How to Gather Assets for a Case Study

If you spend any amount of time on the internet, you’re bound to have come across a marketing case study. Marketing case studies are a great way to prove the value of a service or product that you offer. And there’s a reason there are so many! They are a highly effective tool for showing someone why they should choose you, especially if you operate in a niche industrial or manufacturing market or operate a small business. Use our guide to take out the guesswork, simplify the process, and gather the assets you need to write the perfect case study. 

#1: Pick a Project, Product, or Customer Ahead of Time

The best case studies come from the most impactful use cases you have. The best way to identify the right project or product to focus on is by asking yourself a few questions:

• Do you know about a project/product that will solve a huge problem for a client or customer? 
• Is your latest product or service revolutionary in your industry and has an important company purchased it? 
• Have you been interacting with a client or customer who is very enthusiastic about what you have to offer? 

Once you can answer “yes” to one (or even all) of these questions, you have the right choice for your case study. 

#2: Capture Customer/Client Feedback Throughout the Process

After you’ve chosen your focus, it’s time to gather one of your most important assets: a testimonial. No one can speak to your audience like someone who has experienced what you offer firsthand. There are a few guidelines for collecting feedback thoughtfully: 

• Request permission to share the feedback first and foremost, especially if you want to feature any names (personal or company)
• Gather feedback before, during, and after the use of your product or service
• Collect any anecdotal feedback that you can use as you write but do not necessarily quote directly

Using customer/client testimonials helps establish trust and avoid sounding “salesy” when you finally write the case study. 

#3: Take Pictures and Videos

Modern users appreciate a multimedia approach in their web content. It breaks up the words and draws the eyes through the full piece. It also gives you a chance to showcase your work or product in a meaningful way. Some multimedia pieces to accumulate include:

• Pictures of the product or service in use (bonus if it’s before and after!)
• Video of customers/clients using your product or service
• Video of customers/clients offering a testimonial 
• Graphs or charts showing powerful data about the impact of your offering

When you integrate other media formats, you make it easy for any reader to quickly see exactly what you can do to solve their problem. 

Don’t have a dedicated video or photography team? No problem! You can use a smartphone to capture what you need, but always be sure to optimize your files. Keep video files short and follow guidelines for optimizing images for the web. 

#4: Data, Data, Data

No case study is complete without some kind of data point. When you can put numbers to what you do, your audience will respond. When you choose your data, look for instances where your product or service: 

• Significantly increased or decreased a key metric
• Provided measurable ROI for your client or customer
• Outperformed a statistical average 
• Created a trend or went beyond a trend

A word of caution. Data is great, but be sure not to bombard your audience with too much. Give them the hardest-hitting data points, not a full rundown of everything you collected.

#5: Use a Repeatable Template

It would be a waste of time to go through the effort of creating just one case study. You’ll maximize your results with a series of case studies that show your range. To streamline the process, create a simple, repeatable template. Here’s a basic outline of what to include:

• A title that quickly captures your audience with a key point of the case study
• A short introduction that includes highlights of the case study (bullet points work great!)
• Background about the problem your customer/client faced, including any relevant quotes and media
• How your product or service solved the problem, including any relevant quotes and media
• Social proof, like data, photos, videos, or follow-up testimonials
• A CTA section that provides contact information or some other action you want the reader to take 

Once you have your template, keep using it! And if it needs to evolve, adjust the template and go back to update any case studies that are still impactful or popular. 

An important note about your template. Make sure it’s in keeping with your brand. Follow all your company’s branding guidelines and make it as personal to you as possible so anyone can tell at a glance where the case study came from. 

Are you still hesitant to craft a case study on your own? Choose marketing case study masters from BoxCrush. We have a team that includes writers, designers, and developers who can help bring your vision to life without taking away time from your other goals. One of our specialties is helping you stand out from a crowded market or be more visible in a unique market. We can also provide SEO, tracking links, QR codes, and more modern digital elements that can drive your bottom line. Use the form below or call us at 317-816-9353.