Case study template

Step-by-step guide to writing a case study (a template)

Case studies are wonderful content pieces to build trust with a prospective customer. It’s no wonder 47% of marketers agree it’s the most effective content-selling tool.

But case studies can also be boring, hard to follow, and repetitive.

That’s why writing an engaging case study is key to building relationships with your customer. You want them to feel the ups and downs of previous customers, resonate with their challenges, and then see relief in finding a solution.

What if we consider writing a case study as if it were a story? A case study with protagonists, a peak conflict, and a happily ever after in the form of a solution.

This step-by-step guide will cover all the best practices and tips for writing case studies to win over customers.

Plus, you can use Writer’s case study template to streamline the process and ensure consistency across your case studies.

Essential elements of a case study

Before we detail how to write a case study, it’s important to understand what goes into one so you can prepare effectively. Most case studies include:

• Background information on the company
• Description of the problem
• The solution your company provided
• The results of the solution
• Offer takeaways and lessons learned

How to prepare to write a case study

Before you start writing your case study, you’ll need to prepare interviews and resources to ensure all relevant content gets covered.

1. Understand the purpose of the case study

Before writing, it’s important to understand the purpose of your case study.

For example, is the purpose to drive new customer sales? Upgrade your current customers to premium plans? Or convert competitor’s clients to your product?

The purpose will help you determine the format, who to research, and define your objective with the case study.

2. Select the participants

When selecting the participants for your case study, it’s important to choose individuals who represent the issue you’re trying to examine.

The right participants will help your case study resonate with the potential customer, as they can find relatable pain points and desirable outcomes.

For example, imagine your company provides subtitles for videos. Your case study will be about how X company used subtitles to improve their video engagement rate. You’ll likely interview someone within the marketing department as these numbers relate to the performance indicators that they track.

3. Prepare interview questions

Once you’ve selected the participants for your case study, it’s time to prepare the questions.

The questions you ask should elicit detailed responses on their initial problem, the solution, and their thoughts.

These questions should help you further understand the scope of your product’s impact. Lastly, the insights from the questions will help build a storyline for your case study.

4. Conduct the interview

Once you have your questions outlined and set a time for the interview, it’s time for action.

Throughout the interview, be an active listener, stay engaged, and only interrupt the story when extra information is needed.

Let your participant know that all their thoughts and ideas can be edited later, as 17% of case studies don’t get published due to participants not approving their statements.

How to write a compelling case study

A case study covers the challenges of a specific person or organization and the solution they used to overcome their problem.

Let’s dive into a step-by-step guide on how to write one.

1. Start with a strong introductory paragraph

The first paragraph of your case study should introduce the company and provide some background information to provide context to the case study. 

The introduction should give the reader a general overview of the upcoming case study theme.

2. Describe the problem

Introduce the problem that the company was looking to solve.

The challenge will be the main focus of the case study, so go into detail. Be sure to cover what the challenge was, the problems it caused, and why it needed to be solved.

3. Explain the solution

Explain the solution that was implemented. Here, it’s a good opportunity to introduce how your product or service was chosen and implemented by their company.

By discussing the factors that lead to a customer’s choice, readers can identify common valuable factors that lead to a purchase decision.

Then, include why and how the company’s problem was resolved with your solution.

4. Discuss the results of the solution

Take time to cover the results of your solution. Cover any data that helps reinforce your success claims and add the thoughts and reviews of key participants to this section.

Include the impact and benefit the solution has had on their company.

5. Offer takeaways and lessons learned

Include any key takeaway or lesson learned from the case. These can also be any thoughts that’ll help build trust in your reader and educate them on the benefits of your solution.

It’s also good practice to summarize the case study’s key points and offer your insights.

5 best practices for writing an engaging case study

When it comes to writing a compelling case study, there are a few key things to keep in mind.

1. Write it like a story

To make your case study more engaging and exciting, avoid business jargon and deliver what really counts- a story about overcoming challenges. 

Write your case study as a story, with the protagonists and their challenges. This will make your case study memorable and engaging, as it dives straight into the team’s emotions, frustrations, and success.

2. Begin with a strong hook

You need to capture the reader’s attention fast, and an interesting hook is a great way to do that.

Introduce the case study with an engaging client testimonial or quote to get the reader curious to continue reading.

3. Include strong visuals

Add visuals like iconographs, charts, or product images to enhance the case study’s readability and visual appeal.

Images help readers visualize concepts and add proof of the solution’s benefits, making the case study more memorable and impactful.

4. Ensure the structure of the case study is easy to read

Make sure the case study is well-designed and easy to read. You want the reader to be able to skim through the article and digest the information easily.

This is also a good practice to help your case study follow the best SEO practices.

5. Add data and insights

Use data-driven insights in your case study to add validity to your points and show that you’re speaking from experience.

Include numbers that demonstrate the improvement of a customer problem using your solution. These statistics improve trust and confidence in your solution.

Streamline the process with a case study template

Writing a case study can be time-consuming and tricky. By using a case study template you can:

• Automatically creates a professional-looking case study in the proper format
• Saves you time by having a pre-formatted structure that ensures all the information has been filled
• Ensures all language is inclusive and welcoming

How to use the Writer case study template

1. Add your company’s name
2. Add the customer you’re featuring
3. Describe the challenge
4. Describe the solution
5. Describe the results

Once all this information has been added, Writer’s templates will do the rest!

Each case study can be tweaked to include more information, enrich sections, or customize your brand’s tone using Writer’s AI tools.  

What to do once you’ve written your case study

Once you’ve written your case study, it’s time to share it with the world!

Use your case study as a tool to promote your business value. Start by sharing it on social media, sending it to your email list, and updating it on your website.

In no time, you’ll see how customers learn to trust your business solution thanks to your case studies.