Powerful words grab the attention of readers, make your content more influential, help shape your voice, and get people act on your advice.
This article discusses:
What are emotional power words?
A list of emotional power words
What are sensory trigger words?
How to use powerful words in your writing
Have you ever wished you had a magic word machine?
Throw in your ideas at the top. Crank its engine by hand. Leave the machine humming for a few minutes, and persuasive text rolls out at the other side.
Copy and paste the text onto your website. And voilà: you sell more than ever before.
Sounds good, doesn’t it?
Unfortunately, writing isn’t that easy. Not yet.
Robots might take over our writing tasks in the future. But for now, human intelligence is still required.
So, let’s concentrate on how our word choice can boost our persuasive powers, shall we?
When you use power words in copywriting, you grab the attention of more people, your content becomes more influential, and people act on your advice. And what’s more … a careful selection of power words helps shape your voice.
What are power words?
Weak words have a shallow meaning—they don’t make readers feel something and they don’t allow readers to visualize your words.
In contrast, power words tend to have strong meanings. They nudge people to take action—to download your report, to contact you for a quote, or to implement your advice.
Three different types of power words exist:
- 6 super seductive words nudging people to take action—their persuasive power seems irrational, but is proven by science.
- Emotional words grab attention because they connect to our feelings.
- Sensory words are powerful and memorable because they make readers experience your words as if they can see the picture you’re painting with words.
Want to know how to use these 3 types of words to add power and pizzazz to your business content?
Click here to get the 22-page ebook How to Choose Words With Power and Pizzazz (it’s free!)
The 6 super seductive words to boost conversions and social shares
Power word #1. New
“New” takes us on an adventure, a journey of discovery.
As neuromarketer Roger Dooley suggests, our brains are wired for “new.” Our attraction to novelties helps us innovate and seek new opportunities. If new things weren’t so attractive to humans, we’d still be stuck in our caves. You and I wouldn’t meet here on the web.
Apple has long understood the power of new. They rephrase “new” in multiple ways to seduce readers to upgrade their still fully functional iPhones or iPads:
all-new
reimagined from the ground up
re-invented from the inside out
we had to completely rethink how a keyboard is engineered
we redesigned each key and its underlying mechanism
How to use the power of “new” in your writing:
- In emails announcing new products, use “new,” “announcing,” or “introducing” at the start of your subject line
- On sales pages for new products, use feature flashes highlighting the word “new”
- When upgrading an existing product, explain carefully what’s new about it
Power word #2. Free
Our attraction to freebies is irrational …
In his book “Predictably Irrational,” Dan Ariely explains how Amazon.com started offering free shipments for orders over a certain price.
The offer was a great success, but not in France. Ariely explains:
Instead of offering FREE! Shipping on orders over a certain amount, the French division priced the shipping for those orders at one franc. Just one franc—about 20 [dollar] cents. This doesn’t seem very different from FREE! But it was. In fact, when Amazon changed the promotion in France to include free shipping, France joined all the other countries in a dramatic sales increase. In other words, whereas shipping for one franc—a real bargain—was virtually ignored by the French, FREE! Shipping caused an enthusiastic response.
“FREE” is not only powerful when adding bonuses to a product or service; you can also use “Free” to attract attention to your blog posts.
Here’s how Copyblogger harnesses the power of “free” in headlines to attract attention and boost social sharing:
- 13 Simple Questions to Help You Draft a Winning Content Strategy [Free Worksheet]
- Your Step-by-Step Email Marketing Strategy Guide [Free Checklist]
- 10 Ways to Piss Off David Ogilvy (Free Poster)
How to harness the power of “free” in your writing:
- Consider giving away a “free bonus” with a product
- Give away a free e-course, report or download for people who opt-in to your list
- Use phrases like “free checklist” in the headline of your blog posts (and when promoting your post in social media)
Power word #3. Imagine
Why is “imagine” almost hypnotic?
When people can hold your product in their hands, their desire to own your product increases.
This is why car salesmen tempt you to test drive a car. And why jewelry sellers suggest you try that necklace to see how it looks.
Online this seems tricky. But we can let people imagine how they would feel if you help them. How much smoother their business would run. How much more relaxed they would feel. How excited they’d be about their business, their career, their life.
Here’s how Ramit Sethi (I Will Teach You to Be Rich) uses the power of the word “imagine” to help you visualize what taking his course might mean for you:
Imagine you use this program to identify a profitable idea. You know it works because you get your first enthusiastic, paying client who is delighted to pay for your services. You now have new money in the bank.
What would that mean?
Would you be more confident of your abilities?
Would you be more motivated to earn more and use it to pay off debt, increase your savings, or take an extravagant vacation?
Powerful, eh?
Power word #4. Because
Presenting a reason why people should do something can trigger an automatic response. Even if the reason is bogus.
In his book Influence, Cialdini describes the photocopier experiment: If you don’t give a reason why people should allow you to jump the queue, only 60% lets you go ahead. But when you give a reason, using the word “because,” 93% of people allow you to jump the queue:
Apple‘s copywriters like the word “because,” too:
Our accessories go together with iPhone so well because they’re designed together.
If iPhone 6s seems like it’s tailor made for iOS, that’s because it is.
Together, they deliver a powerful and enjoyable experience because they were designed that way — together.
Power word #5. Instant
Imagine playing Deal or No Deal. You can get a guaranteed payment for $240,000 now or you can keep playing for a chance to win a million dollars.
What would you do?
As neuromarketer Roger Dooley suggests, our attitudes towards risks, rewards, and time are all different.
But we all know the feeling of wanting something now.
This is why I love my Kindle. I can start reading a new book instantly.
To harness the power of instant gratification use the following phrases in sales copy or blog headlines:
- Instant access
- 3-minute sign-up
- Start my free course now
- Add Instant Power to Your Business Content With These 172+ Magic Words
To make people feel good about starting instantly, you may want to indicate there’s no risk:
- 30 day money back guarantee
- No credit card required (for a trial)
- Risk-free / No risk
- No lock-in period / Cancel anytime
Human psychology is complicated. You know that already. So, “instant gratification” isn’t always the answer to increasing sales.
When I marketed range cookers, we introduced a unique service where you could order your cooker in any color. Not only did a custom-colored cooker command a premium price, you also had to wait up to three months (compared to a couple of weeks for a standard order).
Similarly, when I implemented a waiting list for copywriting inquiries, I could instantly increase my fees.
That’s the power of exclusivity.
What appeals more to your customers? Instant gratification or exclusivity?
