k.a. Laziness — isn’t a bad thing. We all have priorities in life. You might be super efficient and productive when it comes to your business, but you leave dirty clothes all over your bedroom floor and you don’t do the dishes until you run out.
We all have areas in our lives in which we tend to procrastinate. If your product appeals to that demographic, you’ll want to use words that evoke sloth and simplicity. In other words, “Check out this product/service. You won’t have to worry about diminished productivity again.”
You can also use these words to enchant people who don’t want a difficult-to-use product or service. Maybe they’re not tech-savvy, for instance, or perhaps they don’t have time to learn a complex system.
Here are a few of the best choices.
Don’t be afraid to combine words in creative ways. Notice the power word “stupid-simple.” It sounds funny to the ear, but it’s nonetheless evocative. People will know what it means even if they’ve never encountered those two words together before.
You know what gravity is, right? Gravity power words create an inexorable pull from your audience to your product or service.
The goal here is to make your offer so appealing that people gravitate toward it. They might not know why, but they have to have it.
Everyone Active used the word “ultimate” in the blog headline to make it sound like this guide is the best and most complete.
Image via Everyone Active
Here are a few gravity power words to try out.
Just remember: overusing these power words can dilute their…well, power. If you’re constantly raving about your product using hyperbolic phrasing, your audience will tune you out.
This is the fun section. Generating curiosity and causing your audience to laugh can make a huge difference in your conversion rates. You want people to stop and either smile or quirk and eyebrow.
Try some of these power words on for size.
People want what they think they can’t have. They’re also often mired in scarcity — they constantly think they don’t have enough.
You can play on those insecurities with scarcity and greed power words to show them that they can have what they want at a reasonable price.
Plug a few of these power words into your marketing copy when you want to tap into greed and scarcity, just like World Walks has done in this title.
Image via World Walks
Some more scarcity and greed power words include:
Pumping people up is a great way to boost conversions. You want to get them excited and motivated, kind of like a rock star does just before a concert.
IMDB used the word “Inspirational” to grab your attention. It makes you think these movies will pump you up and maybe even change your life.
Image via IMDB
Again, don’t go overboard. You don’t want to string together six power words — the effects don’t multiply. Consider the best of these power words for your next marketing campaign.
Comfort and relief power words provide comfort, relief, and solutions to problems or concerns. They are perfect for making your audience feel at ease and confident in their decisions.
For instance, Mollie uses the word ‘effortless’ to induce comfort and ease.
Image via Mollie
Other power words include:
Success and achievement power words inspire feelings of accomplishment and success. These words are perfect for motivating people to strive for their goals.
It’s like having a cheering squad of words!
Victorious Living uses the power word ‘Victorious’ to evoke feelings of triumph, success, and empowerment. It shows how to achieve victory in life.
Image via Victorious Living
Some effective power words to use are:
Everybody loves adventure and discovering new things. Adding power words to your messaging evokes a sense of adventure, exploration, and discovery, appealing to the intense desire for new experiences.
This sense of adventure can captivate your audience and motivate them to take the plunge. Just the word ‘adventures’ on this Royal Caribbean Star of the Seas page does wonders to convince travelers to sign up.
Image via Royal Caribbean
Some favorite power words include:
Often, social proof and popularity come from star ratings, reviews, real-time stats, and customer testimonials. But what if you can use powerful words to build trust and show popularity by leveraging the influence of others?
Yeah, that’s right!
When people see words like “best-selling” or “trending,” they feel reassured that others have had a positive experience with the product. One example is the ‘best sellers’ power word in this New York Times library that evokes a sense of popularity, credibility, and high quality.
Image via The New York Times
You can use powerful words such as:
Savings and value words show that something is a good deal and worth the money. These power words work by getting the attention of people who, while they’re willing to spend, want to save money.
Words like “free” and “save” are powerful motivators, making people feel like they are getting great deals.
Etsy decided to use the words ‘savings’ and ‘save’ to target customers planning on shopping for back-to-school products and saving more money.
Image via Etsy
Some power words for your target audience include:
And of course, some readers are always looking for the newest and coolest things. That’s where innovation and modernity power words come in handy.
These words show that something is new and uses the latest technology. They are perfect for highlighting the advanced features and benefits of your product.
An example is how MasterCard uses the word “latest” in this SERP title. It shows that whatever content and technology they’re talking about is the most up-to-date and cutting-edge.
Image via Google
Use power words like:
Insight and knowledge power words make your product sound like it holds the key to unlocking some hidden knowledge or a secret shortcut. They appeal to people’s intense desire to learn and discover new things.
Imagine you’re hanging out with a friend, and they tell you about this website that taught them a crazy cool way to cook the perfect steak. You’d be intrigued, right?
Well, that’s the kind of vibe these words create!
Take a look at how EatingWell advertises their healthy recipes. They show that while their recipes are flavor-packed, they’re are also backed by science.
Image via EatingWell
This power words list includes:
You’ve got the product knowledge and the persuasive pitch down. But how do you make your audience feel like they’re getting something truly special?
That’s where exclusivity and prestige power words come in! These words are like velvet ropes at a fancy club – they create a sense of “not everyone gets in” and make your product feel oh-so desirable.
Take a look at how Amazon uses a set of exclusivity power words to showcase the benefits an Amazon Prime member will enjoy.
Image via Amazon
Some exclusivity and prestige power words list to consider:
Ever feel like you could conquer anything if you just had the right tools? That’s the power of empowerment and strength power words! These words light a fire under your audience, making them feel capable, confident, and ready to take on the world.
Well, maybe not a literal fire!
Guy Finley uses the power word “unstoppable” in the title to make the book sound exciting and powerful. It makes you think you’ll become unstoppable like the Hulk!
Image via Guy Finley
Use words like:
Ever heard a song that just makes you want to dance? That’s the kind of vibe you can create with fun and enjoyment power words!
These words make your product sound so exciting and enjoyable, people can practically taste the good times. Use them to create a positive and engaging atmosphere, drawing people in and making them eager to participate.
The way Exploring describes these rides; “thrilling out-of-this-world” just makes you want to have a go at it, scared or not!
Image via Exploring
These words can turn your product into the next must-have party favor. Examples include:
Transformation and change power words speak to that desire for growth and improvement. They appeal to people who are looking to make positive changes in their lives or start fresh.
Maybe one of your readers is stuck in a rut and really wants to transform. Transformation and power words show the potential for big changes and improvements.
Tony Robbins uses such power words. They make what Tony offers more attractive to people who want to make changes and start fresh.
Image via Tony Robbins
Use words like:
You’ve probably seen a crazy good deal online and scrambled to grab it before it’s gone, right? That’s the power of urgency and importance power words.
These words create a sense of “act now or you’ll regret it later,” making your audience feel like they need your product as soon as possible. They make people feel that something needs their immediate attention or is super important.
Action Webshop used the words “limited-time deals” on their sales page to make people feel like they need to buy quickly before the deals are gone.
Image via Action Webshop
These words include:
As a marketer or business owner, you want to show that your offerings are the best in town, right? That’s where bragging and boasting power words come in!
These words make your offerings sound so impressive and your confidence in them is on another level. The kind of offerings that people will be practically bragging to their friends about how awesome they are.
Sotheby’s International Realty knows this all too well. Look how they describe their products.
Image via Sotheby’s International Realty
You can also use bragging and boasting power words to show off your achievements or skills.
Examples include:
Q1. What are power words?
A. Power words are special words that make people feel strong emotions, get curious, or want to take action right away. Think of them like secret weapons in your sales pitch!
They are more impactful than regular words and they can make your product sound amazing, urgent, or super helpful.
Q2. Why should I use a power words list in my marketing efforts?
A. There are several reasons to consider using a power words list in your marketing efforts, including:
Q3. Where can I use power words?
A. You can use power words everywhere you’re trying to sell something! Here are some ideas:
In other words, use all the power words anywhere you want to grab someone’s attention and make them think “Wow, I gotta have that!”
Q4. How many power words should I use?
A. When it comes to power words, less is so much more so don’t go overboard. Instead, use just enough power words to make your message stand out and create a vivid picture, but not so many that it sounds confusing or fake.
Focus on the words that make the biggest difference and highlight the most important features of what you’re selling. A few powerful words can be the right ingredients to make your message powerful and persuasive.
Q5. How does using a power words list boost sales?
A. Imagine you’re selling lemonade. Instead of saying “It’s cold,” you could say “It’s ice-cold and refreshing!.” When you use these words, you’re making your lemonade stand out by creating a vivid picture.
Power words make your lemonade sound exciting and beneficial, making customers more likely to buy.
And there you have it; your treasure trove of 650+ power words list in 21 different categories. Now you have the tools to craft clear, concise, and captivating marketing messages that leave people saying, “Wait, I need that in my life!”
Feel free to print out this list so you always have it handy. That way, when you’re stuck looking for the perfect word, you’ll have plenty of inspiration right at your fingertips.
So next time you’re putting together a sales pitch or social media post, ditch the boring words.
What’s included in your favorite power word list? We’d love to hear how you’re using these words to boost conversions and sales.