80 Effective Power Words to Make Your Headlines More Attractive
The formula of success begins in the title, but it doesn’t end there. It’s all about Psychology.
It’s month 6, and I still can’t draw the audience's interest with my titles. Sigh.
When they go into my story, they stick to it, stats don’t lie. But I lack the “clickbait” words in my headlines. Well, I made some research for my benefit and yours.
Power words work as triggers. They trigger emotion or curiosity, and you, the reader, end up clicking to read the story based on that trigger.
If I put the word “I” in my headline, it won’t work nearly as much as the word “You”. You trigger someone’s interest by offering them value. And a carefully structured title can make even a simple story skyrocket.
So, without further ado, I gathered 86 of my favorite power words for you, separated into different areas you want to focus on.
Notice that there many more words than these. I just find these 80 words more interesting than the others. They are an example for you to use in your next story.
Greed Power Words
People love making money yesterday. Not today. They like to see recommended actions they can apply at a glance. But not only money. People seek value that can instantly make them more productive as well.
It would be a big deal if you could capture the audience’s interest before they even go and read your story.
- Before — one of my favorites at 16k claps.
- Best — Another one, with over 40k claps.
- Big
- Extra
- Fast
- Greatest
- Instantly
- More — at 173k claps, you can’t neglect that this is one of the most viewed stories in Medium.
- Monetize
- Quick
- Six-figure
- Skyrocket
- Ultimate
- Value
Top 3 Example stories with greed power words.
- These 20 Pictures Will Teach You More Than Reading 100 Books (30k views)
- The Greatest Sales Deck I’ve Ever Seen (95k views)
- The Secret to Skyrocketing Your Skills in a Short Period of Time (7.9k views)
Curiosity Power Words
A highly effective list of power words, if you ask me. Seeing words like the ones below will make you want to read more. They are kind of clickbait words, drawing the reader fully. I’ll be using them myself too in some particular stories.
- Astonishing
- Controversial
- Forgotten
- Incredibly
- Insane
- Ridiculous
- Secret — The 7 Secrets of Writing From the Best Writers in the World, 16k claps.
- Shocking
- Strange
- Unbelievable
- Unconventional
- Unique
- Untold
Top 2 Example stories with curiosity power words.
- How To Become Ridiculously Self-Aware In 20 Minutes (85k claps)
- Steve Jobs’ Secret for Eliciting Questions, Overheard at a San Francisco Cafe (21k claps)
Sloth Power Words
Undoubtedly one of the best lists in this article.
Sloth is the avoidance of work. People want results by following the path with the least resistance. There are plenty of stories providing a said easy path for the readers.
This is exactly why I wrote the opposite article — which is now curated. Don’t Get Baited by Entrepreneur’s “What I Would Tell My Past Self” Advice Stories
There are words in here that people want to see before they click on your story. Use them accordingly.
- Basic
- Cheat Sheet
- Clear
- Complete
- Easy — 1 Easy Trick to Massively Improve Your Sleep Quality, 17k claps.
- Efficient
- Effortless
- Formula
- Free
- Instant
- Manifest
- Now
- Quick
- Replicate
- Simple
- Steal
- Steps
- Template
Top 3 Example stories with sloth power words.
- 9 Micro-Habits That Will Completely Change Your Life in a Year (41k claps)
- Warren Buffett’s Recent Explanation of How Money Now Works Is the Most Important in History (37k claps)
- 10 Simple Rules for the Best Life Ever (35k claps)
Vanity Power Words
Researchers have found that vanity is one of the chief driving forces that lead to purchase decisions.
We buy things we think they will make us look better.
And it’s the same reason we click on stories that have vanity power words in them.
- Ahead of the game
- Amazing
- Amplify
- Attractive
- Bright
- Brilliant
- Effective
- Genius
- Good-looking
- Mind-blowing
- Optimal
- Smart — Why Smart People Should Read Fewer Books, 9k claps.
- Stunning
- Successful
- Ultimate
- You — This Morning Routine will Save You 20+ Hours Per Week, 90k claps.
Top 4 Example stories with vanity power words.
- How To Feel Amazing Before 8AM (11k claps)
- Claude Shannon: How a Genius Solves Problems (31k claps)
- Four Quotes by Actual Humans that Blew My Mind (31k claps)
- You’re Not Lazy (94k claps)
Trust Power Words
In the end game, what are you trying to do when you are writing? Building trust between you and your reader. You want to make them trust you, so they end up loving your work and coming back for more.
These power words are shouting TRUST to the reader. Use them to help you.
- According to
- Approved
- Authentic — The Elements That Shape an Authentic Life, 16k claps.
- Backed
- Because
- Best
- Best selling
- Case Study — One of my own stories, 440 claps.
- Certified
- Ensured
- Guaranteed
- Improved
- Lifetime — How To Achieve More In A Single Year Than Most Achieve In A Lifetime, 9k claps.
- Proven
- Research — Research Confirms That No One Is Really Thinking About You, 21k claps.
- Results
- Secure
Top 3 Example stories with trust power words.
- How To Become More Intelligent (According to Einstein) (16k claps)
- 7 Things You Need To Stop Doing To Be More Productive, Backed By Science (173k claps)
- Want to Become the Best at What You Do? Read this. (41k claps)
Final Thoughts
Today, I learned the incredible world of power-words. Backed up scientifically, I presented you with 80 of my favorites.
Try to apply them in your next headline.
Try to find which power word works better for your story’s theme as well. You will see more reads, it’s easy and requires no time at all. Just a cheat sheet with those words. Consider saving it for accessibility.
Thanks for the read, I will expect your stories with some of these power words in the comments!
I would love to thank two stories for helping this one become a reality.