15 Marketing Case Study Examples With Standout Success Stories
Some marketing campaigns leave a lasting impression. We’ve gathered insights from CEOs and marketing leaders to share one standout marketing case study that resonates with them.
Tomas Laurinavicius
Table of Contents
Dove’s real beauty campaign impact, oatly’s bold brand strategy, rockervox’s tax credit success, local bookstore’s community engagement, coca-cola’s personalized brand experience, dropbox’s viral referral program, authentic influencer marketing for cpg brand, airbnb’s “we accept” social impact, amul’s topical and humorous campaigns, axe’s “find your magic” brand refresh, squatty potty’s humorous viral video, old spice’s viral humor campaign, red bull stratos’s high-flying publicity, maple dental’s seo success story, dollar shave club’s viral launch video.
Some marketing campaigns leave a lasting impression.
We’ve gathered insights from CEOs and marketing leaders to share one standout marketing case study that resonates with them.
From Dove’s Real Beauty Campaign’s impact to Dollar Shave Club’s viral launch video, explore fifteen memorable marketing triumphs that these experts can’t forget.
- AXE’s ‘Find Your Magic’ Brand Refresh
One marketing case study that has always stayed with me is the Dove Real Beauty Campaign. It really struck a chord when it launched in 2004, challenging the beauty standards and celebrating women’s diversity. What made it stand out was the “Real Beauty Sketches” video, where women described themselves to a sketch artist. Seeing the stark contrast between their self-perceptions and how others saw them was incredibly eye-opening and touching.
What I found so compelling about this campaign was its message of self-acceptance and empowerment. Dove didn’t just try to sell products; they took a stand for something much bigger, and it resonated deeply with people. Using video storytelling was a genius move as it made the message more impactful and shareable. I believe Dove showed how brands can make a real difference by addressing important social issues in an authentic and meaningful way.
Nicole Dunn , CEO, PR and Marketing Expert, Dunn Pellier Media
As a content and brand marketer, Oatly’s brand strategy always inspires me. They are a textbook example of comprehensive brand-building.
Their visual style is instantly recognizable—bold, disruptive, and often filled with humor, making oat milk a statement and something you’d be proud to display on your shelves or socials.
Their tone of voice is witty, sometimes cheeky. They’ve even printed negative feedback on their packaging, which really just shows how they court controversy to spark conversations and enhance their brand’s visibility.
And there’s a strong story behind Oatly, too. They promote sustainability and aren’t shy about their environmental impact, which has simply helped them grow an enthusiastic community of environmental advocates. Clever in endless ways, such that tons of oat milk brands have followed suit.
Wisia Neo , Content Marketing Manager, ViB
One standout marketing case study that sticks with me is the implementation of our RockerVox Restaurant Bundle, aimed at optimizing cash flow through targeted use of employer-based tax credits. The power of this case study lies in its immediate financial impact on the client, a local restaurant chain that was struggling to keep its doors open in the wake of the pandemic.
By integrating the Work Opportunity Tax Credit (WOTC) and other relevant tax schemes into their payroll setup, we enabled the restaurant to reclaim a significant amount in tax credits. The real game-changer was not just the financial relief but also how it was achieved. We combined this with StaffedUp’s Applicant Tracking System, which improved their hiring processes and decreased employee turnover. This holistic approach led to a sustainable improvement in their operations and cash flow.
What made this case study so great was its tangible results. The restaurant saw a cash flow improvement of over 100%. This wasn’t just a number on a report—it meant being able to invest back into the business, enhance their services, and ultimately, keep their community fed and employed. This approach of integrating technology with financial strategy can be adapted by other businesses striving for similar resilience and growth, especially in times of economic difficulty.
Philip Wentworth, Jr , Co-Founder and CEO, Rockerbox
Certainly, one particularly impactful marketing strategy I led at FireRock Marketing involved a small local bookstore that was facing steep competition from online retailers. Our challenge was to increase foot traffic and reinforce the store’s brand presence in a highly digitalized market.
We initiated a campaign called “Local Pages, Local Stages,” where we leveraged digital marketing alongside community engagement. The bookstore held monthly events featuring local authors and artists, which we promoted heavily through targeted social media ads, email marketing, and local influencer partnerships. This multifaceted approach tapped into the community’s growing interest in supporting local ventures, enhancing visibility significantly.
The outcomes were remarkable. Over the campaign’s six-month duration, in-store sales increased by 40%, and the bookstore saw a 65% rise in attendance at events, which also boosted ancillary revenue from merchandise and cafe sales. Additionally, social media engagement metrics increased by over 150%, reflecting greater brand awareness.
This case study sticks with me because it exemplifies the power of combining digital strategies with community-based marketing to create a sustainable growth model. It shows how businesses can use holistic, integrated approaches to effectively adapt to new consumer behaviors and competitive landscapes.
Ryan Esco , Chief Marketing Officer, FireRock Marketing
A memorable marketing case study is the “Share a Coke” campaign by Coca-Cola. Initially launched in Australia in 2011, this campaign personalized the Coke experience by replacing the iconic Coca-Cola logo on bottles with common first names.
The idea was to encourage people to find bottles with their names or those of their friends and family, creating a more personal connection to the brand. The campaign was an enormous hit and was quickly rolled out worldwide, incorporating more names and even terms of endearment in different languages.
The brilliance of this campaign lay in its use of personalization, which tapped directly into the social media trend of sharing personal moments. People enthusiastically shared their personalized Coke bottles on various social media platforms, significantly amplifying the campaign’s reach beyond traditional advertising media.
This strategy boosted sales and reinforced Coca-Cola’s position as a fun and innovative brand. The “Share a Coke” campaign is a powerful example of how traditional products can be revitalized through creative marketing strategies that engage consumers personally.
Sahil Kakkar , CEO and Founder, RankWatch
For me, a standout marketing case study that really sticks with me is Dropbox’s referral program strategy back in their early days. By offering free storage space for every successful referral, they incentivized existing users to spread the word organically, resulting in exponential growth at virtually no acquisition cost.
What made this case study so brilliant was how elegantly it aligned product experience with viral sharing. Users had a vested interest in sharing Dropbox since it directly expanded their own cloud storage. This created a self-perpetuating cycle where better product engagement fueled more referrals, which then improved engagement further.
It was an ingenious lever that capitalized on the inherent sharing dynamics of their service to ignite explosive growth. The simplicity and potency of this growth hack is what truly resonates as a paragon of effective guerrilla marketing.
Ben Walker , Founder and CEO, Ditto Transcripts
One marketing case study that has always stuck with me was a campaign I led for a major CPG brand a few years back. The goal was to increase awareness and trial of their new line of organic snacks among millennial moms in a crowded market.
We developed an influencer seeding strategy focused on relatable mom micro-influencers on Instagram. Instead of just sending products, we worked with the influencers to develop authentic content that told real stories about the role of snacking and nutrition in busy family life. The photos and videos felt genuine, not overly polished or promotional.
Engagement was through the roof—the content resonated so strongly with the target audience. By the end of the 3-month campaign, we increased awareness by 45% and trial by over 20%. The CPG brand was thrilled, and the case study became an example we still reference today of the power of influencer marketing done right. Authenticity wins.
Gert Kulla , CEO, RedBat.Agency
One marketing case study that stuck with me was the Airbnb “We Accept” campaign, launched in 2017, focusing on social impact. This response to the global refugee crisis aimed to promote inclusivity, diversity, and acceptance within communities worldwide.
What made this case study remarkable was its ability to leverage the Airbnb platform to facilitate connections between hosts and displaced persons, providing them with temporary housing and support.
Airbnb demonstrated its commitment to using its platform for social good and making a tangible difference in the lives of those in need. This aligned with its mission to create a world where anyone can belong anywhere.
At the end of the day, Airbnb’s “We Accept” campaign was a compelling case study showing brands how to address social issues, promote inclusivity, and drive positive change in communities worldwide.
Peter Bryla , Community Manager, ResumeLab
One standout marketing case study that sticks with me is the “Amul” marketing campaigns by Amul, the iconic Indian dairy cooperative, make for excellent and impactful case studies as well. Here’s why Amul’s marketing stands out:
The Amul Girl – The mascot of a mischievous, friendly butter girl has become one of India’s most recognizable brand icons since her inception in 1966. Her presence on topical ads commenting on the latest news and pop culture trends has made Amul’s billboards a long-standing source of joy and relevance.
Topicality – Amul’s billboards and newspaper ads are renowned for their topicality and ability to humorously comment on major events, celebrity happenings, and political developments within hours. This real-time marketing has kept the brand part of daily conversations for decades.
Humor – The not-so-secret sauce is the brilliant use of puns, wordplay, and satirical humor that Amul consistently delivers through the eyes of the Amul Girl. The healthy, inoffensive jokes have earned a cult following.
Longevity – Very few brands can boast an equally iconic and successful campaign running for over 50 years, still keeping audiences engaged across multiple generations. The long-running property itself has become a case study in sustaining relevance.
Local Connect – While achieving pan-India recognition, the puns often play on regional language nuances, striking a chord with Amul’s Gujarati roots and building a personal connection with local consumers.
The impact of Amul’s long-running topical billboard campaign is unmatched—it has not only strengthened brand recognition and loyalty but has also made the cooperative a beloved part of India’s popular culture and daily life. Creativity, agility, and contextual marketing at its best!
Yash Gangwal , Founder, Urban Monkey
Axe (Lynx in the UK) had created a problematic brand image from past marketing efforts. Their focus on ‘attraction is connected to conquest’ hadn’t dissuaded men from buying their deodorants, but had a toxic effect on perceptions of women. Research conducted on brand equity showed that brand equity was declining, with this perception of the brand aging poorly and desperately needing a refresh to continue allowing the brand to be relevant for the future.
That led to a superb partnership with creative agency 72andSunny Amsterdam. Unilever was able to tap into an entirely new philosophy for its brand:
Empower men to be the most attractive man they could be – themselves.