Power phrase #6. How to
As bestselling author Jonah Berger explains in his book Contagious, we like to pass along practical information:
People like to help one another. We go out of our way to give advice or send others information that will make them better off.
That’s why the phrase “How to” is powerful, and that’s why it’s one of the 20 most retweeted phrases.
No wonder, popular blogs love using “how to” in their headlines:
- How to Write Conversationally: 7 Tips to Engage and Delight Your Audience (The second most shared post on Copyblogger this year so far, 3,200+ shares)
- How to Build the Right Traffic Metrics Dashboard for 2016 (the fifth most popular on Moz.com, 7,700+ shares)
- How to Optimize Your Content for Google’s Featured Snippet Box (the second most popular post on HubSpot, 9,200+ shares)
“How to” works best when the advice promised is specific and valuable.
Bonus power “phrase”: numerals
Numerals like 10 or 7 or 93 aren’t words, but they can instantly boost your persuasiveness.
Why?
Usability expert Jakob Nielsen tracked eye movements of users visiting websites, and he found that “numerals often stop the wandering eye and attract fixations, even when they’re embedded within a mass of words that users otherwise ignore.”
Numerals attract attention because they look different from letters. Moreover, numbers represent facts.
Here’s how Case Study Buddy uses numbers in their sales copy:
Before the call, we’ll send your client a list of questions so they can prepare their answers and collect any results in advance.
Then, on a fast, friendly call (~30 mins), we’ll get their side of the story.
We transform that interview into a persuasive, 750 – 1,250 word case study that will show every new lead…
And here’s how Andrea Vahl uses a number on her About page:
I’m also the co-founder of Social Media Manager School, an online training course that has helped over 500 students learn how to start their own business as a social media manager or consultant.
And Copyblogger‘s About page:
Since January 2006, Copyblogger has been teaching people how to create killer online content.
How to take advantage of the power of numerals:
- Write numbers as digits (e.g., 7) rather than words (seven) because digits stand out more
- If your blog post has a number of tips, consider using a digit in your headline—list posts tend to be popular
- When writing sales copy, consider which facts you can share about your product, your service or your experience
A special note about YOU
Gregory Ciotti calls “you” one of the 5 most persuasive words in the English language, and D Bnonn Tennant says it’s a hypnotic word.
I’m a fan of the word “you,” too. Because it focuses the writer’s attention on why a product or service would be useful for their readers. What’s in it for them?
The word “you” also helps create a more conversational tone so you don’t sound like a pushy salesman.
However, the proof about “you” is hazy. In A/B tests (like this one by Michael Aagaard), button copy like “Get my free report” often outperforms “Get your free report.”
A quick reminder of the most powerful words
Can you spot the power words?
Want to make that text more persuasive?
- Add more facts to increase your credibility: what is so special about your magic bone?
- Back up your claims with testimonials or scientific proof.
You can’t rely on power words alone to sell your products.
Click here to get the 22-page ebook How to Choose Words With Power and Pizzazz (it’s free!)
Emotional trigger words
You sell on emotion, but you justify a purchase with logic
~ legendary copywriter Joseph Sugarman
We’d like to see ourselves as rational beings.
But without emotions we can’t make decisions as Antonio Damasio, professor in neuroscience, has proven.
Moreover, Jonah Berger’s research has shown that strong emotions drive people to sharing content. He highlights the importance of high-arousal emotions:
Anger and anxiety lead people to share because, like awe, they are high-arousal emotions. They kindle the fire, activate people, and drive them to take action.
Emotions are involved in the purchase of almost any product.
SweatBlock, for instance, mixes anxiety about excessive underarm sweating with the joy of feeling in control (hat tip to Joanna Wiebe for this example). The sales copy also uses trust phrases like “100% safe,” “soothing,” and “confidently”:
Dab on a SweatBlock towelette, and control excessive underarm sweating for up to 7 days. The 100% safe and soothing trade-secret formula – combined with the towelette – gives you results you can count on. So you can confidently raise your arms.
And here’s how the copy moves to joy:
Get up to 7 Days of Dry High-Fives, Hugs and Hoorays
Your choice of emotional words strongly influences your voice. Compare, for instance, these two headlines:
- 4 Bombproof Formulas for Openings That Grab Readers and Don’t Let Go (SmartBlogger)
- A 3-Step Formula for Captivating Your Audience With a Few Opening Lines (Copyblogger)
Or compare these:
- 20 Ways to Be Just Another Mediocre Blogger Nobody Gives a Crap About (SmartBlogger)
- 11 Ways to Bore the Boots Off Your Readers (Copyblogger)
How subtle or how strong would you like your voice to be?
The easiest way to start using emotional words is to empathize with your reader. What problem is she struggling with? Which emotions does she feel when thinking about this problem? Or how can your content or service make her feel better?
A list of emotional power words
The 8 basic emotions as defined by Plutchik provide a useful starting point for connecting with people’s emotions in your writing:
- Joy
- Trust
- Fear
- Surprise
- Sadness
- Disgust
- Anger
- Anticipation
The list below is not a definitive list. Use a thesaurus to find more words and pick the words that suit your voice.
Emotional power words #1: Joy
Love, loveable, to love, falling in love
Joy, joyful, to enjoy
Tender, tenderness
Devotion, devoted, to devote
Nurturing, to nurture
Bliss, blissful
Seduction, seductive, to seduce
To cherish
Luck, lucky
Ecstatic
Triumph, triumphant
Glorious
Jubilant
Emotional power words #2: Trust
Trustworthy
Reliable, reliability
Faith, faithful
Admiration, to admire
Proven
Guaranteed
Scientific, science
Research-backed
Facts, factual
Absolutely
Authoritative, authority
Saint
Fool-proof, sure-fire
Emotional power words #3: Fear
Banned
Abuse, abusive
Steal, stolen, plunder
Pussyfoot
Anxiety, anxious
Despair
Freaking out
Horror
Sabotage
Failure, to fail
Miserable
Burning out
Threat
Emotional power words #4: Surprise
Awe
Jaw-dropping
Mind-blowing
Mesmerizing
Spectacular
Remarkable
Enchantment, enchanting, to enchant
Astonishing
Terrific
Breath-taking
Spellbinding
To beguile
To bewitch
Emotional power words #5: Sadness
Tearful
Heartbroken
Grief-stricken
Weepy
Teary-eyed
Sobbing, to sob
Troubled, trouble
Lovesick
Austerity
Hostile
Resentful
Envy, envious
Shame
Emotional power words #6: Disgust
Crap, crappy
Shit, shitty
Trash, trashy
Junk
Lousy
Outrageous
Vulgar
Icky
Obscene
Scuzzy
Repellent, to repel, repulsive
Ridiculous
Nasty
Emotional power words #7: Anger
Rage, raging
Fury, furious
Hatred, to hate
Irritating
Annoying
Bitter
To sulk
Grumpy
Tantrum
Flare up
Hysterics
Panic
Frenzy, frantic
Emotional power words #8: Anticipation
Little-known
Yearning, to yearn
Lust
Passion, passionate
Craving, crave
Longing, to long for
Inspiration, to inspire
Enthusiasm, to enthuse
Charming, to charm
To woo
Forgotten
Discovery, to discover
Mystery, Mysterious
Click here to get the 22-page ebook How to Choose Words With Power and Pizzazz (it’s free!)
