SEO Power Words: Ultimate List & Guide

SEO Power Words: Ultimate List & Guide

“Good words are worth much, and cost little.” 

—George Herbert

Good Words Quote

Search engine optimization (SEO) has many factors. It considers everything from your site structure to the words you use in your copy.

This SEO guide focuses on how you can use power words to boost SEO. We’ll explain what they do and give you a full list of power words to choose from. This way, you can drive reader engagement and optimize your content for the web.

When it comes to online writing, you need to use words that not only target your audience but target their emotions. That’s why we segment our power word list by which emotion they appeal to: the reader’s sense of trust and community as well as their curiosity, pride, laziness, fear, lust, greed, and anger.

We’ve scoured the web for the best power words to compile the most comprehensive list out there. It’s the only SEO power word list you’ll ever need.

Let’s dive in.

What is an SEO Power Word?

So what exactly is an SEO power word? Similar to SEO power pages, these are words (and sometimes phrases) aimed at triggering a psychological or emotional response in the reader. Ideally, power words appeal to our emotions and senses to persuade us to take action.

Power words are used all over. In email marketing, landing pages, social media, and content marketing. Copywriters and advertisers alike employ them to drive traffic, conversions, and ultimately sales.

What makes power words good for SEO? Well, search engines reward sites that draw organic traffic. Think about it. If a web page consistently attracts engagement and longer dwell times for a certain keyword, Google assumes that visitors are deriving value from it. That the page satisfies them. And that’s what Google is about above all—satisfying search intent.

So if you can increase traffic with alluring power words, you’ve won half the battle. You’ve widened your traffic funnel. The trick is to then make sure your content actually delivers. It must add value to the reader. Otherwise, you’ve led them down a misleading path, and they’ll bounce from your page, which will drop your dwell time rate and actually hurt your SEO.

The 80/20 Rule

Power words are especially important in headlines. After all, headlines are the first thing readers see. So you need to make them as click-worthy as possible. Headlines follow the 80/20 rule. Also known as the Pareto principle, the 80/20 rule states that 80% of your results will come from 20% of your work. Even though headlines only make up a small piece of what goes into a piece of content, they can make or break it. A weak headline will lose the reader, and they won’t click. But a powerful headline can persuade the reader to learn more.

When it comes to SEO, power words increase your bottom line. They get readers to click and discover the high-quality content you have to offer. Plus, they help your copy throughout. Visitors will be more inclined to keep reading if you speak to their emotions.

That’s why we’ve laid out the best 1,274 power words for you. And we’ve segmented them by the emotion to which they appeal for your easy reference.

So without further ado, here they are:

Trust SEO Power Words

above and beyond ensured reliability
absolutely expert research
according to facts, factual research-backed
accredited fail proof results
accurate faith, faithful risk-free
actionable flawless rock solid
actual foolproof safety
admiration, to admire fully refundable scientific, science
advantage genuine scientifically proven, science-backed
anonymous guarantee, guaranteed secure
approved guilt-free sensible
authentic improved should
authoritative, authority ironclad studies show
automatic legit, legitimate super
backed lifetime superior
backed refund money-back supported
bankable no doubt sure-fire
because no fail survive
best no obligation(s) tested
bestselling no questions asked that never fails
better no risk thorough
bona fide no strings attached track record
cancel anytime obvious true, truly
case study official trustworthy
certified patented try before you buy
clockwork pay zero ultimate
complete percent unconditional
confirmed permanent unparalleled
data privacy unquestionable
definite professional verified, verify
definitive promise well beyond
delightful protected well respected
dependable proven world-class
detailed recession-proof worldwide
don’t worry recognized worry-free
effective refund worthwhile
endorsed reliable

Community SEO Power Words

become a member community safe
become part of connect support
circle group team
come along join together