With that idea in mind, 2016 saw the launch of the AXE ‘Find Your Magic’ commercial, a stunning celebration of the diversity of modern masculinity. The campaign also saw the release of a new range of premium grooming products and a supporting influencer marketing campaign featuring brand ambassadors, including John Legend.
While not all parts of the creative were successful, the campaign drove more than 39 million views and 4 billion media impressions in the first quarter after the launch. But most critically, AXE saw a 30+% increase in positive perception of their brand.
This campaign will stand the test of time because it combines several important and brave initiatives:
- A forward-thinking mentality that the brand image you have today may not be suited for a future world
- A broader understanding of what your customer base looks like – women also play a big role in men’s choice of deodorant
- A big and bold attempt to change the way your brand is perceived – and succeeding with flying colors.
Yannis Dimitroulas , SEO and Digital Marketing Specialist, Front & Centre
One standout marketing case study that sticks with me is the campaign for Squatty Potty. The brand created a humorous video featuring a unicorn pooping rainbow ice cream to demonstrate the benefits of using their product. This unconventional approach garnered widespread attention and went viral, generating millions of views and shares on social media platforms.
The success of this campaign can be attributed to its creative storytelling, humor, and shock value, which made it memorable and engaging for viewers. By thinking outside the box and taking a risk with their messaging, Squatty Potty was able to create a unique and effective marketing strategy that resonated with consumers.
This case study serves as a reminder that creativity and originality can set a brand apart in a crowded marketplace, ultimately leading to increased brand awareness and customer engagement.
Carly Hill , Operations Manager, Virtual Holiday Party
The Old Spice ‘The Man Your Man Could Smell Like’ campaign remains etched in my memory. Its brilliance lies in its humor and creativity. By featuring a charismatic spokesperson and employing absurd scenarios, it captured viewers’ attention and went viral.
The campaign seamlessly integrated across platforms, from TV to social media, maximizing its reach. Its cleverness and entertainment value made it unforgettable, setting a benchmark for engaging marketing strategies. The case study showcases the importance of storytelling and humor in capturing audience interest and driving brand awareness.
Dan Ponomarenko , CEO, Webvizio
A marketing case study that has made a lasting impression on me is the Red Bull Stratos Jump. This campaign was for Felix Baumgartner’s record-breaking jump from the edge of space, sponsored by Red Bull. The goal of this campaign was to create buzz and generate brand awareness through this extreme event.
The reason why this case study stands out to me is because of its successful execution in capturing the attention and interest of not just extreme sports enthusiasts, but also the general public.
The live broadcast of Baumgartner’s jump on various channels and social media platforms garnered over 52 million views, making it one of the most-watched live events ever. Red Bull’s strategic use of real-time marketing, storytelling, and high-quality visuals made this campaign a huge success, resulting in a significant increase in sales and brand recognition for the company.
This case study serves as a great example of how a well-planned and executed marketing campaign can effectively reach and engage with a wide audience.
Brian Hemmerle , Founder and CEO, Kentucky Sell Now
One standout marketing case study that resonates with me is the SEO transformation for Maple Dental. This campaign dramatically improved their local online visibility, leading to a substantial increase in new patient appointments. The integration of Google Maps SEO proved to be a game-changer, emphasizing the power of local search optimization in attracting nearby clients.
What made this case study exceptional was the measurable impact on the clinic’s business. For instance, the campaign led to a 230% increase in phone calls and a 223% increase in website visits. Such clear, quantifiable results showcased a direct contribution to business growth. These metrics are vital for demonstrating the return on investment in digital marketing efforts.
Additionally, the use of a targeted approach to enhance Google Maps visibility was particularly compelling. By optimizing their presence on Google Maps, Maple Dental saw a 250% increase in monthly maps impressions, which directly correlated with increased patient inquiries and visits.
Ihor Lavrenenko , CEO, Dental SEO Expert
One case study that always comes to mind is Dollar Shave Club’s launch video in 2012. It was called “Our Blades Are F*cking Great,” and let’s just say it got people talking! This video was hilarious and totally different from those fancy shaving commercials we were used to seeing. It spoke directly to guys, poked fun at expensive razor prices, and offered a way to get awesome blades for much less.
Additionally, it told everyone to check out their website. It was short, catchy, and made a huge impact. This is a perfect example of how a creative and funny video can grab attention, make people remember your brand, and get them to become customers.
Perry Zheng , Founder and CEO, Pallas
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10 Marketing Case Study Examples: Learn How to Master Them in Your Campaigns
There are millions of blog posts, articles, and videos across the internet that try to give you advice about marketing. According to Google, at least 7,050,000 unique content pieces include the phrase “marketing tips.”
But with plenty of outdated and filler content creation to just build out a website, it’s hard to find applicable advice that actually works online.
In this article, you’ll learn from marketing case study examples that demonstrate what it takes to master channels like social media, email marketing , and PPC, as well as how to use case studies in your own campaigns.
Don’t rely on empty words. Learn powerful marketing best practices that are backed up with examples and data.
What is a marketing case study?
In marketing, a case study is an in-depth study of the effectiveness of a certain tool, tactic, or strategy. It focuses on measurable outcomes, like an increase in sales, visitors, or production hours.
Typically, it includes a few key elements:
- Introduction to the customer/client
- The problem the client needed to solve (should align with problems prospective clients also need to solve)
- The solution (and context of why your company/software was the right fit)
- Data from before and after implementing the solution
In a sense, a case study documents the journey of working with your company. And it gives potential future customers a reason to trust your company.
What are the different types of case studies in marketing?
In marketing, three main types of case studies are commonly used:
1. Third-person or client case studies: These highlight the experience of a specific client working with your company or using your product.
2. Explanatory case studies: These case studies explore the impact of a phenomenon or tactic, such as the company’s marketing strategy, and how it impacted its growth. In this case, it’s not based on first-hand experience, but rather observation and inference.
3. Implementation case studies: An implementation case study takes the average client case study a bit further, focusing on the actual implementation and covering it in detail.
You can also divide the case studies further by the type of medium they use — video or text.
And in 2024, video case studies are becoming more and more popular. Many companies even use them as remarketing ads to address potential objections.
Why should you use case studies?
Case studies are a powerful way to prove that your products or services work, showcase your expertise, and build trust with potential customers.
It’s a way to transition away from just “telling” your customers and instead start “showing” them through examples. There’s a reason the old copywriting maxim goes, “Show, don’t tell.”
Consumers’ trust in companies to tell the truth in advertising materials is lower than ever. In 2020, only 14% of consumers said they trust advertising to be honest about a product or service.
But that doesn’t mean you can’t generate trust with your company’s website.
Consumers trust third-party reviews, testimonials, and data. In fact, 91% of 18–34-year-olds trust online reviews as much as personal recommendations.
So you need social proof. And client case studies — especially those that interview the current clients — are the best of both worlds. You get to highlight data while getting powerful social proof that shows that your product works.
When just adding a simple customer testimonial to your website can increase conversion rates by up to 34% , imagine what a detailed, compelling case study can do.
1. Email marketing case study: Your Therapy Source
If you think that email is a marketing medium of the past, think again. At ActiveCampaign, we have hundreds of recent case studies that prove the opposite.
For example, Your Therapy Source receives a 2000% return on investment (ROI) from our campaigns simply by taking advantage of basic marketing automation .
In particular, a basic abandoned cart email represents around 30% of all revenue generated by automations.
With ActiveCampaign, that’s incredibly easy to set up. You can take advantage of our integrations with key e-commerce platforms like WooCommerce , Shopify , and more.
Because the case study goes into detail about exactly how the company achieved the results, it’s a combination of an implementation case study and a regular third-person case study.
2. Instagram marketing case study: Converse
If you look at all the top Instagram accounts in clothing, Converse has a much higher engagement rate than its competitors.
At 1.79%, their social media posts have an organic engagement rate over 15 times higher than Nike.
Why is that?
Let’s take a closer look at how they achieve these numbers:
When looking at Converse’s top Instagram posts, you quickly notice a trend. Collaborations with influential creators and artists — lately Tyler, the Creator — get a different level of engagement.
The post promoting their new collaboration shoe got over 183,000 likes in a few weeks. Converse even took it a step further and produced a short film with Tyler.
If you want to reach a wider number of people, combining audiences is a great strategy.
This is an example of an explanatory case study.
First, we worked backward from Converse’s powerful Instagram results. Then, we identified tactics that contribute to their high levels of engagement.
Because we didn’t work directly with Converse, and we’re only observing as an outsider, this is an explanatory case study.
3. Content marketing case study: porch.com
Fractl is a content marketing agency that worked with porch.com for over a year to earn 931 unique domain links, 23,000 monthly organic visits, and more.
The case study focuses on results over method — that means it’s a typical third-person case study.
They’re showcasing the results the company generated for a specific outside client without getting into the how-to.
These types of case studies are most useful for persuading hesitant potential customers to get on board. Showing that you’ve generated results for similar companies or people in the past is the best way to prove your skill set.
Depending on your target audience, going into detail with an implementation case study may be a better option.
4. SEO case study: Zapier study by Ryan Berg
This in-depth case study by Ryan Berg is a perfect example of how you can use explanatory case studies in your marketing.
It breaks down Zapier’s SEO strategy and how they created over 25,000 unique landing pages to improve their search rankings for different search terms.
Zapier’s main strategy revolves around targeting relevant long-tail keywords like “app A + app B integration.” That’s the key they used to generate serious organic traffic over the long term.
By breaking down industry leaders and how they rose to success, you can borrow some of their brand power and credibility.
You can use these kinds of case studies if your current clients don’t allow you to go into detail about the tactics you use to grow their online presence.
These case studies demonstrate to potential clients that you know what you’re talking about and have the expertise needed to help them succeed in their industry.