Sensory power words
Sensory words are more powerful and memorable than ordinary words because they make your reader see, hear, smell, taste, or feel your words.
When reading non-sensory words, your brain processes text. But when you read sensory words different areas of your brain light up. Your brain processes sensory words as if you taste a sweet cake, as if you see a dazzling display of colors, as if you feel a rough texture.
Sensory words can even boost sales. Research into menus suggests that describing dishes using sensory words makes more people buy them.
Sensory words can add power to headlines to grab attention:
Sensory words can also help make abstract content more concrete.
The following examples are from Nancy Duarte’s book Resonate:
- Just like you tap your toe to a good beat, your brain enjoys tapping along with a good presentation, but only if something new is continually unfolding and developing.
- People rarely act by reason alone. You need to tap into other deeply seated desires and beliefs in order to be persuasive. You need a small thorn that is sharper than fact to prick their hearts. That thorn is emotion.
- Haven’t you often wished you could make customers, employees, investors, or students snap, crackle, pop, and move to the new place they need to be in order to create a new future?
A list of sensory power words
Sensory words describe how we experience the world:
- Words related to sight indicate colors, shape, or appearance
- Words related to touch describe textures; you can use them to describe feelings and abstract concepts
- Words related to hearing describe sounds
- Taste and smell are closely related
- Motion is sensory, too. By using active words or describing movement, you help your readers experience your words
Sensory power words #1: Visual words
To sparkle, sparkling
Gigantic
Glittering
To shimmer, shimmering
Crooked
Bulky
Glow, glowing, to glow
Hazy
Shadowy
Gloomy
Drab
Sensory power words #2: Tactile words
To fluff, fluff, fluffy
Gritty, grit
Rough
Silky smooth
Slimy
To stick, sticky
Creepy
Crisp
Hairy
To chill, chilled
To stifle
Sensory power words #3: Auditory words
Buzz, to buzz
Hubbub
Humming, to hum
Faint
Deafening
Squeaky
Earsplitting
Serene
To sizzle, sizzling
Snappy
Boom!
Sensory power words #4: Words related to taste and smell
Bland
Rotten
Fragrant
Stale
Juicy
Stinky
Gooey
Bitter
Yummy
Lipsmackingly
Pungent
Sensory power words #5: Motion words
Soaring
To resonate, resonating
To breeze through
Staggering, staggeringly
Blown away
Paralyzed
Eye-popping
Gobsmacked
Shocking, shockingly
To grab
Jaw-droppingly good
The looming danger of overused power words
Ever found sales text a little sleazy? Or over-the-top?
An overdose of clichéd power words makes your content sound pushy or even creepy.
For instance:
- Shocking Celebrity Secrets Revealed by Their Former Bodyguards
- 9 Insider Copywriting Secrets Revealed
Can you smell a whiff of tabloid press sleaziness?
The art of writing seductive content
To write persuasive content start with imagining how you help your clients.
How do you make their life better? Which pain do you take away? How does your service make them feel? Why would they enjoy working with you?
Content becomes persuasive when you stop selling your products and quit selling your ideas.
Instead, demonstrate you understand your reader’s problems and show how you transform their lives—no matter how small these changes are.
So, connect with your reader’s wishes and feelings first.
Then, offer a service they’ll love.
And lastly, sprinkle a little magic dust over your content to boost your persuasive powers.
FREE 22-page ebook
How to Choose Words With Power and Pizzazz
How to Choose Words With Power and Pizzazz
- Discover 4 wordy rules for captivating your audience
- Learn how to fortify and energize your message
- Get examples that show you how to spice up your writing
Recommended reading on powerful writing:
99 strong verbs to make your content pop, fizz and sparkle
4 types of weak words: How to spice up bland content
5 ways to make your words more powerful
I love the writing style, I am trying to shift from engineer brain to creative brain and really got a lot from your opening
I’m glad you enjoyed the opening of this post, Ian. When I write an opening, I think quite hard about the problem a post is trying to solve; I try to picture that problem and I consider how my readers feel about it.
I’m excited to read your ebook. I’m looking forward to learning different types of writing. Thank you!
I hope you’ll enjoy the ebook, Darlene. Happy writing!
Actually, this is an eye-opener course I haven’t seen before, I’m happy to be here and continue learning through this good website.
Thank you so much for allowing us to get a free course over here so that we can practise making money online in future
I hope you’ll enjoy my snackable writing course, Godwin. Happy writing!
The clarity, energy, and simplicity of your writing inspires me Henneke. You’ve launched me on a journey to burn a well of midnight study oil and practice like an Olympian.
That’s such a lovely compliment. Thank you, David. And happy writing!
Great, to the point and useful. Cheers Henneke.
I’m glad you enjoyed it, Sudhir. Happy writing!
Very informative and instructive. Thanks so much.
Thank you, Aina. Happy writing!
Crisps were my favourite snack…
Now , your mini-course seals the deal
Thank you. I’m glad you’re enjoying my snackable course 🙂
Thank you very much and i just finished my first snack in 3 days instead of the 24 hours intended for lol. Would be nice to drop a few lines of appreciation for the good work and i am following up gradually like it says take it slowly first rule:)
I’m glad you’ve enjoyed the first snack and are taking it easy. This blog post on powerful words is a rather big meal—best to savor slowly 🙂 Thank you so much for stopping by!
Yes, the true real power to those words.
I feel this after reading this blog post, I got more power.
Thank
I’m glad you enjoyed this, Avinash. Happy power writing!
This list is insightful! Thanks so much for sharing.
Thank you, Chris. I’m glad you like these power words. Happy writing!
Great list. I’m going to have to make a few changes to my blog 🙂
Thank you, Sherwin. Happy writing!
I have really enjoyed reading this. Thank you for sharing your skills in such a vibrantly interesting way.
