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Welcome to the world of power words! If you’re in the online course business, you’re probably always on the lookout for ways to improve your marketing material and make your online courses stand out.
Well, you’re in luck because today, we’re going to talk about one of the most powerful tools you have at your disposal: power words.
The Business Relationship Management (BRM) Institute mentions the impact of language on the brain and the importance of using positive language, as words can have a significant impact on our lives, psychologically and emotionally.
Power words are like magic spells that can instantly grab people’s attention and make them want to learn more. They’re the key to creating marketing material that’s impossible to ignore and online courses that people can’t wait to sign up for.
In this article, we won’t just throw a power words list in your direction, we will take a practical approach and give you handy tips and use cases, along with a list of the most powerful words you can use in your online content and content marketing material.
So, let’s dive in and see how you can use power words to get your online courses on the best-selling list.
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What are Power Words?
Power words evoke emotion and have a strong psychological impact on the audience. They’re words that can instantly grab people’s attention, make them feel something, and inspire them to take action.
When you use power words in your marketing material and online course content, you tap into people’s deepest desires and emotions. You’re making them feel something, which makes them want to learn more or click on the “Buy now” button – so you are practically initiating an emotional response.
Power words are the key to creating marketing material that’s impossible to ignore and content for online courses that people can’t wait to sign up for.
How to use Power Words in Marketing Material
Using power words in your marketing material is essential if you want to grab people’s attention and increase conversions to hit your marketing goals.
Power words can be used in headings, subheadings, sales pages, giveaways, webinars, case studies, popups, calls to action, and even during your podcast or in your YouTube videos. The options are practically limitless!
👉 For example, if you are offering a webinar in business leadership and you want to promote it with a newsletter, instead of writing a subject headline like “Learn how to be an effective business leader,” you could write “Discover the secrets to mastering business leadership.” This headline includes persuasive words, like “secrets” and “mastering,” to grab your audience’s attention instantly.
You can also use power words in your calls to action. Instead of writing “Sign up for my course,” you could write “Master business leadership now.” This call to action uses the power words “master” and “now,” which give a sense of urgency and make people want to take action.
We will examine more use cases further in this article.
When incorporating power words into your marketing material, it’s important to use them in a natural way. Don’t stuff your headlines and calls to action with power words or power phrases; that would sound unnatural and would turn off your potential students. Instead, use them sparingly and strategically.
Examples of incorporating power words into your marketing messaging
Use power words in the copywriting of your marketing material to promote your courses and services more effectively. For example, instead of saying, “this course is effective,” you can say, “Guaranteed Results: Master the [subject matter] with [name of course/program].”
Here are some more examples and use cases to get you started.
📧 Email subject lines
Incorporating power words in an email’s subject line can help increase the email’s open rate and make it more likely that potential customers will click through to learn more about your program.
For example, using a subject line such as “Unlock the Secrets to [Topic]” can create a sense of intrigue and motivation for potential students to open the email and learn more.
📩 Email marketing campaigns
Using power words in email marketing campaigns can increase the open and click-through rates, making it more likely that potential customers will read the email and take action.
For example, using a subject line such as “Limited Spots Available – Last Chance to Secure Your VIP Access Now” can create a sense of urgency and exclusivity, motivating potential customers to enroll in your program as soon as possible.
🎯 Landing pages
Power words can increase the conversion rate of a landing page if you include them in headlines and copy.
For example, using headlines such as “Transform Your [Skill/Career] with Our Proven Method” can create a sense of credibility and relevance and make the course feel more valuable and desirable to your audience.
#️⃣ Social media
The use of power words in social media posts can help increase engagement, and reach, and make it more likely that your target audience will see and share the posts.
For example, using a caption such as “Discover the Secrets to [Course Topic] and Achieve [Desired Outcome]” or “Mind-Blowing Strategies for Effective Coaching” can create a sense of excitement and motivation.
📢 Testimonials
You can increase the perceived value and appeal of your program by including power words in testimonials.
For example, using phrases such as “Life-Changing and Eye-opening Experience,” “Empowering Journey,” or even “Spellbinding Strategies for Avoiding Life Coaching Scams“ can create a sense of emotional connection and resonance for potential customers, making your online course more relatable and desirable to them.
💡 Describe the course’s call-to-action (CTA)
Make your call to action powerful by using power words to encourage your potential customers to buy or enroll.
For example, instead of saying, “enroll in the course now,” you can say, “Unlock the trade secrets of the course now.”
From the examples above, you understand that you can easily incorporate power words in various marketing elements of your marketing strategy.
However, keep in mind that the key is to use power words in a natural and authentic way and to always focus on clearly communicating the value and benefits of your course or program to your desired audience.
How to use Power Words in Online Course Content
The first thing people see when they come across your online course is the title. The title is what makes them want to know more and ultimately decide if they want to sign up.
The use of powerful words will help you enhance the engagement and impact of your online course content. Using power words that add value to the content will allow your online course to stand out and even attract more learners.
For example, instead of writing a title like “Online course on weight loss,” you could write “Secrets to Unlocking Rapid Weight Loss: The Ultimate Cheat Sheet.”
It’s also important to use power words in module and lesson titles. These titles give students an idea, a sneak peek, of what they will learn and what they will gain in that specific module or lesson.
Tips for incorporating power words into course content in a natural way
Here are some more examples and use cases that you may find useful.
✏ Course descriptions
Making use of power words in the course description can increase the perceived value and appeal of the course, resulting in more students enrolling.
For example, using phrases such as “Expertly-Crafted Curriculum to Master the English Language” or “Innovative Method to Apply SEO like a Pro” can create a sense of credibility and uniqueness for your course.
📝 Course objectives and outcomes
Build a more direct and impactful version of your course objective.
For example, instead of saying, “you will learn about X,” you can say, “you will master X”
📖 Course structure and format
Instead of saying, “the course is divided into several sections,” you can say, “the course is comprehensive and covers all aspects of the subject matter in great detail.”
✔ Describe the course’s features and benefits
As an example, rather than saying, “the course includes quizzes and exercises,” you can say, “the course is interactive and allows learners to engage with the material in a hands-on way.”
👥 Describe the course’s target audience and prerequisites
As opposed to saying, “this course is for beginners,” you can say, “this course is easy-to-use and accessible to learners of all skill levels.”
👩🏫 Describe the instructor and their qualifications
You can say, “the instructor is an expert in their field” instead of, “the instructor is an experienced professional.”
🔝 Describe the course’s unique selling point
For instance, instead of saying, “this course covers new information,” you can say, “this course is cutting-edge and covers the latest and most advanced information on the subject matter.”
💯 Describe the course’s value proposition
It is better to say, “the course is valuable and will provide learners with a high return on their investment.” rather than “the course is worth your time and money.”
📰 Create headlines and subheadings throughout the course material
For example, instead of saying “Introduction to the course,” you can say ” Master the [Topic] with our Revolutionary course”
It’s critical to remember that power words are most effective when they are used sparingly. Overusing them can make the course content seem contrived and inauthentic, and it could do the opposite of grabbing the reader’s attention.
Additionally, it’s important that the power words used align with the course’s learning objectives and content.
Power Words that You Can Use in Your Online Course Content and Marketing Material
There are literally hundreds of types of power words out there suitable for any industry and line of business.
We have identified a list of power words that are more closely related to online courses that you can use in your course content and marketing material.
| Power word | Description |
|---|---|
| Unlock | Suggests that the course or information being provided will give learners access to something previously hidden or inaccessible. It implies that the learner will gain knowledge or skills that they did not have before. |
| Master | Indicates that the course will enable the learner to become highly skilled or proficient in a particular subject or task. It suggests that the learner will achieve a high level of mastery and control over the material being taught. |
| Secrets | Implies that the program will reveal information that is not widely known or that is not typically shared with the general public. It suggests that the learner will gain access to exclusive or hidden knowledge. |
| Revolutionary | Suggests that the program is new, different, and innovative from traditional approaches. It implies that the learner will gain knowledge that has not been available before and can apply it to achieve something significant. |
| Effective | Implies that the course will produce the desired results. It suggests that the learner will gain knowledge or skills to help them achieve their goals. |
| Transformative | Suggests that the course will have a significant impact on the learner, changing them in some fundamental way. |
| Proven | Ensures that the methods or strategies taught in the course have been tested and found to be effective. |
| Expert | Indicates that the course’s instructor is highly knowledgeable and experienced in the subject matter. |
| Insider | Implies that the course will provide unique or exclusive information that is not widely known. |
| Guaranteed | Suggests that the course creator is confident in the effectiveness of the course and is willing to offer some form of guarantee. |
| Results-driven | Suggests that the course is focused on helping learners achieve specific, measurable outcomes. |
| Comprehensive | Suggests that the course covers all aspects of the subject matter in great detail. |
| Interactive | Suggests that the course includes activities or exercises that allow learners to engage with the material hands-on. |
| Easy-to-use | Suggests that the program is designed to be user-friendly and accessible to learners of all skill levels. |
| Flexible | Implies that the course can be tailored to the individual needs of the learner or that it can be completed at a pace that works for them. |
| Accessible | Implies that the program is available to anyone who wants to take it, regardless of location or background. |
| Scalable | Implies that the course can be adapted to a large number of students or to different contexts. |
| Cutting-edge | Suggests that the course covers the latest and most advanced information on the subject matter. |
| Customized | Indicates that the course is tailored to the specific needs of a certain group of learners. |
| Innovative | Suggests that the course uses new and unique methods to teach the subject matter. |
| Engaging | Suggests that the course is designed to keep learners interested and actively involved in the material. |
| Dynamic | Suggests that the course is constantly evolving and adapting to meet the needs of the learners. |
| Value-driven | Suggests that the course is designed to provide learners with a high return on their investment of time and money. |
| High-impact | Implies that the course will have a significant, long-lasting effect on the learner. |
| Actionable | Suggests that the course will provide learners with practical, immediately useful information that they can put into action. |
| Impactful | Suggests that the course will have a significant impact on the learner. |
| Inspiring | Suggests that the course will motivate and encourage learners to take action and achieve their goals. |
| Turbocharge | Implies that the program will equip learners and significantly increase their effectiveness or efficiency on the topic. |
Final Thoughts
Throughout this article, we have discussed the benefits and ways to use power words in different aspects of your online business. We have also highlighted some popular use cases applying different types of power words.
It is clear that strategically using these words, whether they are in marketing or course content, can help grab reader’s attention, benefit your SEO, increase engagement and drive success.
We encourage you to experiment with power words in your own content and marketing strategy and discover the many ways they can enhance your online presence.
However, it’s important to remember that using power words appropriately and in moderation is crucial, as overuse can come across as insincere and ultimately undermine engagement.
Give it a try, and see the transformative impact that power words can have on your online business.
Rosemary is LearnWorlds’ Content Marketing Manager. She has over 2 decades of experience in omnichannel marketing and content writing for the IT and SaaS industry. Her expertise lies in crafting effective content marketing strategies that attract, engage, and nurture customers, enabling LearnWorlds to reach its target audiences with precision.
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