power-words

Power Words Library

Transform ordinary copy into emotionally compelling content using psychological trigger words.

Resources

• Word Library — Complete word lists by category

What Are Power Words?

Emotionally charged words that trigger psychological responses:

• Grab attention in crowded feeds
• Create urgency and desire
• Build trust and authority
• Drive action and conversion

Conversation Starter

Use AskUserQuestion:

1. What copy needs enhancement? (headline, email, ad, landing page, CTA)
2. What emotion should it evoke? (urgency, trust, curiosity, fear, desire)
3. What action do you want? (click, buy, sign up, share)
4. Current copy — Paste the text to enhance

The 21 Categories (Summary)

Category	Trigger	Best For
Impatience	FOMO, speed	Launches, CTAs
Beauty	Aesthetic desire	Fashion, design
Lust	Deep craving	Food, luxury
Indulgence	Permission to enjoy	Self-care, treats
Excitement	Thrill-seeking	Events, launches
Novelty	Curiosity	Content teasers
Memorability	Stand out	Personal brand
Happiness	Well-being	Wellness, community
Prestige	Status	Premium products
Simplicity	Avoid complexity	How-tos, guides
Sadness	Fear of loss	Problem-aware content
Savagery	Primal emotions	Competitive positioning
Completeness	Thoroughness	Ultimate guides
Gravity	Significance	Emphasis
Greed	Acquisition	Sales, discounts
Humor	Entertainment	Social, viral
Authority	Trust	Credibility content
Exclusivity	Insider access	Limited offers
Pride	Achievement	Success content
Safety	Security	Protection content
Mind-blowing	Amazement	Shareability

See assets/word-library.txt for complete word lists.

Enhancement Process

Step 1: Identify Weakness

• Bland verbs? (get, have, make)
• Generic adjectives? (good, great, nice)
• Passive voice?
• No emotional hook?

Step 2: Match Emotion to Goal

Goal	Primary Category	Secondary
Sales/Conversion	Greed, Urgency	Exclusivity
Trust/Authority	Authority	Completeness
Engagement	Novelty	Mind-blowing
Fear-based	Safety, Sadness	Savagery
Desire-based	Lust, Beauty	Prestige
FOMO	Exclusivity	Impatience

Step 3: Strategic Replacement

Rule of 3: Use 2-3 power words per headline/CTA. More feels forced.

Placement priority:

1. First 3 words (hook)
2. Last word (memory anchor)
3. Action word (CTA verb)

Examples

Impatience:

• Before: "Get started today"
• After: "Jumpstart your growth today"

Novelty:

• Before: "New marketing tips"
• After: "Shocking marketing hacks that feel like magic"

Simplicity:

• Before: "Learn email marketing"
• After: "The stupid-simple email marketing cheat-sheet"

Greed:

• Before: "Get 50% off"
• After: "Steal this deal — 50% off ends today"

Exclusivity:

• Before: "Marketing tips"
• After: "Little-known marketing secrets the elite won't divulge"

Output Format

## Power Words Enhancement

### Original Copy
> [Original text]

### Analysis
- **Current emotion:** [What it evokes now]
- **Missing:** [What emotional triggers are absent]
- **Goal:** [Desired action/emotion]

### Recommended Categories
1. **[Category]** — [Why this fits]
2. **[Category]** — [Why this fits]

### Enhanced Versions

#### Option 1: [Primary emotion focus]
> [Enhanced copy with power words **bolded**]

**Power words used:** [word] (category), [word] (category)

#### Option 2: [Alternative angle]
> [Enhanced copy]

#### Option 3: [Stronger/softer variant]
> [Enhanced copy]

### Before/After

| Element | Before | After |
|---------|--------|-------|
| Headline | [original] | [enhanced] |
| CTA | [original] | [enhanced] |

### Caution
- Don't over-season: 2-3 power words max per sentence
- Match audience tone: "Badass" doesn't fit corporate B2B
- Test variants: What resonates varies by audience

What This Skill Does NOT Do

• Write copy from scratch (enhances existing copy)
• Guarantee conversion (testing required)
• Replace brand voice guidelines
• Work for highly regulated industries without compliance review