Thank you, Ursula. Happy power writing! 🙂
Very useful ideas and content. Thanks Henneke to spend your time to help out other entrepeneurs with your thoughts 🙂
After reading this article I tried to subscribe for the free course but was always getting an error message. Could you help me? Thanks a lot!
Hi Fabio, How strange that you weren’t able to join the free course. I have added you manually and the first snack should be on its way shortly. If you have a chance, would you be able to let me know what error message you received? I’d like to investigate what’s going wrong. Thanks so much for taking the trouble to post your experience. Thanks, Henneke
I am blown away by this post and your blog. I have been devouring your content over the last couple of days and have been enjoying every bit of it.
I wish I had found you sooner. There is just so much of valuable advice out here and I seem to be running around like a headless chicken in your quaint little corner on the internet. 😉
Thanks for the tasty and easily digestible snacks that get delivered to my inbox daily 🙂
correction… I have been “savouring” every bit of it. lol.
Thank you so much, Kimberly. I’m glad you’re enjoying my blog and the snacks 🙂
Happy writing!
Hi,
I belong to a non-profit and we are looking for a powerful intro to encourage people to join our organization
I believe that creating a powerful intro doesn’t start with finding the power words but with understanding why people would join your organizing—how can you connect with their wishes or fears.
Your command of powerful, magical words is truly spell-binding. It summons my desire to do some serious wordsmithing. Thank you. I look forward to further snacking.
I’m glad you also appreciate the magic of words, Russ. Happy writing, and enjoy your snacks 🙂
This first snack already helps to write for the people I want to relate with because of my purpose. Like you do with your blogs, give aways. This is new for me. But this first blog has proven to be valuable for me. Thank you for being so helpful.
I’m glad this was useful for you, Paulien. Happy writing!
Wow, This is awesome I am a newbie studying copywriting
and found your blog so powerful
Love this……..
Thank You.
Thank you, Maria. I hope you’ll find more useful information on my site! 🙂
Hai Henneke!
I am Elida from Indonesia.
Your article is super insightful! Thank you for being so thoughtful and powerful in sharing all of the materials, God bless you 🙂
Hi Elida, I’m glad you’re enjoying my blog. Thank you for stopping by 🙂
Hey Henneke,
wow! Outstanding! I loved your insights… and happy that I came across your article.
It’s funny that we *think* we can convey the right messages with the right wording, but there’s always room to improve. You nailed it 🙂
Thanks!
I’m glad you enjoyed it, William. Thank you for stopping by. Happy power writing! 🙂
Hi Henneke,
I never doubted that it would be a mouthful of snack again for the day.
I will anticipate more snacks to come.
Thanks
*burp
Happy snacking, Omat 😉
Very impressive writing.
Your content is always epic.
I am enjoying your free snacks also. It was second email that brought me here.
Grateful to you for such an authority work.
Thank you, Abdul. I’m glad you enjoyed this!
Hi Henneke,
My name is Pedro, I’m from Brazil, and I discovered these teachings without meaning to, which made me immediately delighted.
I hope to assimilate all this content. But as I love to write, I will continue to strive.
Thank you.
Welcome, Pedro 🙂 I hope you’ll enjoy my writing!
This is jaw-dropping content!
Thanks! 🙂
Henneke, That’s a wonderful guide and I am going to make right use of these power words while writing the next copy.
Thank you so much for sharing this. Looking forward to learn from Enchanting Marketing.
These days I rely more on this blog rather than others to improve my copywriting skills.
Stay safe 🙂
I’m so glad you’re enjoying my blog, Jasmit! Thank you for stopping by.
I hope you’re staying safe and well, too. 🙂
Waoooo Henneke , many thanks for the powerful article. With this. i can go ahead to craft attention-grabbing copy. A great day ahead.
I’m glad you enjoyed it, Peter. Happy power writing!
Very handy! Bookmarked for future use 😉
Thank you, Ken. I’m glad you like this.
Thanks for sharing, now I know my writing is going to improve. I’ve been searching for years for examples like these. I can write but seems so basic to me.
I’ glad you enjoyed this, Sara, and I appreciate you stopped by to leave a comment. Happy writing!
Henneke, March is dedicated to women in my country.
Find this article is the best gift that the month of women has just given me.
Thank you so much. It is long and it is worth going through it.
It’s a gold mine and too simple tips.
Without imagining, these are words that transform writing and even instant customer engagement.
Magic words, I tell you.
Thank you again and happy woman month and courage for this exciting, pathetic and also, motivating job that you do to help these millions of people in need of improving marketing copywriting and their blogs.
Thank you so much for your kind message, Oscar. Happy power writing!
Wow, this list is enormous, very insightful stuff!
I’m glad you enjoyed this one. Thank you for stopping by, Lucas.
Made my day. Beautifully explained how persuasive content can be developed.
Thank you, Rahul 🙂
Thanks for sharing these tips, it’s timely. I can now spice up my writing with moderate Persuasive words.
Happy writing, Shafiu!
Thank you for a great article/post found when researching what power words actually are when working on my website copy perfect 🙂 signed up to your feed looking forward to learning from you.
Thank you, Elaine. I’m glad you enjoyed it. Happy writing!
My word is inspirational
That’s a nice one!
Yay, this was great, took a ton of notes, now to try to wake up my posts!
Go for it! Happy writing, Sandi 🙂
Congratulations on a fabulous blog.
Informative, interesting and motivating.
Love the drawings.
What an amazing post.
I also started late into creative writing and am eager to learn everything. Thank you very much.❤❤
Thank you for your fabulous and generous compliment, Cally.
I started writing in my early 40s and I’m so glad I did. It’s changed my life for the better. It’s never too late to start with creative writing.
Hi Henneke,
Feeling elated after having tasted your snacks. I am visibly excited to find wonderful tips to hone writing skills.
With loving regards.
I.R.Pathak
I’m glad you’re enjoying the snacks 🙂
Happy writing, and thank you for stopping by.
Hi Henneke
I have strong desire and enough time for copywriting and find your course very helpful and awesome! thank you
I already read many articles and other things about copywriting and I’m practicing every day
I can’t wait for the rest of the snacks! can I get it more quickly? please
I’m glad you’re enjoying the snacks! They’re all set up to go out daily in the first week, and then every other day afterwards. It’s not easy to change that for one person, as it’d change the schedule for everyone.
Thanks again for this list Henneke. This page is a permanent tab on my sales browser. I keep coming back to it. I shared it on my Conversion Rate Optimization Facebook group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/2318753834860736/
Thanks so much for sharing, Robert. I don’t have a Facebook account, so I can’t join your group. (Sorry, I somehow missed your comment last week.)
