November’s Top Press Releases Focus on Format to Answer Readers’ Questions
Visitors to prnewswire.com were interested in a wide variety of content in November, but the most-read press releases all worked to answer readers’ top question: “How will this impact me?”
Here’s a deeper look at the stories visitors to our site found most engaging last month.
1. Following historic power restoration effort in mountain region, Duke Energy announces more than $2.2 million committed to date for disaster relief, rebuilding and readiness in North Carolina
Duke Energy – headquartered in Charlotte, N.C. – took the top spot in November with its recap of Hurricane Helene relief efforts and ongoing initiatives in the storm-battered state.
What works: The $2.2 million number stands out in a longer headline, and the two bulleted subheadlines provide instant context and impact for residents. The real highlight here is the formatting of the release body. Duke Energy has a lot of information to share with its customers and citizens of North Carolina, and the bolded section headers, lists, purposeful links and strategic bolding throughout expertly guide readers. These are all best practices for any release, but they’re particularly imperative for important subject matter like this.
For journalists: Content formatting is key to keeping readers on the page, whether for a press release, blog post or news article. Learn more.
2. American Freight Store Closing Sales Begin At Locations Nationwide Offering Shoppers Significant Savings
A retail chain’s closing announcement checked in at No. 2 last month.
What works: American Freight does a nice job of combining the standard headline verbiage for this type of news with a nod to its shopping audience, all while staying within the recommended headline length. The first few paragraphs strike a positive tone and include numbers that draw readers’ eyes, followed immediately by a few short bullets with the sale details and stores listed alphabetically by state.While the news is markedly different from the Duke Energy release, American Freight’s similar formatting shows its priority is helping its target audience find the most important information at a glance.
3. Spirit Airlines Issues Open Letter to All Spirit Guests
The No. 3 release was one of two issued a minute apart by the no-frills airline. The formal bankruptcy filing announcement took a back seat to this open letter in terms of prnewswire.com clicks.
What works: The concept is smart – issuing a short, separate note to potential passengers still invested in the news despite not being market analysts or shareholders. The key takeaway for the average traveler is bolded and underlined, followed by three straightforward bullets and a direct link for more information. If you have to announce bad news, there are far worse ways to do it.
For journalists: As holiday travel picks up, catch up on the latest travel-related press releases from airlines, hotels, cruise lines and more.
4. The Economist launches The World Ahead 2025 – forecasting a year of uncertainty and instability with Trump upending global trade, economics and geopolitics
The Economist’s annual predictive guide to the coming year clocked in at No. 4 in November.
What works: Everyone wants to know what’s going to happen – or what economic scholars think is on tap – in 2025. The Economist lays out its predictions in an easily digestible Top 10 list with links to each section (a comprehensive link is front and center in the first paragraph as a call to action.) This type of news is always the exception to the “less is more” link rule – each link is unique and deeply relevant to the content and allows readers quick, direct access to what interests them most.
5. Red Wing Shoes Expands Product Line with Launch of Three New Work Boots: Draftsmith, Polar X and VersaPro
Red Wing’s product launch rounds out our Top 5 for November.
What works: Red Wing crafts a very solid headline here, working in two words proven to generate clicks in headlines – “Expands” and “Launch” – and the names of the new products, all while staying within the recommended headline length. The subheadline follows up with additional keywords that the company’s target customers are searching for. The rest of the release is wisely kept succinct and divided into three easy-to-read bulleted sections for each product, paired with photos of each new boot – a must for any product launch.
For journalists: The wire is constantly flowing with new product announcements. Create a custom newsfeed with PR Newswire for Journalists to be alerted to launches in the industry you cover.
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Sarah Roberts is Director of Customer Content Services. In a previous life, she was a newspaper reporter in the Midwest before permanently retiring her snow shovel and moving to the Land of Enchantment. In her spare time, she enjoys reading, exploring the craft beer scene and petting all the dogs.
