Getting Strategic with Case Studies and Testimonials

The Importance of Case Studies & Testimonials

In an extremely saturated digital world, it’s vital to your business’s success that you stand apart from the competition. Using testimonials and case studies are some of the best tools to persuade buyers in the decision-making process. What better way to overcome objections in the buying process than to hear a reliable review from someone who has the same needs and issues as you? Hearing a story from a previous buyer that was in your very situation can be the difference in your prospects making the purchase or moving on.

Testimonials and Case studies supply proof that your product or service provides value to consumers. People buy from companies they know, and according to Adobe, 7 in 10 consumers will buy more from brands they trust and abandon those they don’t. In the current competitive landscape, the difference between you and your competitors could be an impactful testimonial or case study.

Where To Share Case Studies & Testimonials

To effectively use these tools, they need to live where your target audience spends the most time. Your site is a great spot to start, however, it is important to use outside platforms to ensure these satisfied customers are heard! Below are some great methods to ensure your happy clients’ stories can be seen:

Make it a part of your Email Signature

Adding a small portion to your email signature can have a positive result on sales. Putting a section saying “Read about our success stories” or “Check out what our happy clients say about us”

Use your webinar or podcast to broadcast case studies

Reuse your case study for more content! Use these success stories as an educational tool for others to learn from. Many potential clients want to learn more in-depth about what it’s truly like working with your business. Check out our “Cocktails and Case Studies” YouTube series to see how we apply this tactic.

Make a social post

Create a short compelling description of the success story of your product and add an attractive photo of your satisfied client urging your followers to read the success stories your team created.

Create a video version of the case study

Video content is highly effective in getting users to take action, and creating a compelling video displaying your product’s successes can be an extremely effective sales tool. If you are wondering how to create a compelling case study video check out our blog here!!

Make physical case studies for Networking events

Attending a networking event or speaking at a conference? Print brochures or flyers that display why your products are great and all the people who rave about your business.

Promo Emails

Add a section to your newsletters or email campaigns that share your latest case study or feature a testimonial from a recent client.

Building Your Case Study

When writing a case study using a consistent strategy to display your past work can make the process of writing various case studies efficient and effective. Below is an outline description of the strategy we find works best.

Challenge

Describe the unique challenge that this particular case presented. Be specific and honest about what were the difficult parts of the project, this sets you up to show how your expertise allowed you to overcome these obstacles.

The Process

What was your angle of attack to provide the best product for your client? Describe the specifics of what actions you took. Explain your methods in solving the challenges but also how your team went above and beyond to ensure all pain points your client could possibly face were addressed before they could arise.

The Result

Lastly, touch on how your product or service provided value to your client. Be sure to include any statistics or images of the final product that aid in showcasing the expertise you provided your client.

Schedule your Case Study Writing

Great writers always have a vision and stay organized throughout the writing process. Keeping a writing schedule makes bringing your vision to life a lot easier. Allotting time to make revisions, and creating clear deadlines can also make holding yourself accountable easier.

Sample Development Schedule

• 9/1- Decide your topic of choice
• 9/4- Get feedback from peers/editors
• 9/9- Draft an outline
• 9/12- Gather all potential resources needed
• 9/16- Gather all research needed
• 9/22- Draft
• 9/25- Edit
• 10/1- Final Draft
• 10/4- Final Copy Due

Best Practices For Getting Testimonials

You may ask yourself, “How do I get people to write about my business for me?” You would be surprised by the number of happy clients who would love to write about their positive experiences! If you are still unsure where to start, here are some actionable steps you can take:

Make a Process

Make asking for reviews a standard business practice of yours. The more you make this a key part of your client management process, the easier it will become. After establishing a great relationship with your client, asking for an overview of their thoughts on your business is a natural way to show you care that they had a positive experience and want to ensure you provided the value that was expected.

Make it Personal

Incorporate clever ways to encourage your satisfied clients to write about your business. Make a personal video showing gratitude to your clients for their business, and at the end add a call to action for them to leave a review in return. Give them a call to thank them for their business, ask them how they enjoyed the process, and urge them for some feedback or positives from their experience.

Make it Easy to Write Feedback

Use drip email campaigns to make writing feedback as easy as possible for your clients. Sending a thank you email thanking them for their business with an easy-to-find review link will make it easy to get feedback from your clients. Make sure that the email is concise and to the point, giving sincere thanks while also prompting them to leave some feedback.

Acknowledge Your Current Reviews

You may be surprised but one of the best ways to encourage more people to write reviews is to send thanks to the ones who have already left a review. When people see that reviews are getting acknowledged by the business that they have used before, they will be more motivated to write a testimonial of their experience as well. Just like you want to feel thanked for your service to them, your clients look for reciprocated appreciation.

Just Ask!

It doesn’t need to be anything special! Just start asking the happy people you have done business with. Your past clients and customers will be more than happy to write about their experiences with your business. Many people understand the importance of personal testimonials when in the purchasing process and will be more than happy to write about a positive experience they’ve had with a business.

If you’re interested in learning more about how to make the most of your testimonials and case studies, we would love to hear from you! Head over to the Contact page to let us know how we can help.