What is a case study?

A case study is a detailed examination of a use case in a real-world context. They’re commonly used in business and marketing to demonstrate expertise, showcase success stories, and build credibility with potential customers. 

Components of a case study

Here are the key components of a case study:

Problem statement

The problem statement defines the customer’s main challenge before showing how your product solves it. It sets the context for the rest of your case study and helps readers put themselves in your customer’s shoes. While you can use data to describe the problem and its impact, always illustrate the challenge in your customer’s words.

Recommended solution

The recommended solution is how your product solved the customer’s main problem Where possible, use data to show how your product improved something for your customer. Graphs, charts, and images can also help illustrate your solution.

Implementation

The implementation section details the process, timeline, and resources for implementing your solution. It’s a behind-the-scenes look at how the solution was executed, and it highlights any challenges or obstacles faced during the implementation process.

This section adds credibility to your case study and helps readers understand the effort involved in achieving results. It also serves as a guide for others who may want to replicate your success.

Results

The results section highlights the outcomes and impact of your solution. It may include quantitative data, customer feedback, or testimonials to demonstrate the success of your approach.

Again, while data can always make your results more tangible and impressive, you’ll also want to include a testimonial that demonstrates the emotion behind the impact of a solved problem.

Conclusion

Briefly summarise the crucial points of your case study and reiterate its success. Explain what you learned from the experience and how it can be applied in similar situations.

Use this section to inspire readers and encourage them to take action with a call to action button or link.

How to develop a case study

  1. Identify happy customers: Find customers who have had positive experiences with your brand, product, or service. Analyse feedback and reviews to identify those customers and reach out to them.
  2. Create focused interview questions: Develop questions that reveal the customer’s initial challenges, how they discovered your product, and the results achieved.
  3. Highlight key results: Highlight the most impactful aspects of the customer’s journey, like Wilkinson Sword’s 64% increase in repeat purchases, using data and testimonials to back up the success story. Explain how your product was implemented and why it was vital for your customer’s success.
  4. Maximise case study visibility: Position your case studies prominently on your website to highlight the results, and use email automation to notify your audience when a new case study is published.

Sign up for Klaviyo and use customer reviews to kickstart your case study creation process by identifying satisfied customers to showcase your brand’s success.

Additional resources