Why Case Studies Are Important
Contributed by Alyssa Peiser
As you scroll through LinkedIn, perhaps occasionally on Facebook, and certainly in e-newsletters and e-blasts, you undoubtedly see a case study. Maybe it looks like an infographic (a mixture of a graph showing statistics and a visually appealing image) or a well-designed story. It could even be an interview or a dynamic project that has been completed with photos of the finished product.
Case studies provide your audience (and your potential client base) with a snapshot of not only what you do, but how you do it. It is a prime opportunity to show that you are a problem-solver, the resources you have available and it gives an insight into the kinds of projects you do.
Here is a quick break down of each of those opportunities:
- Problem-Solver. At The Artist Evolution, we like to say we are “solutions-oriented.” Kind of like in school, if you didn’t know the answer, you always said “but I’ll find out” – that is our philosophy. A case study shows this clearly in action – i.e. here was a problem, this was how we provided a resolution, and here is the awesome result. Showing the problem-solving portion is the meat of your case study.
- Your Resources. A case study shows the network, team and assets that you have curated and fostered. Without these resources, you cannot solve any problems, particularly in a timely manner. This also helps you stand out as unique – who and what are your unique resources that you can talk about that makes you unique, be default.
- The Projects You Do. At its most basic, a case study pulls back the curtain on the kind of work you do on a day-to-day basis. Yes, a case study might be a more unique or special example, but that’s ok. Your potential customers want to see what you can do and your current clients enjoy being reminded of what you are capable of doing for them.
Case studies, in their many formats are a chance for you to quickly share your expertise, show the clients you get to work with and in some cases, be a quick sales tool. These can be used and repurposed in a variety of ways, catered to your goals for presenting:
- Eblast through a local Chamber
- Enewsletter to your client base
- Graphics on social media
- Blog posts
- Printed out for trade shows, waiting rooms, conferences, etc.
Virtually any business can present a successful case study to, at the very least, show their audience the many cool things of which they are involved. Whether you are a dentist, or an engineering company or a vendor – what you do has value and a case study is a reminder of that. Good design, storytelling and packaging always help, of course, so make sure to invest in those areas so that the product about your product is compelling!