5. PPC case study: Google Ads and Saraf Furniture
When it comes to pay-per-click (PPC) advertising, Google was one of the earliest innovators. And in 2021, it’s still the largest digital advertiser globally, with $146.92 billion in ad revenue in 2020.
You might not think they need any more credibility, but Google still uses case studies, especially in emerging markets like India.
This case study shows how Google Ads helped Saraf Furniture generate 10 times more inbound leads each month and hire 1,500 new carpenters as a result.
Without going into details about the methods, it’s another typical third-person case study designed to build trust.
6. Video marketing case study: L’Oréal and YouTube
In this case study, various members of L’Oréal’s global marketing team break down exactly how they used YouTube ads to launch a new product.
As a result of the campaign, they were able to establish their new product as the No. 2 in its category and earn 34% of all mass sales across a network of online retailers.
The case study breaks down how they used YouTube for different stages — from awareness to loyalty. It’s another example of a third-person implementation case study.
7. Remarketing case study: AdRoll and Yoga Democracy
AdRoll is a remarketing platform that tracks your visitors and lets you show them targeted ads across the internet.
Their case study with Yoga Democracy perfectly showcases the power of the platform.
Look at these highlights:
- 200% increase in conversions
- 50% reduction in CPA
- 19% of total revenue attributed to AdRoll
These are metrics you’d love to show any potential customer. The case study goes into detail about how they built an effective remarketing campaign, including cart recovery emails and ads.
Because of the detail, you can classify this as an implementation case study.
8. Influencer marketing case study: Trend and WarbyParker
This influencer marketing case study from Warby Parker and Trend showcases how you can use influencer marketing even with a limited budget.
The “Wearing Warby” campaign was centered around showcasing influencers wearing Warby Parker glasses in their everyday life.
From mundane tasks like eating breakfast to artists creating a new masterpiece — it showcased Warby Parker’s products in use and made the brand more approachable for influencers’ followers.
This is another third-person case study, as it doesn’t go into much detail beyond the results.
9. Customer experience case study: App Annie and Coca-Cola
In this case study, Greg Chambers, the director of innovation for Coca-Cola, explains what App Annie brings to the table.
Instead of specific numbers and metrics, it focuses on the big-picture benefits that App Annie has on Coca-Cola’s customer experience.
The video interview format is also perfect for driving trust with potential customers.
Again, this is a typical third-person case study that you see a lot in the marketing world.
10. SaaS case study: Asana and Carta
Of course, it’s not just agencies and advertising platforms that need to master the use of case studies in digital marketing.
Let’s explore an example of a case study outside the marketing industry, in this case specifically for B2B marketers.
Asana is a project management platform that helps companies make their workflows more efficient.
It’s a good example of a case study that focuses more on the lived experience and less on the metrics.
This is a third-person case study that is closer to a client interview or testimonial, which is a good option if it’s hard to quantify improvements with metrics.
Best practices: How to use case studies in your own marketing campaigns
In this section, you’ll learn best practices to help you maximize the value of case studies in your own marketing campaigns.
Let’s look at four steps you can take to effectively use case studies.
Include a dedicated case study/customer stories page on your website
Most companies with a successful online presence have one of these pages. Emulate the top competitors in your industry by creating an improved version of their pages.
You can also add a case studies section to your resources page or blog.
Build CTAs into your case study pages
The chances are low that a random Googler will make it to your case studies. Most likely, it’s someone who thinks they might need your product.
So don’t be afraid to include calls to action throughout your case study pages.
Share case studies as part of your email marketing campaigns
Email marketing is hands-down the best channel for nurturing potential needs . That means you should always use case studies and customer success stories in your campaigns.
But it’s important that it doesn’t feel too promotional. Instead, share the unique steps they took to ensure success to deliver value, not just pitch.
Use case study video ads to overcome objections
When you’re thinking about buying a product, it’s easy to talk yourself out of it.
“It’s too expensive.” “It won’t work for me.” There are a lot of excuses and objections out there.
A case study video can be a powerful tool to overcome these objections in potential buyers.
Don’t overlook case studies when you’re planning your next marketing campaign. Towards the bottom end of the funnel, in stages like decision and action, they’re a powerful marketing tool.
When used right, case studies will help you fill your sales pipeline and provide your sales team with qualified leads.
Hopefully, the examples in this article taught you how you can use case studies in social media, email, and content marketing strategy to further your business goals.
You should also have learned how to use case studies to sell your company’s expertise.
If you want to grow your business, it’s crucial to learn from the people who have gone before you. In marketing, trying to learn all principles from scratch through trial and error would be a costly mistake.
If you’re ready to take advantage of marketing automation and email marketing tools that help similar businesses generate ROIs of 20x or higher, start your ActiveCampaign trial today .
No credit card required. Instant set-up.
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Marketing Results
22 Marketing Case Study Examples (With Template)
February 17, 2016 by Will Swayne
Prospects who aren’t ready to buy – or who are “sitting on the fence” – tend to be resistant to even well-crafted marketing messages. But a bunch of well aimed marketing case studies can often tip the scales in your favour.
“Sell benefits, not features” is good advice, but benefit-rich copy can actually deter prospects who haven’t reached the decision stage yet.
And too many benefits in the absence of marketing proof elements can ring hollow in today’s increasingly sceptical marketplace.
We published our first marketing case study back in 2005 and I quickly realised the power of case studies as a versatile and effective marketing tactic.
Why are marketing case studies so effective?
Here are three reasons:
- Case studies show, they don’t tell. Telling you I can get you more qualified leads is one thing. Showing you how a similar company to yours got 145% more leads with 24% lower marketing costs is another.
- Prospects are typically curious to understand how others have achieved the results they desire. They will eagerly devour a well-constructed case study.
- Case studies are also a great tool for closing fence-sitting prospects. For many years I’ve asked prospects why they chose to work with us, and the most common response seems to be, “I was impressed by your case studies” , or “I saw you helped someone in my industry so I figure you can help us too” .
Now let’s look at how to structure and effectively promote a case study, and then some marketing case study examples for you to replicate.
Our Recommended Case Study Template
Here’s the case study structure we’ve adopted which has proven effective:
- Start with a major headline that summarises the key result achieved: e.g. “Investment Property Strategist Triples Leads In 6 Months” . This gets the prospect excited about reading on.
- Then introduce the background . In other words, the “Before” scenario.Don’t bore the reader with too many details about the history of the client. But DO provide an insight into the “trigger” that led to them seeking your assistance. e.g. “The client noticed smaller competitors starting to appear ahead of them on Google”. And, DO talk about the negative effects of the “Before” state. E.g. “New customer acquisition that had previously been growing by 10% every quarter had flatlined for the last 12 months.”
- Now talk about the solution . Here’s where you explain what you did to achieve the outcomes. I like to list different services or solutions in the form of bullet points. Also, include significant details and facts and figures to add “richness” to the story. Where possible, demonstrate with images, screenshots or other proof elements. Emphasise anything you did differently to the standard approach, or anything that highlights your point-of-difference benefits.
- Now talk about your results . Results are the crux of any good case study.I like to go with a number of punchy bullet points, populated with specific numbers. E.g . “Lead volume up 75%… New customer volume from online sources up 145%… 1,540 more organic search engine visitors per month.”
- Include a testimonial from the client. What was their reaction to your work? The “Before-During-After” approach is a good structure for testimonials. A strong testimonial adds texture and credibility to the data in your core case study.
- End with a call-to-action . This can be relatively low-key. For example, “Contact us to explore how you can enjoy similar breakthrough results.”
You can see more examples of different implementations of this concept on our online marketing case studies page.
How To Promote Your Case Study
A case study that never gets read won’t help you.
Here are some of our favourite promotional methods:
- Optimise each case study for search engines . A good start is using a <title> tag on your case study pages in the format: “<INDUSTRY> <SERVICE> case study”. For example, “Accountant online marketing case study” or “Car sales lead generation case study” . This will tend to rank you well for anyone searching for case studies about your industry.
- Send case studies to your email subscribers . These emails achieve high engagement both as broadcasts, and as “drip emails” within an automation sequence .
- Create a print booklet of case studies to send to prospects and clients via snail mail or distribute at trade shows.
- Case studies make great social media updates and can be recycled every few months using different headlines.
22 Marketing Case Study Examples
1. fuji xerox australia business equipment, tripled leads for 60% less marketing spend.
In 90 days, we doubled web lead flow with lower marketing costs.
Read the full case study here.
Paul Strahl , National e-Business Manager
2. Surf Live Saving Foundation
Surf lottery grows online revenue 47%.
Marketing Results delivered tangible business improvements, including 47% higher revenue from digital, year-on-year.
Yin Tang , Surf Live Saving Foundation
3. ABC Reading Eggs
Integrated search and conversion management for abc reading eggs.
Marketing Results have been instrumental in profitably expanding our ad spend, while removing waste.
Matthew Sandblom , Managing Director ABC Reading Eggs
4. MAP Home Loans
From 70 hour weeks to 40 hour weeks with 100% annual growth.
I now make twice as much money, have less stress and fewer hours.
Craig Vaunghan , Principal MAP Home Loans
5. Inkjet Wholesale
Online advertising roi doubles – in just three months.
We couldn’t be happier – conversion rates are up, costs are down, ROI has doubled.
Glenn Taylor , National Marketing Manager Inkjet Wholesale
6. Breaking Into Wall Street
Info-marketing business achieves 300% revenue growth with 7-figure profits.
Marketing Results provided the marketing support to grow my annual revenue 300%+. They don’t just advise – they implement.
Brian DeChesare , Founder Breaking Into Wall Street
7. LatestBuy
Brw fast 100 online retailer latestbuy.com.au boosts sales by 45.3%.
Revenue had flatlined… Now it is up by 45%, with over 80% of that due to conversion rate optimisation.
Shaun Campbell , Co-Owner LatestBuy.com.au
8. directSMS
More traffic, less cost, lead volume doubles.
More than doubled the number of qualified enquiries via our website for the same ad spend.
