As business becomes more competitive, it’s essential to stand out from the crowd. A business case study is a great way to detail the success of your business and show potential clients and customers why they should work with you. But how do you create a business case study that will get people excited about working with you? There are many different formats for business case studies, each designed for various purposes.
For example, maybe you want to show social proof to those who might still be evaluating whether your company is the best option for them. However, that’s far from the only use to which a business case study can be put.
In this article, we’ll discuss the most popular formats for how to write a business case study and what they’re used for so that you can decide upon which is right for your company!
What is a business case study?
A business case study is an interesting way to demonstrate the various ways a business has been successful in the past. They are beneficial for entrepreneurs who want more evidence that their business idea will actually work or when they need to figure out how best to achieve success with customers and prospects alike.
The effectiveness of your business case studies will depend on what you choose them for, which we’ll discuss in a moment. For now, know that business owners can use them as part of a pitch deck if they’re pitching potential investors, or even if they just want something powerful to show to potential customers and clients during presentations at conferences or trade shows.
You may also be able to include one within released content, such as emails you send clients, so there’s another opportunity for sharing your wins and building social proof.
Illustrative case studies
As previously noted, there are different business case study formats available depending on which service or format is best suited to the goal you’re trying to achieve; however, one of the most common is the illustrative case study.
This type is a descriptive study, often written by an authority in your field, such as a business leader or industry expert. It typically uses the details of one or two instances of an event to illustrate how the company’s products or services overcame a specific challenge. Of course, this should help to inspire readers to believe that you have what it takes to solve their problems, too!
Secondary benefits of this business case study format include increased visibility among prospective customers who search online for information on products and solutions related to their needs.
Exploratory (or pilot) case studies
Pilot business case studies use a small sample of data to answer questions about the viability or effectiveness of different strategies. This is an exploratory study, so its findings may not be applicable beyond that particular situation. However, if the pilot business case study generates enough interest in potential customers, it can lead to a full business case study using more substantial data sets and observations.
Pilot Case Studies typically involve less information than other formats because they are meant to answer specific questions rather than provide all necessary details. Additionally, studies like these might also inspire further research into developing new products or services based on their success with certain types of clients (e.g., service providers).
Cumulative case studies
A business might decide to use a cumulative case study when it wishes to test the hypothesis that different variables work together, or do not. A business may want to know if customer complaints about a product correlate with other specific qualities, like whether they pay in cash or credit card and how long they’ve been customers. The business would need more data points, though, so companies use aggregated data from many past studies. The business could also choose to limit results by analyzing only one variable at a time, which some enterprises prefer because it’s quicker and less expensive.
Case studies are teaching tools
Case studies often use a specific situation or business process as their foundation, but their real strength is in illustrating how the company solved a particular problem. For example, the case study might tell the story of a business that struggled with customer retention until they developed an email marketing campaign using behavioral triggers like “last login” or “loyalty level.” The point here isn’t just what happened when these tactics were put into place. It’s also about understanding why those strategies work so well.
For the savvy business owner, it’s about understanding what business case study format to use and when.
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