WHY IT PAYS (LITERALLY) TO USE A CASE STUDY FORMULA
I use a formula to ensure the case study meets professional standards. I focus on crafting a unique story based on your customer’s testimonial. “Open-Ended Questions” are to the key to getting the information that will make the case study more effective.
Below is my formula. Please comment and provide feedback.
The Customer
Who is the customer?
Customer Questions
Challenge/Pain — capture the pain or challenge the customer faced
Decision/Why — why the customer chose the solution/service/product
Benefit — the #1 benefit the customer experienced
The customer’s voice and experience equals credibility.
Testimonials are incorporated.
The Challenge
What are the challenges they face?
Challenge Questions
- What are the problems that led you to look for a new solution?
- How specifically was that impacting you/ the business?
- Tell me about the moment it was obvious things needed to change?
- What had you tried before to solve the problem?
- What the customer experienced before?
- The impact of the challenge?
- What they tried to fix it?
I utilize a powerful quote from about the challenge/need.
Length
1 pager ( 1–2 paragraphs)
2 pager ( 3–4 paragraphs)
The Solution
How they solve their challenges?
Solution questions for the decision.
- What was your criteria in selecting a vendor/provider?
- What other options did you evaluate?
- Why specifically they chose the solution over others
Solution questions for the how.
- What was the roll-out/delivery of the service?
- How and who uses it?
- The number of users?
- In what types of positions?
- What the solution is?
- Why the customer chose it?
Section Structure
“Why” quote
The Results
What are the outcomes? How are things better?
- What were the top benefits of using the solution?
- Did it save you time?
- Did it allow you to be more efficient?
- Did it save you money?
- Did it make you money?
- Was there a return on the investment?
- Is life better?
Section Structure
Descriptive subheadline, reduces questions, gain in responses, ROI, End with a quote.
Anecdotal is qualitative & Measurable is quantitative.
Numbers that are put to use
figures ($) ex. cost savings of $100,000
% or a factor of ex. Cut costs by 20%
Wrap — Up Questions
What would you tell a peer about your experience with…? What are your future plans….? Anything you would like to add?
Close
Quote about the primary benefit
Wrap-up ending — summarize the value of the relationship
A look- ahead statement — Share future plans
Case Studies — short stories that describe how a company or organization solved a challenge with a product or service — and what the results of solving that challenge were.
A before and after story
Word Count: 800 to 1200 words
Time: 10 hours
Fee:$1,000
Story Structure
The Problem
The Solution
The Resolution
Hero’s Journey in Action
The Journey
The Transformation
The Return
Case Study Inclusion
The element about the company that creates a persona to set up the context.
Customer challenges and how they solve the challenges.
Why they decided to buy your product or service.
The customer’s results from using the product or service.
Case Study Format
Customer Bio
The Challenge
The Solution
The Results
Conclusion
I listen to what problems you are having and I focus on your marketing needs.
Check out some of my case studies that had been repurposed as a blog post.
Contact me if you need help, rudybrown@stupendouscopy.com.
I can solve any marketing problem you're having with stories that sell.
visit my website: stupendouscopy.com