Ramez Zaki , Co-Founder directSMS
9. Business Coach and Author, Pure Bookkeeping
Successful marketing automation and 100.95% year on year growth.
50%+ of business comes directly through online channels and none of this would have happened without Marketing Results.
Peter Cook , Business Coach & Author Pure Bookkeeping
10. Positive Training Solutions
Higher rankings plus more, higher-quality leads.
Marketing Results excels in strategic and online marketing.
James Grima , Managing Director Positive Training Solutions
11. Geelong’s Gym
From 5-6 leads a month to 60-70. 10x increase.
We’ve gone from 5 – 6 leads per month to 60 – 70!
Gerard Spriet , Owner Geelong’s Gym
12. Super Finance – SMSF Property
A new pipeline delivering a steady flow of web leads.
Outstanding quality of web generated leads!
Yannick Ieko , Director Super Finance
13. College For Adult Learning – Training Organisation
300%+ more sales with 60% lower cost per sale.
I expect at least another 60% more leads and 80-90% more revenue by continuing to work with Marketing Results.
Rob Golding , Director College For Adult Learning
14. The Gourmet Guardian – Food Safety Programs
4 times more leads and a 269% revenue increase.
Your AdWords strategies have quadrupled leads, almost tripled revenue and reduced my dependence on contract work to zero.
Gavin Buckett , Managing Director The Gourmet Guardian
15. Quick Coach – Life Coaching Courses
More qualified sales plus a facebook roi of 1285%.
The results have been fantastic… I have had over 500 potential students opt in via Google wanting to change their lives and those of their clients.
Glen Murdoch , Founder & CEO Quick Coach
16. Investment House – Property Development
Clients lined up for everything we can find.
We have clients lined up for everything we can find.
Colin Ferguson , Managing Director Investment House
17. Cosmetic Surgery Lead Generation
257% increase in qualified lead volume.
In less than a year, our enquiry volume increased by over 257% while increasing the quality and conversion rate of those leads.
Dee Tozer , Managing Director Medici Clinics
18. All Suburbs Catering
61% roi gain in less than 5 months….
20% more enquiries for 34% less cost – a compounded gain of 61% in only 5 months.
Jeff Veale , Managing Director All Suburbs Catering
19. Trilogy Funding
549 qualified sales leads in 3 months.
549 qualified sales leads in 3 months.
Ed Nixon , Principal Trilogy Funding
20. Customized Stickers
Online revenue rockets by 800%.
With Marketing Result on our side, our website revenue has increased by over 800% in only 18 months.
Anthony Khoury , Managing Director Customized Stickers
21. Technoledge
Engaging ceos of ideal target companies.
We’re routinely seeing CEOs of Australian hi techs with turnover of $5 million to $50 million (our target audience) opting in and proceeding to self-qualify before they contact us for a meeting. This is what digital marketing is supposed to do.
Tracey James , Director Technoledge
22. First Aid Training
Specialist first aid training company doubles revenue in 6 months.
We’ve streamlined customer acquisition, increased customer lifetime value, and doubled our revenue in 6 months!
Dave Hundt , Director Kids First Aid
I encourage you to put these tips into action and see how they work for you.
What other ways have you used case studies effectively in your business?
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Persuasive Marketing Case Study Examples & Templates
Get examples of marketing case study mastery. Learn by example how to engage and convert more prospects and launch your effort with battle-tested templates.
Dominika Krukowska
9 minute read
Short answer
What makes a great marketing case study.
A great marketing case study is a compelling narrative, showcasing real-world success, complete with quantifiable results. It weaves strategy, execution, and outcome into a captivating story that inspires and convinces the reader to take the desired action.
Are your marketing case studies falling flat?
Marketing case studies are an essential step for many prospects to see if they can trust you, if you meet their particular needs, and if tying their business with yours feels right.
Marketing case studies provide prospects a sense of security without which they’ll never convert.
But when done poorly, case studies can become little more than digital white noise. They’ll fail to build trust and confidence, but worse yet, they might just drive prospects to go with your competition.
Too many companies invest time, thought, and money into creating “white noise” case studies without knowing that they may cause more harm than good.
But there’s a way forward. This post will serve as your compass, guiding you to the promised land of persuasive, profit-driving success stories.
Let’s get started!
What is a marketing case study?
A marketing case study is a narrative showcasing a company's successful marketing strategy . It outlines the challenges faced, the solutions implemented, and the achieved results. This tool effectively demonstrates value, builds credibility, and convinces potential customers to take action.
What is the purpose of a marketing case study?
The purpose of a marketing case study is to build trust and authority and inspire action from potential clients. It's intended to present a narrative of success through a transformational business story with measurable outcomes. Its goal is to encourage potential customers to envision their own success with the help of your solution.
1) To present a narrative of success
Think of your case study as a rags-to-riches success story starring your client. They struggle with problems, they stumble on your product or service which guides them back to safety. But here the 'happily ever after' is a measurable outcome.
2) To build trust
A case study shows how you brought tangible indisputable results. It shows the positive transformation you helped bring about for your client. It's like having a credible friend vouch for you—it has an authentic persuasive effect that nothing you say yourself could ever achieve.
3) To inspire action
A good marketing case study nudges the reader to think: 'If it worked wonders for them, why not for me?' It subtly encourages potential customers to envision their own success with your product or service, though they came doubtful.
4) To show relevance
A marketing case study doesn’t just show a specific problem. By highlighting challenges similar to those faced by your potential customers, a case study makes your solution look more than “a good fit” it makes you look like “the best fit”, or even “the only fit”.
Our Head of Marketing has this piece of advice for you:
"When we write a marketing case study we treat it like a personal story we’d share with friends over lunch.
This makes our case studies feel familiar and gives them the credibility of personal experience, which tends to inspire others to act the same way."
—Amotz Harari, Head of Marketing at Storydoc
What should a marketing case study include?
Looking to craft a marketing case study that grips, convinces, and converts? Here's your blueprint.
A compelling marketing case study should include:
A captivating title: Much like a great book, your case study needs an intriguing title. One that grabs attention and promises an interesting story - a story of a problem solved, a challenge overcome, a victory achieved.
The protagonist: Every good story needs a hero. In your case study, it's the client or customer. Start by introducing them - who are they? What do they do? What unique challenge were they facing?
The problem: Detail the problem your customer faced. This is the villain of your story - the hurdle that stood in your customer's way. Make it relatable, so potential customers facing the same issue can see themselves in your protagonist's shoes.
The solution: Now introduce your product or service - the knight in shining armor. Explain how you swooped in to tackle the problem. Highlight what makes your solution unique and effective.
The implementation process: Give a brief account of how the solution was implemented. This is the journey part of your story - the struggle, the strategy, and the steps taken to overcome the challenge.
The results: The happily-ever-after of your tale. Showcase the positive results achieved using your product or service. Be specific and use hard numbers - they provide tangible proof of your success.
The testimonial: Finally, include words of praise from your satisfied customer. A happy client is the best endorsement. This validates the story you've told and adds an emotional, human touch.
A clear next step: Conclude with a clear call to action. What should the reader do next? Contact you for a consultation? Sign up for a demo? Download a guide? Make sure the next step is relevant, clear, and compelling.
Here’s an example of a marketing case study designed according to this structure:
What are the main types of marketing case studies?
Selecting the right format for your case study depends on your goal, the specifics of your customer's story, and the message you wish to convey.
4 case study types to consider:
1) Problem-solution case study:
This is the classic 'hero’s journey'. Your customer (the hero) is faced with a challenge (the problem), and aided by a trusted guide (your solution) goes through a transformation overcoming their hurdles and fulfilling their full potential.
This format focuses on the details of the journey with its ups and downs.
2) Before-and-after case study
The Cinderella tale of the business world. You show the situation 'before' your product or service came into play, and the improved situation 'after'.
This format focuses on contrasting the transformation , highlighting the dramatic changes from before your solution came in and after.
3) Success story case study
Think of this as the 'rags to riches' narrative. Rather than focusing solely on a single problem and solution, this case study celebrates an overarching success.
It provides the details of how the change was achieved but focuses mainly on the outcomes and their business impact.
4) Interview style case study
This type is more personal and candid, providing direct quotes and insights from the customer’s perspective.
This format lends authenticity and focuses on building an emotional connection with the reader.
The ACORN method - 5 steps for writing story-led case studies:
Best marketing case study examples to inspire you
I've curated for you a selection of brilliant marketing case study examples from some of the biggest names in business.
These case studies represent a variety of industries, challenges, solutions, and outcomes, providing a wealth of insights and inspiration for your own case study creation.
Let's dive in:
1. How Nestlé empowered the sales team with high-quality leads
Tenlo, a marketing agency, worked with the Nestlé Professional Dispensed Beverage Sales Team to improve their lead generation efforts.
Through a targeted content strategy and optimized lead nurturing campaigns, they successfully empowered the client's sales team with high-quality leads, resulting in increased conversion rates and revenue growth.
2. Dove's Real Beauty Sketches
Dove's "Real Beauty Sketches" campaign aimed to challenge societal beauty standards.
Through an emotional and thought-provoking video campaign, Dove sparked conversations and empowered women to redefine their perception of beauty, resulting in widespread awareness and positive brand sentiment.
3. How AppSumo grew organic traffic 843% and revenue from organic traffic 340%
AppSumo, a digital marketplace for software deals, employed clever marketing tactics to drive organic growth.
Through the strategic implementation of SEO, engaging product-focused content, and effective link building , they successfully increased their blog's organic traffic and saw a significant boost in revenue from organic sources.
4. How Start-Up Nation Central created innovative reports for an innovative industry
Start-Up Nation Central is an NGO with a clear mission—to fuel the growth of high-tech companies. They produce and send out a lot of business analysis reports, and they were looking for a way to modernize the way they present data.
By working with Storydoc to switch from static PDFs to interactive next-gen decks, they gained access to full reader analytics and A/B testing options to see which versions of their reports were getting the most traction.
5. How Forbes grew their subscriber base by 20% using PPC advertising
Adventure PPC collaborated with Forbes Magazine to enhance their subscriber base. Through targeted paid advertising campaigns , video production, and remarketing, they achieved a significant 20% increase in subscribers. Adventure PPC's strategy included closely monitoring ad budget to optimize campaigns and ensure effective resource allocation.
6. L’Oreal Paris and Google
L’Oreal cooperated with Google ahead of their new product launch to identify relevant audience segments based on hard data.
They targeted potential customers across all stages of the marketing funnel, which resulted in increasing ad recall, market share, and e-commerce sales.
You can watch the case study below:
7. How Bitly solved the omnichannel challenge
Vissla, an e-commerce shop, was looking for a more effective way to keep an account of data across all of their marketing channels.
They partnered with Bitly Campaigns to create a dashboard containing all marketing activities, track results in real-time, and optimize their content based on hard data, including insights on how to add a Bitly redirect .
8. Gannett marketing operations grows digital subscriber base with Asana
When Gannett, the largest newspaper publisher in the US, brought their marketing campaign production in-house, they had to find a way to scale up the number of projects.
They collaborated with Asana to increase campaign volume and streamline campaign management.
9. How Stripe leverages GPT-4 to streamline user experience and combat fraud
Stripe, the innovative payment platform, gathered 100 brilliant minds from within its own ranks to revolutionize features and workflows with GPT-4. Their mission? Take Stripe to new heights!
The result? 15 groundbreaking prototypes emerged, promising personalized support, expert answers to tough questions, and the power to nail fraud on community platforms.
10. How Ryanair uses Hotjar Surveys to measure satisfaction and report on trends
Ryanair, a leading Irish discount airline, needed to find a way to report product performance to its main stakeholders.
They turned to Hotjar Surveys to measure user satisfaction, identify main pain points and barriers to purchase, and report the larger trends.
11. Accelo gives software company the insights and efficiency to double revenue
The leadership team at Tambla, an HR technology company in Australia, was struggling to pinpoint resource leaks.
By consolidating client work management tools using Accelo, they gained unprecedented visibility. In just two years of using the platform, Tambla doubled revenue, quadrupled project turnover and increased recurring work by 15%!
Marketing case study design examples you can use as your template
Your marketing case study design can significantly influence its effectiveness. But design is a serious business.
Imagine starting a marketing case study from zero—it's like carving a statue from a solid block of marble. But, what if you had a mold?
These interactive case study templates provide a structured narrative, coupled with the flexibility to add your own data, images, and other interactive elements designed to engage, impress, and persuade.
Why you shouldn’t make case studies as PDFs
Considered the go-to format for case studies, PDFs offer accessibility and versatility. Share them around, download at will, or print for a keepsake.
But just because PDFs are easy for you to use, it doesn’t mean they’re easy for your audience to consume. They’re not.
PDFs are a hassle. They're tough to read, scan, and navigate. They're not mobile-friendly, they lack interactivity, and they can be downright dull.
On top of that, they take your audience offline, disconnecting them from your online assets, like your website or app.
What you can do instead
Instead of PDFs that tank engagement, it’s better to go with the webpage option.
Webpage-designed case studies offer multimedia, interactivity, and mobile-friendly navigation that lead to renewed engagement.
They give your readers a rich content experience with videos, animations, and clickable elements like tabs, sliders, and buttons, all wrapped in a story.
However, webpage case studies are not so easy to produce . They require the involvement of designers, developers, website managers, brand managers, and so on.
With all these people involved, even adding the tiniest update to the page can become a headache.
But there’s a way to bypass all this needless complexity . Creating a case study with Storydoc combines the interactivity of a webpage and the simplicity of producing a PDF.
When using Storydoc you’re stepping into a safe walled garden where everything is already taken care of , from coding to design to branding. And making changes takes just a few seconds.
Here’s how PDF and Storydoc case studies compare:
Hi, I'm Dominika, Content Specialist at Storydoc. As a creative professional with experience in fashion, I'm here to show you how to amplify your brand message through the power of storytelling and eye-catching visuals.
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What Is a Case Study in Marketing and How to Build One (Examples)
A marketing case study allows you to illustrate and explain how you achieved enormous success in a specific situation.
For instance, last year, Jacob McMillen wrote about how Pronto used Crazy Egg to increase leads by 24 percent .
That’s a big number.
It’s not a full case study , but it demonstrates the goal of a marketing case study. You want to shock your audience, then explain exactly how you achieved your results — preferably with proof.
You might have read lots of case studies over the years without realizing your business could benefit from them. Lots of entrepreneurs are put off by the hard work and long hours required to build a marketing case study.
However, think about how many leads you might convert by proving your track record, establishing trust, and attracting traffic through SEO .
Let’s look at how marketing case studies can impact your business, discuss how to write one, and check out a few examples.
What Is a Case Study in Marketing?
A case study in marketing is a document or web page that includes several basic parts:
- Description of the subject : Explain your customer’s or client’s history and pain points.
- Subject’s goal : Identify your customer’s or client’s goal for the project so readers understand what to expect.
- Hypothesis for strategy : Tell your audience what you expected to happen after you implemented your strategy for the customer or client.
- Implementation of strategy : Take the reader through the step-by-step process you used to help your customer or client.
- Results of strategy : Deliver the results in as much detail as possible, preferably with a quote from the client or customer.
- Concluding findings : Explain what this case study has taught your specifically and how it can help other people.
You don’t have to include every category, but the more detail you add, the more effective your marketing case study becomes.
Most of the time, you’re conducting a case study for your own business. You want to show the world how your product or service has helped a customer in a huge way.
For that reason, it helps to know you’ll perform a case study from the beginning. In other words, try not to reverse-engineer a case study from a great result. Instead, track your arrangement with your customer throughout the process.
The Importance of Creating Case Studies to Convert Leads into Customers
Think of a marketing case study as a lure. It’s a way to dangle amazing results in front of your leads so they’ll decide to convert .
Imagine that you’re a customer who’s trying to decide between two businesses, each of which offers time management software. One company has a marketing case study that illustrates how it helped a customer save four hours per week. The other company has no case study.
Which company would you trust most?
You can use that consumer logic to inform your business decisions. Thinking like a customer can help you achieve new insights into marketing.
Creating a marketing case study gives you an edge that your competitors might have. It can also help your leads make more informed decisions.
Too many businesses copy their competitors or other businesses. Instead, you should spend time being more creative and innovative. Below is a video by Neil Patel that illustrates why you need to quit copying digital marketing strategies.
If you’re bold enough to be different, you can convert more leads. A marketing case study gives you that opportunity because nobody else can duplicate it.
Why is it so important to build trust?
Anybody can throw testimonials on their site by Ron R. and Jennifer K. Anyone can also make them up.
Trust is tenuous in the digital marketing world. If you can’t create it, you likely won’t convert leads into customers.
Think about all the companies that have experienced data hacks. Their stocks plummeted, consumer sentiment turned ugly, and profits dwindled. That’s because consumers lost trust.
Similarly, any company can make bold claims about its products or services. Consumers have become numb to superlative-littered copy and hyped-up videos. They want to see evidence.
If you can prove that your product or service delivers powerful results, you’ll gain your leads’ trust.
Marketing case studies show how you tackled a problem and overcame it on behalf of your customer or client. It’s that simple. The more detail you give, the more authority you create for your company — and the more your leads will trust your expertise.
4 Case Study Examples
Before we tell you how to build a case study, let’s look at a few examples to get you warmed up. Each of these marketing case studies illustrates the power behind the medium.
They’ll also show you how different case studies can look depending on design, detail, results, and goals.
The Shopify case study by HubSpot demonstrates how a narrative can be woven from a company’s journey. When Loren Padelford became head of sales, he immediately identified weak spots in Shopify’s sales cycle, so he decided to adopt HubSpot.
This case study highlights the ways in which Shopify used HubSpot’s email plugin to save time and improve communication flow. There’s a quote from Padelford in the case study, which can add even more impact in terms of building trust among leads.
Here, we have a fairly vague result. The company — specifically Padelford — claims to have achieved great success with HubSpot’s tools, but there aren’t any concrete numbers to back that up.
There’s nothing wrong with this approach, though, as long as your customer or client can offer a raving quote.
Ecommerce marketing case studies can become extremely valuable. In this case, Bit.ly used a more traditional template for a marketing case study. The PDF document includes several sections that take you through the process of how Vissla improved its omnichannel marketing with Bit.ly.
The results were that Vissla was able to visualize and centralize data in one place. They gained greater control over their social media marketing, which resulted in faster and better improvements in the content they shared.
There’s also a quote from Vissla’s media marketing manager, Keegan Fong: “Bitly Campaigns offers us a whole new way to look at our marketing channels. By giving us an easy-to-use dashboard that instantly displays the results of our multichannel promotions, we can see what kinds of content work on what channel, which channels we should be investing in the most, and what we need to do to optimize our content.” [ For Social: @vissla ]
3. Viperchill
There’s a great marketing case study from Viperchill that you’ll want to check out. It’s a quick, fun read that explains how the author created a squeeze page that generated more than 700 leads and results in a conversion rate of 64 percent.
Notice that he used hard numbers. Sometimes, it’s impossible to boil results down to a figure or percentage, but if you can, do so. People comprehend real numbers faster than lengthy text explanations.
4. MarketingSherpa
This MarketingSherpa case study is super detailed and describes the process by which MarketingSherpa helped a natural foods company boost revenue by 18 percent with a site redesign. You see the entire project from start to finish.
You’ll notice that there are lots of visuals. Since this marketing case study focused on design, visuals were imperative. Let your business and its niche guide the way in which you construct your case study.
How to Create a Case Study Marketing Strategy That Converts
Now that you’ve looked through a few case studies, how do you create a marketing case study of your own?
It starts with a case study marketing strategy that’s designed to convert leads. You don’t want to choose just any project. It should be geared toward other businesses or customers who might benefit from your business.
Let’s take it step by step.
1. Choose a success story that is closely related to your potential customer
You might notice that many companies publish numerous marketing case studies. There’s a reason for that.
Each case study targets a different segment of the company’s target audience. Let’s say that you sell shoes, purses, and hats. A case study about shoes won’t interest someone who’s shopping for hats.
You can either choose a project that has already concluded or one that is starting or underway. It’s always best to start at the beginning, but if you’re anxious, you can take the reverse-engineering route.
Decide which segment of your target audience you want to appeal to first. Next, select a case study subject closely related to that segment. You want your marketing case study to resonate with the leads you most want to convert.
2. Identify the key points of the case study and use storytelling
Decide what parts of the case study you want to highlight. These details will likely appear in the marketing case study’s headline as well as throughout the rest of the text.
For instance, if you helped a customer boost revenue by 200 percent, that’s a highly relevant detail. You’ll want to spotlight it in the headline and several times in the content so you keep it fresh in readers’ minds.
You might have several key points. Think about the struggles your customer was facing before you stepped in, how you approached the solution, and why alternatives weren’t working. When you can provide numbers, do so.
Once you’ve identified those key points, start weaving them into a narrative. Make it exciting! Add sensory details, frustration points, and colorful anecdotes.
A marketing case study shouldn’t sound dry. It needs to engage the reader so he or she keeps going until the end.
If possible, intersperse the copy with images. Make them relevant and easy to see on the screen. Let the images help supplement the story you’ve woven.
3. Highlight the great results
As mentioned above, results are paramount. If you can express them in numeric form, so much the better.
Consider creating a custom graphic to serve as the featured image on your post. That way, people can share the image on social. Add the amazing result to the text on the image to entice people to click.
The point here is to capture attention. If people are willing to pay attention to you, then you’ve won the first part of the battle. As long as you maintain that attention, you have a good chance of converting the lead.
4. Explore different types of design
Design can prove fundamental to a marketing case study’s success. If you’re publishing it as a blog post, break it up with H2s, H3s, and H4s to guide the reader through the story. Add images and leading lines to keep the visitor engaged.
Remember that color matters. Consider using colors for text and images that correlate with your customers’ color scheme or with your own site’s palette.
5. Ask for feedback! What does your potential customer want to learn?
Don’t let the conversation stop at the end of your marketing case study. Open up the forum for more insights.
Invite readers to ask you direct questions about your business, products, services, or methods. Not only that, but respond to those comments. Take each one as a gift.
These comments might tell you what type of case study you should create next or allow you to cement a conversion by answering objections or questions.
Marketing case studies can improve your conversion rate , but you have to put in the time and effort. Yes, a polished case study requires work, but if you can secure sales from its publication, why wouldn’t you give it your full attention?
Remember that trust matters when it comes to converting leads into customers . If you don’t have trust, you’ll lose your leads to your competitors.
A great marketing case study demonstrates your track record. It builds a case for leads to use your products or services over someone else’s.
What are you waiting for? Start creating your first marketing case study now.
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16 Important Ways to Use Case Studies in Your Marketing
Updated: September 08, 2020
Published: July 30, 2020
When you're thinking about investing in a product or service, what's the first thing you do?
Usually, it’s one or both of the following: You'll likely ask your friends whether they've tried the product or service, and if they have, whether they would recommend it. You'll also probably do some online research to see what others are saying about said product or service. Nowadays, 90% of consumers used the internet to find a local business in the last year , and 82% of consumers read online reviews. This shows that the majority of people are looking to peers to make a purchasing decision. Most customers know that a little online research could spare them from a bad experience and poor investment of your budget.
What Is a Marketing Case Study?
A case study is the analysis of a particular instance (or "case") of something to demonstrate quantifiable results as a result of the application of something. In marketing, case studies are used as social proof — to provide buyers with the context to determine whether they're making a good choice.
A marketing case study aims to persuade that a process, product, or service can solve a problem. Why? Because it has done so in the past. By including the quantitative and qualitative outcomes of the study, it appeals to logic while painting a picture of what success looks like for the buyer. Both of which can be powerful motivators and objection removers.
Why Use Case Studies?
In essence, case studies are an invaluable asset when it comes to establishing proof that what you're offering is valuable and of good quality.
According to HubSpot's State of Marketing Report 2020 , 13% of marketers name case studies as one of the primary forms of media used within their content strategy. This makes them the fifth most popular type of content, outshined only by visual content, blogs, and ebooks.
Okay, so you know case studies work. The question is, how do they work? And how can you squeeze the most value out of them?
When to Use a Case Study
Here are the ways you can market your case studies to get the most out of them.
As a Marketing or Sales Asset
1. use a case study template to create pdfs for email or downloads . .
Do not underestimate the value of providing social proof at just the right time in order to add value and earn their business. Case studies are extremely effective in the consideration stage of the buyer's journey when they are actively comparing solutions and providers to solve a problem they're experiencing.
For this reason, case studies in an independent PDF format can be helpful in both marketing and sales. Marketers can use these PDFs as downloads in web content or email campaigns. Sales reps can utilize these assets in demonstrations, in a follow-up, or to overcome objections.
The easiest way to create PDF case studies is by using a case study template . Doing so can decrease the amount of time you spend creating and designing your case study without sacrificing aesthetics. In addition, you can ensure that all your case studies follow a similar branded format.
We've created a great case study template (and kit!) that's already locked and loaded for you to use. All you have to do is input your own text and change the fonts and colors to fit your brand. You can download it here .
On Your Website
2. have a dedicated case studies page..
You should have a webpage exclusively for housing your case studies. Whether you call this page "Case Studies, "Success Studies," or "Examples of Our Work," be sure it's easy for visitors to find.
Structure on that page is key: Initial challenges are clear for each case, as well as the goals, process, and results.
Get Inspired: Google’s Think With Google is an example of a really well structured case study page. The copy is engaging, as are the goals, approach, and results.
3. Put case studies on your home page.
Give website visitors every chance you can to stumble upon evidence of happy customers. Your home page is the perfect place to do this.
There are a number of ways you can include case studies on your homepage. Here are a few examples:
- Customer quotes/testimonials
- A call-to-action (CTA) to view specific case studies
- A slide-in CTA that links to a case study
- A CTA leading to your case studies page
Get Inspired: Theresumator.com incorporates testimonials onto their homepage to strengthen their value proposition.
Bonus Tip: Get personal.
Marketing gurus across the world agree that personalised marketing is the future . You can make your case studies more powerful if you find ways to make them “match” the website visitors that are important to you.
People react to familiarity -- for instance, presenting someone from London with a case study from New York may not resonate as well as if you displayed a case study from the U.K. Or you could choose to tailor case studies by industry or company size to the visitor. At HubSpot, we call this "smart content."
Get Inspired: To help explain smart content, have a look at the example below. Here, we wanted to test whether including testimonials on landing pages influenced conversion rates in the U.K. The landing page on the left is the default landing page shown to visitors from non-U.K. IP addresses. For the landing page on the right, we used smart content to show testimonials to visitors coming from U.K. IP addresses.
4. Implement slide-in CTAs.
Pop-ups have a reputation for being annoying, but there are ways to implement that that won't irk your website visitors. These CTAs don't have to be huge, glaring pop-ups -- instead, relevant but discreet slide-in CTAs can work really well.
For example, why not test out a slide-in CTA on one of your product pages, with a link to a case study that profiles a customer who's seen great results using that product?
Get Inspired: If you need some help on creating sliders for your website, check out this tutorial on creating slide-in CTAs .
5. Write blog posts about your case studies.
Once you publish a case study, the next logical step would be to write a blog post about it to expose your audience to it. The trick is to write about the case study in a way that identifies with your audience’s needs. So rather than titling your post “Company X: A Case Study," you might write about a specific hurdle, issue, or challenge the company overcame, and then use that company's case study to illustrate how the issues were addressed. It's important not to center the blog post around your company, product, or service -- instead, the customer’s challenges and how they were overcome should take centre stage.
For example, if we had a case study that showed how one customer generated twice as many leads as a result of our marketing automation tool, our blog post might be something along the lines of: "How to Double Lead Flow With Marketing Automation [Case Study]." The blog post would then comprise of a mix of stats, practical tips, as well as some illustrative examples from our case study.
Get Inspired: Check out this great example of a blog post from Moz , titled "How to Build Links to Your Blog – A Case Study."
6. Create videos from case studies.
Internet services are improving all the time, and as a result, people are consuming more and more video content. Prospects could be more likely to watch a video than they are to read a lengthy case study. If you have the budget, creating videos of your case studies is a really powerful way to communicate your value proposition.
Get Inspired: Check out one of our many video testimonials for some ideas on how to approach your own videos.
7. Use case studies on relevant landing pages.
Once you complete a case study, you'll have a bank of quotes and results you can pull from. Including quotes on product pages is especially interesting. If website visitors are reading your product pages, they are in a "consideration" mindset, meaning they are actively researching your products, perhaps with an intent to buy. Having customer quotes placed strategically on these pages is a great way to push them over the line and further down the funnel.
These quotes should be measured, results-based snippets, such as, “XX resulted in a 70% increase in blog subscribers in less an 6 months” rather than, “We are proud to be customers of XX, they really look after us."
Get Inspired: I really like the way HR Software company Workday incorporates video and testimonials into its solutions pages.
Off Your Website
8. post about case studies on social media..
Case studies make for perfect social sharing material. Here are a few examples of how you can leverage them on social:
- Share a link to a case study and tag the customer in the post. The trick here is to post your case studies in a way that attracts the right people to click through, rather than just a generic message like, “New Case Study ->> LINK." Make sure your status communicates clearly the challenge that was overcome or the goal that was achieved. It's also wise to include the main stats associated with the case study; for example, "2x lead flow," "125% increase in X," and so on.