Hi henneke
It was such a Powerful article. I feel myself lucky to find your website. thinking if my prayers got answered may be ?
Being a non native English speaker, I find it hard to craft an expert piece
Crafting an expert piece is hard no matter whether you’re a native English speaker or not. English is also my second language.
I loved this , you really did sprinkle some creative fairy dust on my dusty brain today!
That makes me happy. Happy writing, Clare!
Hi Henneke,
This is such a gift, I appreciate it so much.
I googled “power words” because I noticed that Tony Robbins uses powerful words all the time that entice deep emotions within me and I found your post.
I am just starting blogging and this is such an amazing resource, you over-delivered and you also inspired me to produce even higher-quality content myself starting now.
You lead by example.
I am going to be using this as a reference to always look into for writing copy and I hope I will create time to doing your courses. I already subscribed to your newsletter and the first e-mail is already powerful.
You opened my eyes to new strong deep ways to connect and communicate with my audience.
Thank you!
Jakub
What a lovely comment!
It makes me happy that you feel inspired to produce more powerful content yourself. You put a big smile on my face 😀
Thank you so much for stopping by, Jakub.
Greetings Henneke!
I’m just discovering you and I am glad I found you! You have some great content that I can’t wait to dive into. I’m doing E-commerce and looking for those power words was always a challenge. I will check out your blog as well. Thank you for putting out this content!!
Mel
San Diego, Ca.
Hi Mel, welcome 🙂
I am glad you’ve discovered my blog and are enjoying my tips. Happy writing!
Amazing. Not only do I begin to understand what I’m doing wrong but also now I know what I can do to change it. Thank you.
(And I’m a writer but copy is not my strength).
I’m glad you found this useful, Alicia. Happy power writing! And thank you for stopping by.
Wow, the first newsletter has so much to give.
I am starting to think for the first time in my life, that joining this email list will prove to give a lot of value.
I was nervous about this new job of content writing for blogs on the following website.
But, thanks to you, now I know where to keep looking back while crafting a good write-up.
This is such a wonderful piece of content.
Thank you for joining my newsletter, Ankur. And happy writing!
I just stumbled upon your website today. And I am blown by what I’ve seen so far. Thank you for packing in such a punch in just the 1st newsletter. You make this so much fun to learn.
Thank you so much for your generous compliment, Tathagata. Happy writing!
Hello Henneke, greetings from Panama. I’m Erika Olmos and I really liked the information about copywriting in your blog. I love. My question is compatible with the powerful words you mention in your article for one in Spanish.
Thank you
Hi Erika, I do not know Spanish, but I believe using power words is a universal principle. For instance, why would someone experience sensory words different in a different language if the meaning is the same? The exact words may be different, but the principle would be the same.
Analyzing that of sensory experience, I come to the conclusion that it is real. Although my English is not advanced and I sometimes have to use the translator, I was able to connect with what you wrote in this article and I felt it was in accordance with my experience. Thank you for inspiring me and learning from your snacks and nutritious foods from your blog.
Gracias……
Hi Henneke,
I only recently came across your website. I love all the tips / advice you provide, thank you!
I am in Affiliate Marketing and just today I signed up to have a blog website created for me.
I am excited to start blogging as a method to earn from.
I know I might not start earning from it immediately but I am grateful that I came across your site so that I can incorporate all the goodness learned here to further improve my writing skills.
I’m excitedly looking forward to receiving your writing tips.
Thank you very much.
Hi Jenny,
Congrats on starting your blog. I wish you lot of blogging joy.
Thank you for stopping by.
This is really unique subject that you’ve talked about. I never knew power words till I landed here.
Definitely gonna try! Thank you.
Great! Happy power writing, Mudassir 🙂
contenu inspirant! désolée pour le point d’exclamation:)
Merci beaucoup 🙂
Found the article incredibly helpful.
U doing a fantastic job Henneke, more grease to ur elbow and two thumbs up for you
I’m glad you found this helpful, Burhana. Happy power writing! 🙂
As I went through your content I kept self-reflecting and wondering if I should call myself a writer.
This is amazingly unbelievable.
I will finish all my snacks Henneke.
At this rate, am seeing myself being a guru in this field.
Many Thanks.
Deeply appreciate.
Janet.
I’m glad you’ve enjoyed this post, Janet. Happy snacking! 🙂
Thank you for this list! While I’m not in the marketing business, per se, I did find it incredibly useful when amping up my resume. In a sense, I am marketing myself, and these power words helped a lot!
Yes, you can use it to amp up your resume, too! Good luck with your job search.
Writing is so much work. Not sure if I can write something earth shattering everytime!
It’s true that writing is a lot of work, but your writing doesn’t need to be earth shattering. Just think about who you’re writing for and make sure your content is valuable to them.
Dear Henneke’What a captivating work!
A splendid article stashed with the wealth of word gems.
It’s all inspirational,
It’s all ingenious,
It’s all value,
It’s all stunning,
Its eye opening
It’s rousing,
And above all; thanks for ingraining the skill of power words into my mind.
Thanks
Have a joyful day
Muhammad Iqbal
I’m glad you’re enjoying the power words, Muhammad! 🙂
Hey Henneke,
Cool article – easy to follow, lots of great knowledge and value. Thanks for taking the time to write and for sharing!
I’m quite new to writing copy. What do you think about the use of power words when writing copy for certain industries, like the financial industry?
My guess is that numerals work well. I’m not sure about using sensory words.
Would love to hear your view.
PS: I’ll definitely be skipping a couple of queues now too, like that printer example you’ve got going on there in the article ha!
We expect a bank to have a more formal tone of voice in their communication so you’d have to be careful which power words you choose to suit that tone of voice, but words related to security and guarantees can be powerful, too. Or when talking about saving for a pension, you also have an opportunity to connect powerfully with customer’s dreams, wishes and fears.
I just realized I was taking notes on stuff that has nothing to do with my business but can help me in life. This was an article that I read twice and then had my business partner read. Loved the Because and Dog examples.
Thank you, Mark. Your comment put a big smile on my face 🙂
Happy writing!
Great tips and advise and a great eye-opener regarding content, especially the use of numbering to catch the reader’s attention – amazing how web-content differs from fiction writing; completely different animal! All about the attention and providing clear value and information. Thank you Henneke.
Yes, it’s amazing isn’t it, how differently we read a fiction book from reading online text.
I’m glad you enjoyed this post, Fiona. Thank you for stopping by 🙂
I’m a fan. Bookmarked. Saved. Reread. #VirtualHug 🙂
Yay! Thank you, Franklin. Happy power writing! 🙂
Hi Henneke,
I am 2 days new to Enchanting Marketing and your content is as promised; “enchanting”.
Thanks for this eye-opener of a post. Never thought of these words as “power words”: It’s the last time I’ll take these puppies for granted. You’ve shown me that they pack some serious punch when used creatively.
I found you through a mention by Elna Cain
https://elnacain.com/blog/sites-to-help-become-successful-freelance-writer/ and am now a hopeless Henneke-posts junky.
Needless to say how much I adore Henrietta!
Only 2 days and already I’m-a whistling
Effusive THANKS Henneke!?
Only two days, and you’ve already fallen in love with Henrietta? That makes me smile 🙂
Thank you for your lovely comment, Lisa. And thank you to Elna for sending you here.
Happy power writing!
I LOVE your style.
I am craving to write but I have no writing skills, only some eclectic knowledge which I want to integrate into a simple , clear, but playful way.
Thank you for bringing joy into my life, when everything seems to be too serious,in a phony kind of way.
Hi Corina – thank you for your lovely comment.
Your writing skills might not be as good as you’d like them to be yet, but you sure possess some writing skills and it sounds like you have enough ideas to share, too. So, give it a go!
Wow
I just glanced through today’s email and got super-charged with a dreamy vocabulary contained in your 172+powerful words, kow-tow to your excellent presentation.
Thank you, Sanjay. I’m glad you like my list of power words. Happy writing!
I like stunning, is that a power word?
Yes, you could classify “stunning” as a power word. There’s no strict line between what it and what isn’t a power word. I find “stunning” a little overused, but that’s just a personal opinion!
Hi Henneke,
Absolutely the best article i have read in awhile. You’re my new inspiration. Looking forward to more of your enchanting write ups.
Thank you.
Thank you for your lovely comment, Zoza. Happy writing!
I had never imagined myself even adding a little bit of laughter?? to an already laughing reader with my WRITING …. I guess I could do better now if I should follow your guide.. Absolutely Splendid….
Thank you, Ghandy. Happy power writing!
Wow, amazing you have the power to attract readers heart. Grab the attention of the reader. I fall in love with your work
Thank you, Kezang.
Henneke, you are absolutely brilliant. This was so helpful I can’t even put it into words. Thank you a thousand times.
I’m glad you like it, Frank. Happy power writing!
Loved every word. And it is so actionable. I actually stopped in the middle of reading and wrote the opening paragraph of my blog’s new about page using the power word imagine.
Thanks, Henneke.
That’s the power of the “imagine” 🙂
Thank you for sharing your story, Jabal. It makes me happy 🙂
They say “The best things in life are free.” and you are exactly right about that. I wish everything in this world is free, but I know it will have consequences. Sad.
I don’t usually make comments to articles or blogs, but this made my brain pumped up to get back on writing! Thank you Ms. Henneke
Happy writing, Nigel! Thank you for stopping by 🙂
It was really helpful. Those words are truly useful for better content strategy. Hope to get more guidelines in the next section.
I’m glad you enjoyed it. Happy power writing!
An excellent article and it is the MOST comprehensive guide to using power words that I’ve come across!”
Thanks
Thank you, David. Happy power writing! 🙂
Dear Henneke ,
You have gifted your followers a treasure chest of invaluable ‘word gems’
You are a genius
Vivek Hattangadi – Ahmedabad, India
Hi Vivek – I’m glad you like this treasure chest of words 🙂 Happy power writing!
Hi Henneke,
your article reinforces me in some of my beliefs about the power of words and teaches me what was unknown or hidden to me.
I can assure you that my way of writing will now improve.
Thank you
That’s great, Bouba. Happy power writing!
“Shocking celebrity secrets revealed by their former body guard”
Help me! went over this again and again and I still think it’s catchy if the info is as juicy as the headline.
What am I missing?
Great piece Hanneke
getting to love you.
It’s as you say. It only works if the info is as juicy as the headline, and often that’s not the case. It’s also a style of writing that gets associated with gossip; such a style is, in most cases, not suitable for people who are writing for business.
Now that I’ve devoured this priceless post for the first time, I realize I’ve barely raked the surface of its potential. And yet I already feel like more of a mover and shaker. For a new list post I wrote yesterday, I had a giant bell ring in my head about how to energize my headline using an attention-grabbing power word.
The result? I’m 100% thrilled with my headline. Bumping up my satisfaction level with it by about 50%!
(I vowed to practice the enchanting skills of engagement that you teach in this post to write this comment.)
“Thank you” seems paltry when you generously share without limit. I’ve stashed your offering in a white-hot position in my Firefox Bookmarks so I can squeeze every precious drop of value from it.
P.S. I went overboard using power words, but the 15 minutes I spent challenging myself to write a meatier comment was enlightening!
“I’m 100% thrilled with my headline.”
That makes me happy 🙂 Thank you for your lovely comment, Milli. Happy power writing!
This lesson provided me with an abundance of words to incorporate into my daily vocabulary. Thank You
Great! Happy writing 🙂
Every copywriter’s treasure! Just what I was looking for. You are my savior in disguise. Loved it. Thanks so much, Henneke 🙂
I’m glad you like it, Trisha, and thank you for stopping by 🙂 Happy power writing!
Wow,
Have just signed up to your 16 part series as I am kick starting a side business that has just been dribbling along. After going through all the technique, I realised something was missing! – no, I mean that an essential ingredient was absent from the mix.
The Copy. I mean good copy. Can you imagine what it would feel like to know that someone was hanging off your every word? That is how I felt reading this blog and how I would like my readers to feel when I write for them.
Thank you.
I am sure that I will be sending many readers your way.
Oh, wow, what a lovely comment, John. I appreciate it! Thank you 🙂
The me-time I have just spent with you has been wow! Refreshing, inspiring and definitely more-ish. Great stuff. Thank you.
What a lovely comment. Thank you, Ursula. Feel free to come back for more 🙂
Henneke
A post I will savour and read repeatedly.
An absolute joy to read.
I am going to create a swipe file of all your articles.
Thank you so much, Poovanesh. This is one of my personal favorites, too 🙂
Happy swiping!
Dear Henneke
This time you did a bloody-brilliant job !!
The more I read you the more I amazed
You are my professor, I follow your everything (guide, sentence style, words) about writing, and try to write like you, sweet & simple.
LOTS OF LOVE TO YOU <3
Thank you so much for your lovely comment, Hasan.
Happy writing!
Do they make those bones for cats? My little fella wants one. Love your writing Henneke. You are my inspiration.
