120+ power words that get clicks and conversions [+ examples]

Reading Time: 12 minutes

Power words can help you ace persuasive copywriting, evoke emotions, and spur your audience to take action. They’re a marketer’s secret weapon that can drive clicks and conversions, boosting your content’s effectiveness.

In this article, we’ll explore 120 powerful words you can easily incorporate into your copy. We’ll discuss what a power word is, what makes them so influential, and how you can use them effectively across various marketing channels.

By the end of this article, you’ll have a valuable toolkit to enhance your marketing copy and drive better results for your campaigns.

What are power words?

Power words are carefully chosen terms that trigger psychological or emotional responses in readers, compelling them into action. Marketers, copywriters, and content creators strategically employ them to capture attention, evoke specific feelings, and persuade audiences.

Power words find common use in email subject lines, website headlines, product descriptions, social media posts, and advertising copy. They’re particularly effective in call to action buttons, which can significantly boost click-through rates and conversions.

The 200 Degrees’ coffee subscription example below demonstrates how power words enhance marketing copy:

Here’s a breakdown: 

• “Freshly roasted” appeals to quality and immediacy
• “Direct to your door” emphasizes convenience 
• “Don’t need to sign a contract” alleviates commitment concerns 
• “Cancel at any time” offers flexibility and reduces risk
• “Completely free” is a powerful motivator, addressing cost-related objections

These carefully selected power words work together to create an enticing offer that addresses potential customer concerns while highlighting the service’s benefits.

How do power words work?

Power words tap into deep-seated human emotions and psychological triggers, bypassing logical reasoning. The most powerful words create vivid mental images, stimulate sensory experiences, or activate primal instincts.

Power words appeal to our desires, fears, and aspirations, often subconsciously influencing decision-making processes. By aligning with the audience’s needs, they can also establish credibility, create urgency, or spark curiosity.

In fact, a comprehensive power words list can’t be complete without terms that elicit feelings such as anticipation, curiosity, greed, motivation, FOMO (fear of missing out), and trust.

Here’s how power words work in relation to these common feelings:

Feeling	Examples	Use cases
Anticipation	– Be first – Sneak peek – Coming soon	Build excitement:  – Headlines for upcoming content – Website sections showcasing future events – Email teasers for upcoming product launches
Curiosity	– Secret – Uncover – Discover	Pique interest and encourage exploration:  – Email subject lines inviting exploration – Headlines that spark interest in articles  – Popups with intriguing questions to engage users
Greed	– Free – Limited – Exclusive	Tap into the desire for gain or special access:  – Calls to action on landing pages – Popups announcing exclusive deals – Email subject lines promoting limited-time offers
Motivation	– Unlock – Achieve – Transform	Inspire action and growth:  – Headlines for self-improvement blogs – Text messages encouraging goal completion – Customer reviews showcasing success stories
FOMO	– Join now – Last chance – Don’t miss out	Create urgency and compel immediate action: – Popups for limited-time promotions – Text messages alerting to low stock – Calls to action in social media posts
Trust	– Proven – Certified – Guaranteed	Build credibility and reassurance:  – Customer reviews highlighting reliability – Email newsletters reinforcing brand credibility – Customer service responses addressing concerns

Examples of power words

Power words can enhance your marketing efforts across various channels, making your messages more compelling. In this section, we’ll provide a few power word examples as used by famous brands and explore:

• Power words in email subject lines
• Power words in email content
• Power words in popups
• Power words in text messages
• Power words on websites
• Power words in headlines
• Power words in calls to action
• Power words in customer service

Power words in email subject lines

Incorporating power words into email subject lines can significantly boost open rates, driving better engagement and conversions.