Curiosity SEO Power Words

ancient hidden sneak peek
astonishing hilarious spoiler
backdoor hilarious strange
banned hush-hush stunning
be an insider illegal super secret
be the first illusive thought-provoking
become an insider incredibly top secret
behind the scenes insane trade secret
bizarre insider tried to hide
black market interesting unauthorized
blacklisted invitation only unbelievable
blacklisted join uncensored
bootleg key uncharted
censored learn unconventional
clandestine limited uncover
class full little-known under the radar
classified login required under the table
cloak and dagger lost under wraps
closet members only undercover
concealed myths underground
confessions never seen before under-the-table
confidential odd undisclosed
controversial off limits undiscovered
covert off the record unexpected
cover-up on the q.t. unexplained
crazy outlawed unexplored
cringe worthy priceless unheard of
dark private unique
discover privy unlock
distinct psycho unreachable
elusive remote unspoken
exclusive restricted unsung
exotic ridiculous untold
extraordinary sealed unusual
eye-opening secluded unveil, unveiled
forbidden secret wacky
forgotten shh! withheld
from the vault shocking zany
harness smuggled

Pride SEO Power Words

A+ excellent phenomenal
adorable excited pluck
affable extraordinary power-up
ahead of the game eye-opening praise
amazing fabulous prevail
amplify faith prosperous
ascend fantastic radiant
astonishing fearless remarkable
astounding ferocious revel
at the top fierce rule
attractive flawless sassy
audacious force saucy
awe-inspiring fortunate score
awesome foxy seize
backbone free sensational
badass fulfill smart
beat genius spectacular
beauteous glory, glorious splendid
beautiful good-looking spunk
belief gorgeous staggering
bliss, blissful graceful strengthen
bold grateful striking
booming greatest strong
boost grit stunning
boss guts stunt
brassy handsome stupendous
bravery happy successful
brazen heart superhuman
breathtaking hero supreme
bright, brighten honor surprising
brilliant hope tender, tenderness
celebrate, celebrated incredible terrific
cheer, cheery jaw-dropping thrive
cherish jovial thwart
classy joy, joyful, to enjoy titan
clever jubilant tough
colossal kick-ass tremendous
command knockout triumph, triumphant
conquer kudos turbocharge
courage legend, legendary ultimate
crowned life-changing unbeatable
daring love, loveable, falling in love unbeaten
dazzling luck, lucky unbelievable
defeat magic undefeated
defiance marvelous unforgettable
delight master unique
devotion, devoted mind-blowing unleash
dignity miracle, miraculous uplifting
dominate money-making valiant
drop-dead new valor
ecstatic next level vanquish
effective noble victory
effortless notable, noteworthy virtuoso
elegant nurture, nurturing wealthy
elite open-hearted win
empower optimal wonderful
enchant perfect wondrous
epic persuade

Laziness SEO Power Words

accessible free, freebie nothing to it
all-inclusive gift now
amazing guide on demand
basic how-to painless
building blocks in less than pattern
cheat sheet in record time piece of cake
child’s play index plain
cinch ingredients printable
clear instant, instantly quick
complete itemized ready
components kick-start replicate
comprehensive life-changing report
copy light roadmap
downloadable list simple
easy magic simple as abc
economical manageable smooth, smooth sailing
efficient mere snap
effortless minutes steal
elementary, elements miraculous steps
empower model straightforward
factors mold swipe
fail proof no nonsense template
fill in the blanks no problem tools
formula no sweat uncomplicated

Fear SEO Power Words

abuse epidemic plunder
agony fail plunge
annihilate failure poison
anxiety feeble poor
anxious fired prison
apocalypse foil pummel
armageddon fool punch
assault fooled pus
backlash frantic pussyfoot
banned freaking out reckoning
beating frightening revenge
beware fugacious risky
blinded gambling sabotage
blood gullible savage
bloodbath hack scary
bloodcurdling hazardous scream
bloody hoax searing
blunder holocaust shame
bomb horrific shatter
buffoon horror shellacking
bumbling hurricane shocked
burning out inferior silly
cadaver injure slaughter
cataclysmic insidious slaughtered
catastrophe invasion slave
caution jail smash
collapse jeopardy steal
corpse last chance stolen
cowardly lawsuit strangle
crazy looming stupid
cringe worthy lost opportunity suck
cripple lunatic suffering
crisis, crises lurking tailspin
danger massacre take advantage
dangerous meltdown tank
dark menacing targeted
deadly mired teetering
death miserable terror
deceiving miss out threat
despair mistake torture
destroy murder toxic
devastating nerd tragedy
disappointment nightmare trap
disaster painful trauma
disastrous pale vaporize
distressed panic victim
doom peril volatile
drowning piranha vulnerable
dumb pitfall warning
embarrass plague worry
embarrassed played wounded
embarrassing plummet wreaking havoc