Magic bones for cats … I need to check that out 😉
Thank you for your lovely comment, Deborah.
Every time I pick up an article you’ve written Henneke, I’m gobsmacked. You never fail to amaze me. Yet, another jam packed, beautifully written, forehead-smacking slice of advices I’m holding onto.
Many, many thanks.
What a powerful comment! Thank you so much for your compliment, Judy.
Happy writing! 🙂
Fantastic Henneke.It’s Magic Words Archive:) Can I contribute lil more?
Emotional power words – Curiosity
Controversial,Forbidden,Secret agenda,Censored,Concealed.
Emotional power words – Urgency
Instantly, Profitable, Missing Out, Proven, Revolutionary
Emotional power words – Confusion and Helplessness
Embarrassed, disillusioned, judgmental, doomed, woozy
Emotional power words – Anger
Corrupting, Provoke, Damaging, malicious, Atrocious
Emotional power words – Safe and Satisfied
Guaranteed, Investment, Ecstatic, Authentic, First ever
Emotional power words – Happy and Alive
euphoric, on top of the, fun-loving, spunky, tickled
These are from my swipe files.Simple words but powerful impact.Yes..Overdose ruin copy.Mastering of using them make it enchanting.
Bundle of Thanks!!!
That’s a great selection of power words, Mehera. I particularly like woozy, spunky, and tickled 🙂
Happy writing!
Your website is a real gold mine for startup bloggers like me. I’ve learned a great deal in two days. It’s been an amazing experience so far. I don’t usually leave comments but couldn’t resist. Love you.
That’s great, Khadijat. Happy writing!
What a great practical post. Thanks for all of the links to research!
I’m glad you enjoyed it, Mel. Happy power writing!
Hi Henneke,
This is awesome! This is my first time reading a sales copy materials. This is indeed very powerful words.
This is also useful for inspiring others. I thinking to use these words in our leadership seminary this Sat.
Thank you very much for sharing!
Sounds good. Good luck with your seminar!
Hi Henneke,
I had this article open in my browser for ages because it was so juicy (already embracing your tips). Congratulations on this one, is absolutely brilliant!
Currently writing descriptions for my new product, a paper guide that will soon replace that of Lonely Planet. Actually I wanted to thank you for all your inspiration, I just quit my job – exciting times.
Kind regards,
Virginia
Wow, that’s brilliant. Congratulations on quitting your job. Can you “see” my big smile? 😀
And a paper guide to replace the Lonely Planet. That sounds fabulous.
I’m so happy for you!
Hi Henneke,
Wow! This is gobsmackingly good, I’ve been regularly referring back to it for inspiration so I’ve finally printed it off and will pin it near my desk.
Thank you so much 🙂
Sally
Hi Sally,
I love the word “gobsmacking” – it’s on my list of faves. I feel honored you’ve printed this post and pinned it near your desk.
Happy writing, and thank you for stopping by! 🙂
I’m new to your site and finding the power word post and the comments insightful. In my industry everything is described as “high quality”. If we leave out that descriptive phrase in favor of another (yet to be determined), do we run the risk of implying by omission that our products/services are “low quality”?
Welcome, Susan 🙂
The problem with “high quality” is exactly what you suggest – everyone uses it. This doesn’t mean you can’t use it but on its own it isn’t very persuasive. I suggest combining it with specifics explaining why your products/services are high quality. See also the second point here: https://www.enchantingmarketing.com/subtle-copywriting-errors/
Thank you for stopping by!
My mind is absolutely blown! (poof there it goes..)
I have only begun to study copywriting because I have come to realize that my copy is B-O-R-I-N-G.
So to help my measly little website about moving…I am trying to spruce it up. Thank the Lord that I have found you and this amazing article.
I am going to read it over and over and over until it is my brain permanently.
Best, Jae
I’m glad you enjoyed it, Jae. Happy power writing! 😀
Hey Henneke,
I’ve been loving your jaw-dropping ‘snacks’.
It has created an insatiable craving for more :P.
I’ve been lurking in the dark for a while, but after this post I had to stop by and ‘thank’ you for your buzzing content.
I’m really happy I found you via the smartblogger post, have been blown away so far and can tell you that you had an instant fan ;).
Looking foward to reading more enchanting blog posts.
Thanks once again and have a lovable, joyful and breath-taking day.
What a lovely comment! Thank you so much, Rich.
I like your use of sensory words … “lurking in the dark,” “buzzing content,” “being blown away,” …
And of course, I’m delighted to hear you’ve become an “instant” fan.
Happy power writing!
Hi Henneke. You packed a lot of very valuable information in this post. As for your last point about overusing power words, you need to use moderation in everything about life. The real trick to using the power words is to keep them under your readers’ radar so that they have the desired effect of getting them fully engaged in what you are saying without setting off any alarms that may get them questioning your words.
I’m going to have to go back and make some notes. Thanks for sharing this info.
Yep, you’re so right – most things in life need to be used in moderation. And as soon as power words become buzzwords, they lose their persuasive powers, and we’ll have to look for new ones. That’s one of the reasons why writing is so fascinating, I think.
Thank you for stopping by again, Ben. Happy writing!
I am thrilled to find your website today. I’ve heard about you, of course. I just realized I’ve been here over an hour and bookmarked some of your posts. By the way, who did the art for the images? 🙂 Love it!
Welcome, Vidya. Nice to “meet” you 🙂
I make the illustrations myself (using colored pencils!). Glad to hear you like them!
Thank you for stopping by to leave a comment. I appreciate it.
Wonderfully comprehensive and generous Henneke as usual… you are amazing!
Thank you so much, Mary. Happy writing!
Nice collection. This post was really helpful and engaging. It’s great to learn from you.
Thank you!
I had 4 specific ideas to implement soon and sent it to my colleagues. This is massive Henneke! I love the bone example!
Thank you so much, Zsuzsa. That’s great to hear! I’d love to hear about the results when you implement those 4 ideas 🙂
Hello Henneke,
This is a very interesting and revealing article. No doubts, having these powers on your copies can really boost its conversion and click-through rate. The major thing is to ensure the word is highly relevant.
I’ve never thought of using the word “new post” while tweeting my new articles and, now I can see the difference it can make.
For instance, you often tweet multiple times daily and without adding that “new post” your readers won’t be able to know when you have a new post.
This is what I should start doing too.
Thanks for sharing.
Theodore
Yep, that’s a good point. First, make sure your word is relevant. Only then consider which words could use a little extra power.
Thank you for stopping by again, Theodore!
Henneke, I love reading your articles. I get excited when I get an email from you because I just know it’s going to be a good read.