- Update your cover image on Twitter/Facebook showing a happy customer. Our social media cover photo templates should help you with this!
- Add your case study to your list of publications on LinkedIn.
- Share your case studies in relevant LinkedIn Groups.
- Target your new case studies to relevant people on Facebook using dark posts. ( Learn about dark posts here. )
Get Inspired: MaRS Discovery District posts case studies on Twitter to push people towards a desired action.
9. Use case studies in your email marketing.
Case studies are particularly suited to email marketing when you have an industry-segmentable list. For example, if you have a case study from a client in the insurance industry, emailing your case study to your base of insurance-related contacts can be a really relevant addition to a lead nurturing campaign.
Case studies can also be very effective when used in product-specific lead nurture workflows in reactivating opportunities that have gone cold. They can be useful for re-engaging leads that have gone quiet and who were looking at specific areas of your product that the case study relates to.
Get Inspired: It's important that your lead nurture workflow content includes the appropriate content for where prospects are in the sales cycle. If you need help on how to do this, check out our post on how to map lead nurturing content to each stage in sales cycle .
Pro tip: When sending emails, don't forget about the impact a good email signature can make. Create your own using our free Email Signature Generator .
10. Incorporate case studies into your newsletters.
This idea is as good for your client relations as it is for gaining the attention of your prospects. Customers and clients love feeling as though they're part of a community. It’s human nature. Prospects warm to companies that look after their customers; companies whose customers are happy and proud to be part of something. Also, whether we are willing to admit it or not, people love to show off!
Get Inspired: Newsletters become stale over time. Give your newsletters a new lease of life with our guide on how to create newsletters that don't suck .
11. Equip your sales team with case studies.
Tailored content has become increasingly important to sales reps as they look to provide value on the sales call. It's estimated that consumers go through 70-90% of the buyer's journey before contacting a vendor. This means that the consumer is more knowledgeable than ever before. Sales reps no longer need to spend an entire call talking about the features and benefits. Sales has become more complex, and reps now need to be armed with content that addresses each stage of the buyer’s process. Case studies can be really useful when it comes to showing prospects how successful other people within a similar industry has benefited from your product or service.
Get Inspired: Case studies are just one type of content that helps your sales team sell. They don't always work by themselves, though. Check out our list of content types that help sales close more deals .
12. Sneak a case study into your email signature.
Include a link to a recent case study in your email signature. This is particularly useful for salespeople. Here's what my email signature looks like:
Get Inspired: Did you know that there are lots more ways you can use your email signature to support your marketing? Here are 10 clever suggestions for how you can do this.
13. Use case studies in training.
Having customer case studies is an invaluable asset to have when onboarding new employees. It aids developing their buy-in, belief in, and understanding of your offering.
Get Inspired: Have you completed our Inbound Certification course yet? During our classes, we use case studies to show how inbound marketing is applied in real life.
In Lead-Gen Content
14. include case studies in your lead gen efforts..
There are a number of offers you can create based off of your case studies, in the form of ebooks, templates, and more. For example you could put together an ebook titled “A step-by-step guide to reaching 10,000 blog subscribers in 3 months…just like XX did.” You could create a more in-depth version of the case study with access to detailed statistics as an offer. (And don’t forget, you can also u se quotes and statistics from case studies on the landing page promoting the ebook, which adds credibility and could increase your conversion rates.) Or, you could create a template based on your customer's approach to success.
Get Inspired: If you think you need to be an awesome designer put together beautiful ebooks, think again. Create ebooks easily using these customisable ebook templates .
You can also use case studies to frame webinars that document how to be successful with X. Using case studies in webinars is great middle-of-the-funnel content and can really help move your leads further down the funnel towards becoming sales qualified leads.
Get Inspired: Webinars are really effective as part of a lead nurturing workflow. Make sure your next webinar is spot on by following these simple webinar tips.
15. Create a bank of evergreen presentations.
It’s important to build up a bank of evergreen content that employees across your organisation can use during presentations or demos. Case studies are perfect for this.
Put together a few slides on the highlights of the case study to stir people’s interest, and then make them available to your sales and customer-facing teams. It's helpful if the marketer who created the presentation is the one who presents it to anyone who might use them in the future. This ensures they can explain the presentation clearly and answer any questions that might arise.
Get Inspired: What to create presentations people want to use? Here's a list of tools to make your presentations great.
16. Create SlideShares based on case studies.
Following on from a few short slides, you could also put together a more detailed presentation of the case study and upload it to SlideShare. After all, not only is SlideShare SEO-friendly (because Google indexes each presentation), but there is a huge pre-existing audience on SlideShare of over 60 million users you can tap into. SlideShare presentations are also easy to embed and share, and allow you to capture leads directly from the slides via a lead capture form.
Get Inspired: Want to generate more leads with SlideShare, but not sure how to get started? Check out this blog post .
Now that you understand the value of a marketing case study and the different ways that they can be used in your content marketing (and even sales) strategy, your next step is to think about what would convince your target audience to do business with you.
Have you recently accomplished something big for a client? Do you have a process or product with demonstrable results? What do your potential clients hope that you'll do for them?
The answers to those questions will help you craft compelling content for your case study. Then, all that's left is putting it into your audience's hands in formats they want to consume.
Editor's note: This post was originally published in January 2015 and has been updated for comprehensiveness.
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Browse Course Material
Course info.
- Prof. Natalie Mizik
Departments
- Sloan School of Management
As Taught In
Learning resource types, marketing management, case studies.
Cases will be discussed in class. The discussion questions below are provided to guide assigned case readings. A group case analysis write-up is required for the Sonance case, and details can be found in the assignments section of this course.
SES # | CASES | DISCUSSION QUESTIONS |
---|---|---|
1 | Lovelock, Christopher H. “Federal Express (B).” Harvard Business School Case. Harvard Business School Publishing. Case: 9-579-040, November 1, 1978. | 1. Who uses the Courier Pak? How large is the potential market for Courier Pak? What are the appropriate target markets for Courier Pak? 2. What is the competition for Courier Pak? 3. Is Courier Pak consistent with Federal Express Corp’s objectives and abilities? 4. Is Courier Pak an economically viable product? 5. How should Federal Express Corporation support and market the Courier Pak? |
2 | Silk, Alvin J., and Steven C. Michael. “American Airlines’ Value Pricing (A).” Harvard Business School Case. Harvard Business School Publishing. Case: 9-594-001, August 11, 1993. | 1. What is “Value Pricing” and why did AA introduce it? 2. What results did AA expect from this plan? What are the implicit assumptions in these estimates? 3. What is the likely reaction of each of the competitors? In the face of the likely competitive reaction, what should AA do? |
5 | Moon, Youngme, and Kerry Herman. “Aqualisa Quartz: Simply a Better Shower.” Harvard Business School Case. Harvard Business School Publishing. Case: 9-502-030, January 16, 2002. | 1. What is the Quartz value proposition to plumbers? To consumers? 2. Why is the Quartz shower not selling? 3. Aqualisa spent three years and €5.8 million developing the Quartz. Was the product worth the investment? Is Quartz a niche product or a mainstream product? 4. What should Harry Rawlinson do to generate sales momentum for the Quartz product? Should he change his marketing strategy to target consumers directly, target the DIY market, or target developers? Should he lower the price of the Quartz? Or should he do something different altogether? |
7 | Clarke, Darrel G., and Randall E. Wise. “Optical Distortion, Inc. (A).” Harvard Business School Case. Harvard Business School Publishing. Case: 9-575-072, January 1, 1975. | 1. Is there a market opportunity for ODI chicken lenses? 2. Would you recommend introduction of ODI chicken lenses? 3. If introduced, how should chicken lenses be marketed? Note: You can assume that a chicken life time is 1 year, 1kg~=2 lb, 1 ton ~= 2,000 lb. For the recommendation you may wish to consider the following points: - Are the ODI lenses an economically viable product? - Would the farmers eagerly adopt or resist adopting this product? Why? - How should ODI segment the market and where should it concentrate its effort? - Given the financial constraints faced by the company, what is a feasible budget? What implications does it have for the short and the long-run strategy of the company? |
8 | Lal, Rajiv, and Patricia Martone Carrolo. “Harrah’s Entertainment, Inc.” Harvard Business School Case. Harvard Business School Publishing. Case: 9-502-011, October 25, 2001. | 1. How effective do you think the database marketing programs are? 2. Will they continue to be effective? 3. What are the social consequences of the product Harrah’s sells and is it Harrah’s problem? 4. What, if any, are the issues involved in using customer level data? |
11 | Mizik, Natalie. “Sonance at a Turning Point.” Columbia Business School Case. Columbia CaseWorks. Case: ID#080515A, November 25, 2009. | 1. Evaluate current strategic position and the options available to Sonance. 2. Which option should Sonance pursue: develop and promote the ultra-luxury Architectural Series? Focus on basic in-wall speakers for production home developers and sell directly to the builders? Continue to pursue growth through the direct-to-consumer retail strategy? 3. What should Ari Supran do to generate profitable and sustainable growth for the company and sales momentum for Sonance’s products? Should he change Sonance’s marketing strategy to target consumers directly? target the developers of production home developments? target architects and interior designers designing custom homes? try to win back the high-end custom installers Sonance had lost under the previous management? |
14 | Gourville, John T. “Medicines Co.” Harvard Business School Case. Harvard Business School Publishing. Case: 9-502-006, July 3, 2001. | 1. What is the value of Angiomax to customers? 2. What price should the Medicines Company charge for a dose of Angiomax? Why? 3. Will this be an easy sell or a tough sell? Why? 4. If you were the Medicines Company, how would you promote adoption? 5. What do you think of the Medicines Company’s business model of “rescuing” abandoned drugs? |
16 | Rangan, V. Kasturi, and Susan Lasley. “Rohm and Haas (A): New Product Marketing Strategy.” Harvard Business School Case. Harvard Business School Publishing. Case: 9-587-055, August 6, 1986. | 1. Is Kathon MWX a good product? 2. Should Rohm and Haas support Kathon MWX, or should it withdraw this product from the market and concentrate its effort on the more successful product Kathon 886 MW? 3. If you recommend that Rohm and Haas supports Kathon MWX, how should it be marketed? |
17 | Rangan, V. Kasturi. “Citibank: Launching the Credit Card in Asia Pacific (A).” Harvard Business School Case. Harvard Business School Publishing. Case: 9-595-026, September 12, 1994. | 1. Should Citibank launch the credit card? Why or why not? 2. If Citibank decides to launch the credit card, which countries should it enter first? Which countries it should avoid? 3. Which target market should it focus on? How should the card be positioned? 4. If you chose not to introduce the card, what would you do to achieve the $100 million earning target by 1990? |
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How to Write a Marketing Case Study (With Examples)
Learn exactly what a marketing case study is, how to write one that stands out, and review some examples of existing, successful studies.