Lust SEO Power Words

ache impure scandalous
allure, alluring indecent seduce, seductive
arouse intense sensual
bare intoxicating sex, sexy
begging intriguing shameless
beguiling itching sinful
brazen juicy sleazy
captivating kinky sleeping
charismatic kiss sleazy
charm lascivious sneak peek
cheeky lewd spank
climax lick spellbinding
compelling lonely spicy
covet longing steamy
crave, craving love, lovely stimulating
delight lure striking
delirious luscious strip
depraved lush sweaty
deprive lust tantalizing
desire magnetic taste
dirty mind-blowing tawdry
divine mischievous tease
ecstasy mouthwatering tempting
embrace naked thrilling
enchant naughty tickle
enchanting nude tight
engaging obscene tingle
enthralling obsession turn on
entice orgasmic unabashed
entrance passionate uncensored
excite pining untamed
exotic pinning untouched
explicit pleasure, pleasurable urge
exposed promiscuous voluptuous
fascinate, fascinating provocative vulgar
flirt racy wanton
forbidden raunchy wet
frisky risqué whip
goosebumps riveting wild
hanker rowdy X-rated
heavenly salacious yearn, yearning
hottest satisfy you
hypnotic saucy yummy

Greed SEO Power Words

ahead of the game first noteworthy
amplify fortunate now
at the top fortune optimal
attractive foxy pay zero
bank free premiere
bargain freebie price break
beautiful frenzy prize
before frugal profit
best genius prosperous
big get more quadruple
big deal gift quick
big time giveaway reasonable
billion golden reduced
bold good-looking rich
bonanza gorgeous running low
bonus greatest running out
booked solid guilt-free sale
booming handsome sale ends soon
boost high-paying sassy
boss huge save
brassy hurry save money
bright immediate savings
budget inexpensive scarce
cash instant, instantly six-figure
cheap jackpot skyrocket
clever kick-ass slashed
costly knockout smart
crowned last chance soaring
dazzling legendary special
deadline limited successful
discount lowest price superhuman
dollar lucky surge
don’t miss out lucrative treasure
double luxurious triple
earn more marked down turbocharge
economical massive ultimate
effective monetize unbeaten
elegant money undefeated
elite money-draining upsell
exclusive, exclusivity money-making value
expires, expiring money-saving waste
explode more wealth, wealthy
extra nest egg while they last
fast never again whopping
feast new you
final notable

Anger SEO Power Words

abhorrent hate, hated, hatred repugnant
abuse high and mighty revile
agitate horrid revolting
agonizing hostile rotten
annoy, annoying hysterics rude
arrogant infuriating ruined
backstabbing irritating ruthless
bankrupt jealous savage
barbaric kick scam
bash kill scold
beat down knock screw
big mouth knock out sick and tired
bitter know-it-all sink
blatant lies slam
boil over livid slander
broke loathsome slap
brutal lollygag slash
buffoon loser slay
bully lying smash
cheat maul smear
clobber miff smug
clown misleading sneaky
cocky money-grubbing sniveling
corrupt morally bankrupt snob
coward nasty snooty
crooked no good snotty
crush obnoxious spiteful
curse oppressive spoil
debase pain in the ass steal
defile panic stink
delinquent payback stuck up
demolish perverse suck
deplorable pesky suck up
desecrate pest sulk
desperate phony tantrum
despicable pissed off terrorize
diatribe pitiful thug
diminish pollute trash
disgusting pompous trounce
dishonest pound tyranny
distorted preposterous underhanded
evil pretentious untrustworthy
exploit provoke up to here
flare up punch useless
force-fed punish vengeful
foul quixotic vicious
freaking out rage, raging victim
frenzy, frantic raise hell violate
fury, furious rampant violent
greedy rant waste
gross ravage weak
grumpy rebel worst
harass repelling wounded

Partnering with SEO.co

Feel free to bookmark this list for future reference. That way, you can easily get back to it the next time you’re writing a blog post or you’ve hit a writer’s block.

Of course, there’s a lot more to SEO than just power words. From link building to on-page SEO, there are several knobs to adjust and levers to pull in order to make your website rank high on Google.

That’s where SEO.co can help. Our experts have over 20 years of experience working with top clients in industries ranging from real estate to healthcare to travel and more. To take your digital marketing to the next level, reach out today to schedule a free consultation.

Timothy Carter