Here’s a list of words and phrases, along with examples of how to use them effectively in email subject lines:

Power word example	How to use
Exclusive	Exclusive offer: VIP access for you
Limited	Limited edition: Grab yours before it’s gone
Free	Free gift inside – don’t miss out!
Now	Shop now: Flash sale ends at midnight
Secret	Unlock the secret to better results
Proven	Five proven ways to double your income
Ultimate	The ultimate guide to stress-free living
Last chance	Last chance: 50% off ends today
New	New arrivals: Be the first to see
Discover	Discover the hidden gems in our collection
Alert	Price drop alert: Save big on bestsellers
Final	Final sale: Last chance to save big
Urgent	Urgent: Your action is needed
Unlock	Unlock your exclusive discount
Special	A special surprise awaits you inside

Examples

1. Last chance: In this example, using “last chance” in the subject line creates a sense of urgency and taps into the fear of missing out. These are powerful words that can motivate the recipient to action: 

2. Exclusive: This subject line uses the power word “exclusive” to make the recipient feel special and part of a select group. This power word also increases the appeal of the offer: 

3. Final hours: The phrase “final hours” emphasizes the closing window of opportunity. It communicates the limited nature of the offer and encourages readers to act quickly:

?Want to know how your subject lines stack up? Try Omnisend’s free email subject line tester. 

Power words in email content

Beyond the subject line, integrating copywriting power words into your email content can significantly boost click-through rates. By strategically using these emotionally charged words, you can make your email copywriting more persuasive, engaging, and effective.

Here’s a power words list and their effective use cases in email content:

Power word example	Use case
Transform	Transform your home with our revolutionary decor solutions
Authentic	Experience the authentic taste of our coffee
Guaranteed	Guaranteed satisfaction with every purchase
Unleash	Unleash your inner creativity with our art supplies
Limited-time	Don’t miss our limited-time flash sale
Save	Save big with our weekend sale
Instant	Enjoy instant savings on our top-rated products
Ready-to-ship	Order your ready-to-ship limited edition items now
Best-selling	Shop our best-selling items now
Must-have	The must-have accessories for this season
Complimentary	Enjoy complimentary shipping on orders over $50
Limited edition	Own our limited edition items before they sell out
Members-only	Members-only deals – join now
Top-rated	Shop our top-rated products now
Hurry	Hurry, limited quantities available!

Examples 

1. Transform: Dusk uses the power word “transform” in its email to create excitement and imply that its customers can enjoy positive change by updating their home decor:

2. Must-have: For A1 Supplements, the power phrase “must-have” creates a feeling of necessity, suggesting that these supplements are essential for achieving fitness goals: 

3. Ready-to-ship: With the “ready-to-ship” power phrase, Hiut Denim instills a sense of immediacy and convenience. This works alongside power words like “last chance” and “best be quick” to motivate customers to take advantage of its limited-time offer:

Power words in popups

Effective popups use powerful words to capture attention, provide compelling reasons to engage, and encourage more signups, conversions, or purchases. When strategically placed in headings, subheadings, or buttons, good power words can capture visitors’ attention and inspire them to take action.

Here’s a list of power words for popups and their use cases:

Power word example	Use case
Final call	Final call – don’t miss out!
Premium	Experience premium quality at unbeatable prices
Bonus	Get a bonus when you sign up today!
Act fast	Act fast – limited availability!
Claim	Claim your reward today!
VIP	Join our VIP list for exclusive deals
Today only	Today only – special discount just for you
Flash sale	Flash sale! Prices slashed for a limited time
Reward	Earn your reward now!
Be first to hear	Be first to hear about our newest arrivals
Insider	Become an insider – get special privileges
Join now	Join now and start saving today
Unmissable	Unmissable deals – shop now!
Personalized	Get personalized recommendations just for you
Incredible	Don’t miss out on our incredible offer!

Examples

1. VIP: With the powerful words “exclusive” and “VIP,” Dossier creates a sense of privilege, exclusivity, and special treatment, enticing new visitors to sign up for its mailing list:

2. Unlock: Stumptown Coffee Roasters adds “unlock” to suggest a valuable offer is within reach, encouraging visitors to take action by making them feel like they’re gaining special access to a reward:

3. Be first to hear: For Divatress, the strategic use of the powerful words “be first to hear” has helped convert over 13,000 website visitors. These powerful words entice visitors to join the company’s email list by creating an air of exclusivity and insider knowledge:

Power words in text messages

Text messages are a highly effective marketing channel that boasts a higher open rate than email. Since they’re also typically read within minutes of receipt, they’re ideal for time-sensitive promotions or urgent updates. Therefore, text messages with powerful words can effectively convey important offers, prompting swift action.

Here’s a list of powerful nouns and action words for text messages and their effective use cases:

Power word example	Use case
Offer	Exclusive offer: 20% off your next purchase!
Deal	Hot deal: Buy one, get one free
Decisively	Act decisively! Your special discount ends soon
Bargain	Unbeatable bargain – save 50% on select items!
Bonanza	Weekend bonanza: Prices slashed storewide
Expires	Hurry, this offer expires in two hours!
Value	Incredible value: 40% off all accessories!
Fortune	Your fortune awaits! Win up to $500 with our contest
While they last	Extra 10% off while they last!
Giveaway	Enter our giveaway for a chance to win a $100 gift card
Quick	Quick! Your 25% off coupon expires in 30 minutes
Steal	Get this item at a steal – limited quantities available!
Great news	Great news! Your discount code is here – save 15% today
Tantalizing	Tantalizing treats await: Tap to reveal

Examples

1. Alert: To immediately grab attention and create a sense of urgency, Nectar Clothing strategically incorporates the word “Alert” and places it between two alarm siren emojis:

2. Good news: With the power words “good news,” Basic Piece creates a positive sentiment and builds anticipation, potentially re-engaging customers who abandoned their carts:

3. Shop the sale: Lovepop combines celebration with a time-limited offer, prompting recipients to take immediate action and capitalize on the special occasion for savings: 

Power words on websites

Strategic placement of power words on your website, particularly landing and product pages, can significantly enhance your conversion rates. These emotionally charged words can create urgency, exclusivity, desire, or value, encouraging visitors to take action.

Here’s a list of power words for copywriting, along with possible use case scenarios for websites: 

Power word example	Use case
Upgrade	Upgrade your experience with our premium plan
Hassle-free	Enjoy a hassle-free return process with every purchase
Elevate	Elevate your style with our latest collection
Innovative	Discover our innovative new products
Cutting-edge	Experience cutting-edge technology
Exceptional	Enjoy exceptional customer service
Award-winning	Shop our award-winning products for a flawless glow
Groundbreaking	Explore our groundbreaking feature designs
Unprecedented	Unprecedented savings — this week only
State-of-the-art	Our state-of-the-art facilities
Seamless	Enjoy a seamless shopping experience
Intuitive	Our intuitive website design makes navigation effortless
Optimized	Optimized for speed and convenience
Responsive	Our responsive customer support team is ready to assist
Robust	Built with robust security features

Examples

1. Ultimate: Chubbies effectively uses the power word “ultimate” to market its training shorts, conveying a sense of superiority and desirability in the product description:

2. Award-winning: For Black Ember, the power words “award-winning” and “best-selling” establish credibility and appeal, reassuring buyers that they’re purchasing a proven product:

3. Upgrade: Omnisend strategically combines “upgrade,” “free,” and “claim” to create a compelling offer that highlights value and encourages immediate action: 

Power words in headlines

When used in headlines, power words can dramatically improve click-through rates. These words tap into readers’ emotions and desires, compelling them to explore further. Effective power words in headlines can transform a mundane topic into an irresistible story, driving traffic and engagement across various platforms.

Here’s a power words list, along with examples of how to use them in headlines:

Power word example	Use case
Breakthrough	Breakthrough solutions that revolutionize
Revealed	Revealed: The secret to success
Next level	Take your marketing to the next level with these tips
Powerful	Powerful tools to boost your productivity
Essential	Essential tools every entrepreneur needs for success
Sensational	Sensational deals you can’t afford to miss!
Don’t miss out	Don’t miss out on this limited-time offer
Introducing	Introducing the future of home automation
Time-sensitive	Time-sensitive offer: Grab yours before it’s gone!
Unparalleled	Unparalleled quality and service
Forbidden	The forbidden truth about diet fads
Game-changing	Game-changing innovations
Maximize	Maximize your results with these proven techniques
Jaw-dropping	Jaw-dropping deals you won’t believe
Controversial	The controversial new approach to fitness

