Power words: For Songwriters and Artists

Power words serve as a kind of "shortcut" to enhance conversion rates. By incorporating a few of these words, you can turn mundane, uninspiring language into compelling text that urges readers to take action.

What makes it even better?

They are versatile and can be applied in various contexts.

In this article, you will discover how to wield power words with expertise, analogous to a skilled kung fu master. This includes:

• Understanding the essence of power words and their potent impact.
• Identifying seven proven types of power words that boost retention.
• Accessing an extensive compilation of robust words that you can use, bookmark, and refer to repeatedly.

If you aim to breathe life into your ideas, allowing them to take root in the listener's mind, subtly influencing their emotions until they align precisely with your intentions, then this article is tailor-made for you.

Let's delve into the details.

What are Power Words?

Power words are compelling and descriptive terms that evoke positive or negative emotional responses. They have the ability to make us feel a range of emotions such as fear, encouragement, arousal, anger, greed, safety, or curiosity. Authors, freelance writers, copywriters, and content marketers strategically use these "power words" to enrich their content and prompt audiences to take action.

Still a bit unclear?

Consider an example from Winston Churchill, where all the power words are emphasized:

"We have before us an ordeal of the most grievous kind. We have before us many, many long months of struggle and of suffering. You ask, what is our policy? I can say: It is to wage war, by sea, land and air, with all our might and with all the strength that God can give us; to wage war against a monstrous tyranny, never surpassed in the dark, lamentable catalogue of human crime. That is our policy. You ask, what is our aim? I can answer in one word: It is victory, victory at all costs, victory in spite of all terror, victory, however long and hard the road may be; for without victory, there is no survival."

Inspiring, isn't it?

Here's why:

Power Words = Emotionally Charged Persuasion Effective speakers, along with their speechwriters, infuse their speeches with meticulously chosen power words laden with sensory details. This skillfully guides the target audience from one emotion to another, much like a skilled novelist or screenwriter.

This influence extends beyond speakers and storytellers.

Email marketing content, copywriting, infographics, step-by-step guides, sales pages, inspirational quotes, content marketing, case studies, calls to action, testimonials, tweets, and other social media posts are all crafted to sway the reader (and potential customers) emotionally. Yes, you want to convey information, but you also want the reader to experience a particular emotion in response to that information.

Perhaps you want to impress, excite, caution, incite anger, motivate perseverance, spark curiosity, create a sense of urgency, foster trust, or evoke a range of other emotions. The better you are at eliciting these emotions, the more influential your content becomes, increasing your chances of achieving your desired outcome.

So...

Are you seeking a quick method to infuse your writing with impact?

Perhaps you want to inject some personality or flair — that extra "oomph" that grabs your reader's attention?

If so, expanding your vocabulary and integrating emotional power words into your content is the key.

The 7 Different Types of Power Words

1. Fear Power Words
2. Encouragement Power Words
3. Lust Power Words
4. Anger Power Words
5. Greed Power Words
6. Safety Power Words
7. Forbidden Power Words

These power words are categorized into seven types, all serving the same purpose: eliciting emotions in your reader.

Let's explore each type and understand why these words are effective.

1. Fear Power Words

Let's embark on a brief experiment.

For just a moment, pause your reading of this post, switch on the television, and tune in to a prominent news channel. Invest five minutes in attentive listening, focusing on the words listed below.

Odds are, you'll encounter numerous instances of these words. The reason is clear:

Fear stands as unequivocally the most potent emotion for capturing and retaining an audience's attention. To ensure you remain glued to the screen, news networks strategically incorporate fear-inducing words, creating a sense of concern that you might miss out on something crucial.

Granted, it's possible to go overboard, but in my perspective, many writers fail to utilize these types of words sufficiently. Undoubtedly, they establish a genuine connection with people.

Want to sprinkle fear power words into your writing? Here are a bunch to get you started: