‘I am. Two of the most powerful words, for what you put after them shapes your reality.’ Gary Hensel
We work with and write about textiles. Every word and every image should render a visual and imaginary spectacle depicting the allure of thread and stitch. That’s powerful for us personally and as an industry.
Power words simply add the emotion to that spectacle so that your reader feels your passion. And when you feel something, you usually do something about it.
There are cheat-sheets, downloads and swipe files abounding with this new-to-me phenomenon. Copyrighters apparently use them all the time and good luck to them. But I’m not a copyrighter, I’m just someone who wants to write well about what I do.
Power words simply give me that opportunity. I get it. The marketing rabbit-hole is not for me, but lifting the level of my writing definitely is. Let’s see some examples of power words.
- Bonus – benefit, advantage, asset
- Exclusive – select, elite, expensive
- Secret – confidential, restricted, classified
- Easy – uncomplicated, unexacting, effortless
- Formula – recipe, blueprint, system
- Alluring – enticing, appealing, inviting
- Tantalizing – tease, titillate, intrigue
- Ultimate – supreme, paramount, utmost
- Approved – assent, acquiesce, agree
- Secure – stable, steady, unshakeable
- Rant – tirade, rave, fulminate
- Beware – be on guard, be wary, be careful
Simple, descriptive, emotive words able to take your on a journey all on their own.
No rant here, to secure your approval. Textiles will tantalize with their secret, exclusive magic – an easy formula to the ultimate enjoyment experience. Beware. The bonus attraction is secret. Can you guess? It’s addictive.
The sentence above involves anger (rant), trust (approved), vanity (ultimate), lust (alluring), sloth (easy, formula), greed (bonus), and curiosity (secret) and these emotions are what we all react to depending on our need. Phew, that, wasn’t easy.
Scatter some power words around and see if they lift your writing. Used well, they can add value.