Examples

1. Revealed: CNN’s use of “Revealed” adds an air of mystery and exclusivity, suggesting insider information that curious readers won’t want to miss: 

2. Next level: The power word “Next Level” in Moz’s headline promises advanced strategies, appealing to professionals seeking to enhance their skills beyond the basics: 

3. Like a pro: Starbucks cleverly combines “like a pro” and “insider tips” to offer readers a chance to elevate their coffee-making skills with expert knowledge, tapping into the desire for both expertise and exclusive information:

Power words in calls to action

You can transform passive browsing into active engagement by tapping into psychological triggers and incorporating power words in calls to action. These words align with users’ needs and motivations and help reduce decision fatigue. They create a sense of empowerment and seamlessly guide users toward the next step in their journey.

Here’s a power word examples list with various use case illustrations:

Power word example	Use case
Order now	Order now to enjoy free shipping
Buy now	Buy now and get an exclusive discount on your next order
Instantly access	Instantly access our premium content by signing up today
Enroll now	Enroll now and get a discount
Register today	Register today and receive a free gift
Signups	Sign up for our newsletter and get 10% off
Reserve your spot	Reserve your spot in our exclusive webinar
Download	Download our free ebook
Apply today	Apply today to join our VIP membership program
Learn more	Learn more about our products
Level up	Level up your skills with our courses
Get started	Get started with our free trial
Make the switch	Make the switch today
Explore	Explore our new collection
Master	Master your craft with our tools

Examples

1. Explore: Scalgo’s use of “explore,” “instantly access,” and “ready-made” appeals to both curiosity and efficiency, promising immediate value without the hassle of a complex setup: 

2. Come and try for yourself: Velasca’s invitation to “come and try for yourself” creates a tactile, experiential connection, bridging the gap between online browsing and in-store experience:

3. Make the switch today: Flaus takes a bold approach by telling readers to “make the switch today.” These powerful words challenge the status quo and position the product as a decisive improvement over traditional methods:

Power words in customer service

When used in customer support, transformative power words can turn negative interactions into positive experiences, fostering loyalty and trust. By carefully selecting empathetic and reassuring terms, support teams can defuse tensions, convey genuine care, and create a connection that goes beyond problem-solving. 

Here’s a list of power word examples with possible use case applications:

Power word example	Use case
Dedicated	Our dedicated support team is here to help you 24/7
Reliable	Count on our reliable service for all your needs
Help	Need help? Contact our support team
Trusted	Trusted by thousands of customers
Prompt	Get prompt responses to all your questions and concerns
Available	Our team is available 24/7
Priority	Your satisfaction is our top priority
Thank you	Thank you for choosing us
Thorough	We take a thorough approach to resolving your issues
Attentive	Our attentive customer service representatives
Committed	We’re committed to delivering excellence
Knowledgeable	Speak with our knowledgeable representatives
Supportive	We’re here to offer supportive guidance
Resourceful	Our resourceful team is ready to find the best solution
Diligent	Expect diligent follow-ups until your issue is fully resolved

Examples

1. Grateful: Watcher Stuff’s use of “grateful” elevates a standard support message into a heartfelt acknowledgment of customer value, helping leave a lasting positive impression:

2. Thank you: A masterclass in customer reassurance, Holo Taco combines “thank you,” “not to worry,” and “happy to help” to acknowledge the customer’s concern, create a supportive tone, provide comfort, and express willingness to assist further:

Summary

Having explored the power words’ meaning and impact across various marketing channels, you now know why you must use them to drive engagement and conversions. Not only will they affect your audience’s emotions and compel them to take action, but they will also eventually lead to better communication and foster brand loyalty.

The right power words enhance customer experiences, boost click-through rates, and ultimately increase sales. Use them in email subject lines, headlines, CTAs, SMS, and websites to ensure effective communication and achieve your marketing goals.