About Case Studies #
What is a Case Study? #
Case studies are narratives that feature real-world situations or uses of products or services to demonstrate their value. A well-written case study will follow a customer as they define a problem, determine a solution, implement it, and reap the benefits.
How Long Should a Case Study Be? #
The more to-the-point you can be in a case study, the better. Case Studies typically range from 500 words to 1,500 words depending on what’s getting highlighted.
What Format Should My Case Study Be In? #
Typically, a case study contains an introduction, a challenge, a solution, a benefit, and a result.
Why are Case Studies Important? #
Case studies allow businesses to showcase how their product or service has been implemented successfully by their customers. It allows businesses to show how their product/service is actually used and the impact that it can have.
How to Write a Case Study #
Ask Your Client/Customer for Approval. #
This first step is crucial because it sets the layout for your entire case study.
If your client or customer gives the ok to use their name and information, then you can add as much detail as you want to highlight who they are, what you helped them do, and the results it had.
But, if they would rather remain anonymous or want you to leave out any specific details, you’ll have to find a way to keep your information more generalised while still explaining the impact of your efforts.
Gather Your Information. #
Like any good story, a marketing case study has a beginning, middle, and end. Or, you could think of it as “before, during, and after.”
Before: The Problem
Your case study will always open by presenting a problem suffered by one of your clients.
This part of the study establishes what’s at stake and introduces the characters – your company, the client company, and whichever individual decision makers speak for each side.
During: The Solution
Once you define the problem, the next step presents your offering, which serves as the answer to the dilemma.
Your product or service is, in a very real sense, the hero of the story. It catalyses the change, which you describe in terms of your features, advantages, and other differentiators.
After: The Result
In the final step, you discuss the “happy ending” brought about by your solution.
Returning to the “stakes” you established at the very start, you expand on how much better things are thanks to your intervention. You want prospects to imagine themselves enjoying that level of success.
Get a Quote. #
Of course, a study about two corporations isn’t very interesting on its own. The best case studies personify the protagonists, including the vendor and the client company, by having plenty of quotes peppered throughout the entire story.
Naturally, the business problem to be solved is the big, bad villain here, so you want the client (and preferably, your own team as well) to weigh in on that problem: How complex it is, what solving it would mean, and what not solving it would cost.
Then, as the situation turns around, testimonials become essential.
Naturally, the longest, most emphatic testimonial should come from the top decision maker. But you should aim to include a glowing quote from many different stakeholders – representing the full cast of “characters” who might be making consensus buying decisions around your solution.
Note: Don’t use a testimonial or quote if your case study is anonymous.
This text was sourced from: https://www.bluleadz.com/blog/15-of-the-very-best-case-study-examples#how-to-write-a-case-study