I always feel I’ve learnt something new after reading anything you write, and this post is no exception.
If I had just 1% of your copywriting talent, I would be a very happy man 🙂
Thank you for all your hard work. I’m already looking forward to your next email!
David
Thank you so much for your lovely comment. I appreciate it, David.
Please don’t expect another in-depth article like this next week. I’ll be back to a normal length article 😉
Inspirational, Henneke!
I’m never a big fan of overly-used power words. Through the post though, you clearly showed how they can be put to good use. I’m tempted by the magic bone advertisement except I only have a cat. 😛
This post will took me a while to distil, bookmarked.
Thanks for sharing!
Cheers,
Anh
P.S. I just retweeted.
I’m with you. Many power words are overused and they’ve lost their power over time – like cliches. I don’t want to read another article about “killer headlines” and prefer to avoid “world-class companies with best-in-class products.” 😉
A lot of sensory and emotional words have a subtle power which I like.
Happy writing, Anh, and thank you for sharing.
Well said, Henneke. I guess it’s better to search for your own power words than use the saturated ones like “killer headlines”.
Delicious post Henneke, you never make mad or sad, just glad always.
That’s why your posts are #1 on my list.
Keep the words rolling out.
Always ready to receive and ingest.
Thank you,
Time with you is high value.
I’m delighted to be #1 on your list. Thank you 🙂
Hi Henneke, English is not my mother language. I find I am using the same boring words over and over again in my email and blog. Thank you for this great post! I will read over and over again and use these words you recommended.
Best,
Nell
English is not my mother language either. I sometimes wonder whether non-native speakers like us have an advantage as we can be more creative with words.
Happy writing!
An excellent article Henneke and it is the MOST comprehensive guide to using power words that I’ve come across!
Kind regards
Mark
Thank you, Mark. I enjoyed writing this – I find power words fascinating.
I appreciate your comment!
I know if I could wrangle words the way you tell us to, I could write better. It’s so hard to think of them, though, while writing or even editing. These lists will push me on to new heights, I think.
Thanks so much!
I like the word “wrangle” 🙂
And I often use a thesaurus to pick up new words. I do this while editing. It can be time-consuming, but over time it goes quicker.
I could spend hours reading your posts Henneke – and make a point not to, though I was seduced into reading Roger Dooley’s post by the ‘neuro’ reference, which is a big interest of mine. Then I read a couple more of his posts before returning to your brilliant article. Jam- packed and bursting at the seams with relevant, useful information. I bow to your mastery. Double thumbs up!
“Jam-packed” is another personal favorite 🙂
Roger Dooley has a lot of interesting articles. I also recommend his book Brainfluence.
Thank you for stopping by, Joan!
So chock-full of information!! Thank you so much – I’m just learning this world of blogging – about to write my 11th blog about art and creativity. I appreciate your advice.
I love the word “chock-full!”
Thank you for your lovely comment, Laura 🙂
One of the best posts ever! Thank You!
Bill
Thank you, Bill. Happy writing! 🙂
Another awe inspiring post. I was left slack jawed from the revelations.
I can image the hubbub this post will stir up on Social Media.
I am coping the words for later use. I always leave your site with ideas that I can implement immediate in my writing.
Thank you Henneke you are my hero.
By the way, email me as soon as that robot hits the market.
Barry
Slack-jawed – that’s a nice one, Barry!
As soon as that robot hits the market, I’ll retire. But I’ll make sure to notify you of my retirement. 🙂
Thank you for your lovely comment, Barry.
Very concise use and list of power words here,Henneke.
I know that within the past few months, anytime I would write something, I wanted to make sure it was void of gobbledygook. So I would study your posts and more specifically, the words you would use to describe certain things.
Now I don’t have to do that anymore because if this amazing post.
Brilliant.
– Andrew
P.S. Love the dog bone sales page. Damn near convinced me to get it for my dog.
Glad you enjoyed this one, Andrew!
I’ll send you a free sample of the Magic Bone 😉
Hi Henneke,
What an awesome post you have crafted. On reading the title I was little confused but after reading the post got many new words.
Thanks for sharing.
What was confusing about the title? Do I need to change it?
I appreciate your feedback!
When I read the title I thought the article was 172 words long. Little did I know 🙂 Great, truly great, insanely great article. I’m seriously thinking of buying a dog!
“I’m seriously thinking of buying a dog!” This made me laugh so much. Thank you, Clive 🙂
And sorry to hear you had to wade through 3,000+ words when you only expected 172! 😉
Pure magic!
Thank you for such an incredible post…..I’m gonna devour this over & over 🙂
Thank you, Carla. Happy power writing! 🙂
I have a special file for your emails with links to your articles – they are exceptional. Let’s use power words – they are mind blowing. My hope is to keep all the information you present in order in my head – like in a good toolbox. Thanks again.
Thank you for your lovely comment, Alexei.
Happy writing!
Hey Friend. Excellent information and I love the artwork. 🙂
Thank you, my friend 🙂
Hi Henneke,
Power words, I love ’em! Great selection of words here. It’s always interesting how emotive and persuasive some words are, isn’t it?
Good heads up regards over-doing them too. One to watch out for.
_Tom
Yep, use in moderation like with all good things 🙂
Thank you for stopping by, Tom!
Awesome post Henneke!! Definitely one to bookmark! Thanks for the shout out! I also like fun words together like crazy-good.
Yes, I like those, too. Like outrageously good 🙂
Great to see you’re sharing your wisdom at the Content Promotion Summit, too!
Hell.
I missed that power word 😉
I never understood the photo copier example. I am sure it would not work if I tried! Explaining why you want something certainly does not work as well on paper. ‘Please leave a testimonial, because they help me a lot’ does not do the trick.
Yes, “hell” is a good power word, too. There’s hundreds (perhaps thousands?) more power words missing – no definitive list exists 🙂
“Because” probably works better when we give a real reason that sounds less self-indulgent. “I’d love to get a testimonial from you because you’re the best known blogger in the Netherlands and other readers would trust your advice.”
Damn and fuck are my favorites 😉
I was actually thinking of giving a reason to people you don’t know, on a website. That is not working at all. People have to know you personally before they want to do you a favor, I think. I mean a real favor, like giving you a testimonial.
This is insanely brilliant. I am going to read this over and over. You have outdone yourself this time my friend. (Love the Magic Bone example btw… my dogs are convinced…) 😉
Haha! I had thought you and your dogs would love the Magic Bone 🙂
“Insanely brilliant” are great power words, too.
I’m learning from the master. 😉