Using power words in your titles and headlines

Cristian Level X³

October 15, 2016, 11:39 am

19

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For a while now a new trend had started to take over the world of copywriting. The use of power word inside your titles and headlines, especially in your organic title tags that appear in Google Search.
This can dramatically increase your click throw rate!

Examples of power words and phrases you can use:

absolutely
blow your mind
best
complete
destiny
fascinating
innovative
monumental
professional
simplified
try before you buy
that will make you

And this list goes a lot bigger than the examples I've listed above. You can find hundredths of power words lists online.

Let's take this headline for example: " SEO Tutorial -Learn Basic SEO"
This is a very weak headline from a modern online copywriting point of view. I used no emotional based words, no uncommon words and no power words. This headline is simply plain and boring.

Example, of good optimization: "See how to develop the best SEO skills in the world!"
Using power words in your titles and headlines

Using power words in your titles and headlines

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hitmeasap

hitmeasap

Thank you for the share Cristian. Power words are definitely superb! - I've been using one or two power words in my titles for a very long time and I still experiment with titles daily. It's quite fascinating to see how one simple word can change your results radically?

Let me share some more examples:

If you're looking to bring a positive vibe and to give your readers a pep talk:

Amazing - Blissful - Breathtaking - Jaw-dropping - Mind-blowing - Stunning - Surprising - Uplifting

If you're looking to "start a riot" and make people angry, or to show your anger:

Abuse - Arrogant - Bullshit - Bully - Coward - Disgusting - Lies - Obnoxious - Preposterous

If you want to grab the attention of money savers or money makers:

Bargain - Discount - Extra - Free - Gift - Massive - Quadruple - Six-figure - Whopping

Here's a great site for some power words:
317 Power Words That’ll Instantly Make You a Better Writer

10 years ago

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Cristian

Cristian

Great share mate! I already had this page bookmarked, as I said, there are tons of power words you can find online, simply make wonders on increasing your CTR!

10 years ago

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hitmeasap

hitmeasap

Yeah, power words are amazing, and even though some people never heard about them, most people are actually using a power word or two in their content, even without knowing it. Power words for titles and sub-titles are indeed superb, as long as you use proper power words that "fits".

However, even if you do use "the best power words", (in your opinion), others might not think the same, so you should always experiment several times when you're using power words.

10 years ago

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Lynne

Lynne

I have been trying to implement power words in my titles and my calls to actions for the last few months ever since I read a really great article online about power words.

I totally agree that using catching titles will increase your click through rate. Getting your content to rank on page 1 of Google is one thing, but what is the use really if you don't optimize your title for click through?

I have noticed an increase in my click through rate since I started spending more time and effort with making my titles catchy with power words.

10 years ago

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Cristian

Cristian

Actually, you might be ranked number one on Google, but with all the recent updates if you don't have a certain CTR Google thinks is worthy of the first place you will actually lose ground, Google will rank you lower since users aren't interested in clicking on your page.
Others with higher CTR will be moved into better positions.

10 years ago

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EliteWriter

EliteWriter

Choosing certain words in your titles and headlines is actually a tool to make those headings stand out, not just for readers to be willing to click and read, but also for SEO purposes. Power words do contain a certain inner power, and it is important to be aware of certain power words so as to try and use them as much as possible. Thank you for sharing some of the power words one could use in this post. I am sure that there are several others who never actually thought about this or knew about the value of power words.

10 years ago

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DarthHazard

DarthHazard

It's extremely important that you use power words in your titles and headlines but to also have an extremely interesting headline that attracts people to read the content that you have written. But of course, it is important that you do not click bait your articles because that might annoy your readers and you may end up losing some loyal readers from your blog.

9 years ago

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DenisP

DenisP

"But of course, it is important that you do not clickbait your articles because that might annoy your readers and you may end up losing some loyal readers from your blog."

Finally! Looking through the comments, I was starting to lose hope that anyone would mention the dreaded topic of clickbaiting. While I don't disagree with a lot of the keywords listed in this post, I couldn't help but think to myself that whenever I see 90% of these words in a headline I automatically assume that it is clickbait. These words have been used to hell and back, and at this point a lot of "fulltime" internet browsers are conditioned to be opposed to them to some degree. These days you have to really have a gentle touch with headlines so as to not outwardly seem like you're trying to clickbait.

9 years ago

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galegatling

galegatling

It's like every writer and blogger nowadays use power words because it really is an awesome way to catch the reader's attention. One of the best keywords to use, as you mentioned, would be the emotional ones such as about feelings and how it would affect the reader. If they get their eyes on that phrase, for sure they will be reading everything. Also, keep in mind that you don't easily give them what they want on the headlines. Do not reveal everything. Make it somewhat a, sneak peak. Using power words in your titles and headlines

Using power words in your titles and headlines

9 years ago

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DenisP

DenisP

"It's like every writer and blogger nowadays use power words because it really is an awesome way to catch the reader's attention."

See that's the thing though, these power words are so common now that I'm starting to feel like they are losing/lost their impact. There was a time, when the internet was still relatively new, that most headlines were fairly direct and to the point. Then journalists and bloggers started spicing up their headlines with power words because they found that it was what got them the clicks. But now using power words is the new standard, and the vagueness of many headlines makes my mind instantly default to "Great, another clickbait article." I feel like the system needs freshening.

9 years ago

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bienn05

bienn05

Yes, it is the main reason why readers pay attention to something. Title is very important because it is the main thing that the reader will read before going into your blogs. Title should be catchy and interesting. Otherwise, blogs will be ignored.

8 years ago

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peachpurple

peachpurple

I noticed that how to articles are very attentive towards the words used. Those words you had mentioned, I had read them in those SEO articles rather than parenting articles. No wonder these articles hit the Google search at the front page.

9 years ago

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iamawriter

iamawriter

This link http://www.wordstream.com/keyword-tool-google I thought will take one to a proper keyword search that Google recognises. Did you take the support of this link while recommending those words in your post?

9 years ago

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ballyhara

ballyhara

Hey, thanks so much for the post. It's really interesting and useful. I use to have a teacher that was obsessed with the correct use and meaning of words, so usually she will make us search for the right meaning, put it into sentences, and make us use it in our day by day, and after some days she will ask us our experience by using the word. Actually it was kind of impressive to see, there were people that didn't even know they were using it for the opposite of the meaning.

9 years ago

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Judas2018

Judas2018

Power words can be effective but writers or scribes should try to avoid overusing them. As well as using them improperly. If your article isn't about anything exciting? But instead something normal or routine - then trying to spice it up with power-worded titling isn't going to make much sense. Also if you like or want to use power-words in your titles try not to be repetitive. The word "amazing" for example sounds good in an article title. But so many other article sites are using that word in their titles for the same reasons as you - that you might want to try using a different word that means "amazing." Just to set yourself apart.

9 years ago

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mildredtabitha

mildredtabitha

I have actually learned a lot thanks to your post. I have never considered using power words before but I will now start focusing on them. I have always felt short and clear titles are everything but now I can conclude that the words used matter a lot.

9 years ago

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anjanetteclyde0

anjanetteclyde0

Using power words in titles and headlines are definitely helpful to catch the reader's attention. Special touch of it would absolutely create a different kind of pull off. This will not only gathers more readers or audience, it will spread more the message and justify more about the content through the comments and feedback of the readers. Just have to make sure that the essence and depth of the content is equal to the treatment we have for the titles and headlines or more fruitful than them. In that way, there will be no wasted effort and time in both parties.

9 years ago

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