How to Use Power Verbs to Spice Up Your Copy

Not all words are created equal; some give more information than the standard verbs we use. Think of sprint vs run or beam instead of smile. Just by swapping a basic verb for a power verb, you give the reader more information about the emotions behind the action or the way the action is being carried out.

How Power Verbs Make Your Copy More Interesting

One of the hallmarks of an excellent copywriter is their ability to communicate more using fewer words. Sentences feel snappy and pack a real punch in terms of how they make your clients feel.

A common sign that someone DIYs their copy, on the other hand, is that they take a while to get to the point. They may use a paragraph to say something that can easily be communicated in a sentence. This is not a big deal in content writing, but for copy, it can really weaken the effectiveness of your sales messaging.

Tightening up your copy by using power verbs and adjective swaps to get your message across clearly will make both your copy and content more impactful and make you look like a pro.

Let’s say you’re talking about the work you put into creating your coaching course. You could use the word MAKE or CREATE; they’re the standard that most people would use in spoken language. Or, you could opt for a power verb that influences the client’s perception of your course:

• • Formulate

• • Craft

• • Design

• • Develop

• • Built

• • Compile

• • Systemise

These words give the impression that expertise, research, hard work, and care has gone into your course creation. They’ll also set your copy apart from competitors.

How to Swap Over-Used Verbs for Power Verbs

The best thing to do is to write what’s in your head and then look for ways to strengthen your copy in the editing process. This is because stopping to look up swaps while you write will interrupt your flow. When you do it during editing, you can think about how the power verb swap fits into the overall copy.

A great place to start is to look up synonyms using a thesaurus like Collins Thesaurus. This will give you synonyms based on the various possible definitions of the word you want to swap. (Don’t worry it’s free.) Look through the list of synonyms and see if any resonate with you and fit what you want to convey.

Here are some power verbs you can use in place of commonly used verbs.

Over-Used Verb	Power Verbs
Do	Solve Perform Succeed Achieve Execute Undertake Carry out Own/ Take ownership of Resolve Implement
Improve	Augment Enhance Scale Advance Amplify Skyrocket Turbocharge Polish Raise the Bar Strengthen Heighten Deepen Enrich Upgrade Refine Cultivate
Give/Provide	Equip Furnish Gift Dish up Cater to Serve Afford Render Impart Unleash Orchestrate Deliver Bestow Yield Offer Produce Fetch Share Spill Command Supply Reveal Support Hand out
Want	Desire Aspire to Wish Crave Thirst for Covet Hunger for Demand Seek Ache for Need Lust after Beseech Drool over Hanker after
Guide	Pilot Lead Steer Educate Teach Counsel Instruct Concierge Coach Support Aid Assist Coach Serve Shepherd Accompany Illuminate
Stop/Reduce	Cease Quit Refrain Lower Eliminate Suspend Restrain Trim Mitigate Shut down Terminate Dial down Slash Cut Break Wind down
Check Out	Discover Glimpse Dabble Scrutinise/Inspect Consider Peep Have a squint Take a gander Steal Ponder Mull over Behold Witness Contemplate Study Muse Reflect on

How to Choose the Right Power Verbs for Your Copy

Not all of the power verbs in that list can be swapped immediately into your copy. You need to consider which verbs are appropriate for your brand voice and the tone and purpose of the copy. For example, “take a gander” would be too informal for a corporate audience

Your power verbs need to convey the right message as well.  For example, “orchestrate” has connotations of creativity and bringing a lot of moving parts together with expertise. If your product is a meal kit for busy professionals who can’t cook, copy that uses terms like “orchestrating sumptuous feasts” would not have the desired results. It doesn’t give the image of an easy solution that gets edible food on the table in 20 minutes.