As any big brand like MailChimp, Spotify and IMB will tell you, case studies are a huge part of solidifying your brand as thought leaders.
A case study is a win: you share the success of a customer as a result of your company’s actions. At SimpleTexting we call them our Success Stories , but no matter the name, the structure is the same — how company A worked with B to achieve XYZ.
In this article we’ll cover everything from the basics to real-life examples.What exactly is a marketing case study, what constitutes a good one, and most importantly, how do you build one?
Let’s get started.
What is a Marketing Case Study?
According to Curata , “a case study in the context of marketing is an analysis of a project, campaign or company that identifies a situation, recommended solutions, implementation actions, and identification of those factors that contributed to failure or success.”
Sure, it’s a bit wordy, but at its core marketing case studies share information with prospective customers or clients about how your product offered a solution.
It doesn’t need to be dry reading. It doesn’t even need to be a report (although it can be). The key with a case study is that it should read like a story—only the beginning, middle, and end are all replicable business takeaways.
Case studies are for businesses of all sizes. They can be just as effective for small and medium-sized businesses as they are for enterprise businesses. Here’s why you should be investing time in building case studies.
Why Write a Marketing Case Study?
Before we dive into the instructions, let’s take a second to explore why a business would invest the time and effort into writing a case study. After all, why share your big marketing secrets with the world, what do you get out of the deal?
Simply put, you get the chance to share your story. Case studies, after all, are just stories showcasing your products and methods. They make for pretty spectacular advertising because, to a reader, it doesn’t feel like they’re being marketed to.
92% of customers prefer that media messages sound like a story. By using case studies you’re appealing to the logical, casual consumer who wants to know the “who, what, where, when, and why” that drives them to buy without any of the extra fuss. Case studies are the perfect medium to package it all.
How to Write a Marketing Case Study
As mentioned, every good case study maintains one singular focus: how one company used another to achieve its goal(s). This means most marketing case studies tend to take on an easily understandable problem-solution structure.
Let’s take a look at what you need to create a successful case study.
Components of a Marketing Case Study
Using the ingredients above, assemble them in this order to create a basic marketing case study:
- Write a title : Don’t worry about spoiling the ending. With case studies you want your title to let readers know right away how a campaign ended. A case study title should include the name of the company or brand being examined, if their campaign went well or poorly for them and a solid metric that demonstrates exactly how well or how poorly they performed. For example: “ SimpleTexting Cut Down Product Onboarding Process by 30% Through Video Instruction. “
- Introduce the subject: Every marketing case study should open with a brief historical overview of the company. What have they struggled with in the past that led to them developing this campaign? Who is their target audience, what do they sell? Even if your subject is obscure, you want to build a sense of relatability to your readers: so be sure to structure from general to specific. After all, you want readers outside just your industry to take away value.
- Identify your subject’s problems : Avoid leaving your readers feeling underwhelmed by presenting your subject’s problems early on in your case study. What are they trying to build, fix, or change? These problems are what will ultimately establish the subject’s goal, a one or two-sentence overview of the outcomes they’d like to see.
- Spell out your strategies and tactics : The real meat to your case study occurs here. This portion of your study is where you describe what actions you specifically took to try and reach your goals: What did you expect to happen when you tried “X, Y, and Z”? Your case study can write this all out in paragraph form if you want it to read with some fluidity, or you can simply bullet out your strategies below each goal. Examples of good strategies for a common marketing pain point, such as building a social media following, include: connecting with influencers, developing original creative content, and developing paid advertising parameters.
- Share your results with visuals : At this point, you’ll want to follow up with the preview you set in your title and share with readers how things went. If you saw success, how much and where? If you didn’t were you able to pinpoint where things went wrong? Spare no detail as you write out what worked and what didn’t, and be sure to provide replicable detail (it may be what inspires your reader to become a customer!). Some common metrics commonly found in case studies include: web analytics and traffic, backlinks generated, keyword rankings, shares or other social interactions. Graphics like charts, bolded quotes, and graphs are good opportunities to visually demonstrate your data.
- Wrap it up with a conclusion : Know the difference between reemphasizing and repeating. When writing a conclusion you shouldn’t sound like an echo, repeating exactly what you said in your introduction. Instead, you want to draw emphasis back to your key points and call your readers to action. Let them know what they can do right now to get connected and see this same success (or avoid its failure). If you’re writing a case study for marketing purposes, this is where you sell yourself and your product.
Marketing Case Study Examples
You’ve certainly heard enough from us to this point. Now it’s time to see what all of these tips and tricks look like in action. `
A plethora of marketing case study examples are out there, each one with a different objective: educational, sales-driven, industry leadership, and more.
To give you a well-rounded picture, we’ll share some of our favorite marketing case studies with you so you can see it all in action for yourself.
1. Surf Live Saving Foundation
The Surf Life Saving Foundation rolled out an innovative new framework for their brand known as the surf lottery. Despite the size of the initiative they were able to break down their process on a share of voice campaign with a great deal of clarity. Why we like this case study : It provides actionable and replicable examples of how their objectives were received.
2. StyleHaul & Asana
Organizational application Asana also finds itself in a competition-heavy environment. They are one of many SaaS productivity programs available. They needed to give their brand more of a voice to edge out against competitors offering near-identical products. The problem that needed solving in this success story is relatable to businesses all around the world, and ASANA’s use of it is a showcase of why they’re leaders in what they do.
Why we like this case study : It’s storytelling at its finest and perfectly demonstrates the subtle advertising concept.
3. Red Sox and CTP
This is a great example of a marketing agency showcasing its history of work with a high-profile client (the Boston Red Sox). It explores their entire body of work on a dynamic landing page. Why we like this case study : It demonstrates what a multi-media approach to a digital case study should strive to be.
4. SimpleTexting & U.S. Hunger
We couldn’t talk the talk without walking the walk. We have a range of varied case studies on our Success Stories page, but one of our absolute favorites is the results from U.S. Hunger.
U.S. Hunger was looking for a way to reach those who need them most – including those without internet access.
Why we like this case study: Not only does it highlight the incredible work of U.S. Hunger, it also shows how much can be accomplished through SMS. It spins a new light on SMS marketing and shows the wider impact of accessible communication.
Marketing Case Studies are Key to Brand Trust
As a business looking to grow, you need to prove to prospective customers and clients why they should invest in you. Whether it’s a service or a product, case studies are viable ways of showing that what you do works and discussing how you achieved it.
The most impactful case studies aren’t always the ones with big names attached to them. They’re the best stories, the best solutions, and the ones that the most people can relate to.
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Meghan Tocci
Meghan Tocci is a content strategist at SimpleTexting. When she’s not writing about SaaS, she’s trying to teach her puppy Lou how to code. So far, not so good.
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In early 2023, Jeff Maggioncalda, CEO of Coursera, started developing the EdTech firm’s strategy for incorporating GenAI into their offerings. By early 2024, the firm had made significant progress in bringing four key capabilities to market, but GenAI was evolving quickly and Coursera needed to continuously improve its offerings. While the firm had been an early mover, competitors were adapting fast. Was Coursera taking full advantage of the opportunities presented by the technology? What more could it do to remain competitive?
- 09 Jul 2024
Non-Fungible Tokens (NFTs) and Brand Building
Non-fungible tokens (NFTs), which allow individuals to own their digital assets and move them from place to place, are changing the interaction between consumers and digital goods, brands, and platforms. Professor Scott Duke Kominers and tech entrepreneur Steve Kaczynski discuss the case, “Bored Ape Yacht Club: Navigating the NFT World,” and the related book they co-authored, The Everything Token: How NFTs and Web3 Will Transform The Way We Buy, Sell, And Create. They focus on the rise and popularity of the Bored Ape Yacht Club NFTs and the new model of brand building created by owning those tokens.
- 07 May 2024
Lessons in Business Innovation from Legendary Restaurant elBulli
Ferran Adrià, chef at legendary Barcelona-based restaurant elBulli, was facing two related decisions. First, he and his team must continue to develop new and different dishes for elBulli to guarantee a continuous stream of innovation, the cornerstone of the restaurant's success. But they also need to focus on growing the restaurant’s business. Can the team balance both objectives? Professor Michael I. Norton discusses the connections between creativity, emotions, rituals, and innovation – and how they can be applied to other domains – in the case, “elBulli: The Taste of Innovation,” and his new book, The Ritual Effect.
- 29 Feb 2024
Beyond Goals: David Beckham's Playbook for Mobilizing Star Talent
Reach soccer's pinnacle. Become a global brand. Buy a team. Sign Lionel Messi. David Beckham makes success look as easy as his epic free kicks. But leveraging world-class talent takes discipline and deft decision-making, as case studies by Anita Elberse reveal. What could other businesses learn from his ascent?
- 17 Jan 2024
Psychological Pricing Tactics to Fight the Inflation Blues
Inflation has slowed from the epic rates of 2021 and 2022, but many consumers still feel pinched. What will it take to encourage them to spend? Thoughtful pricing strategies that empower customers as they make purchasing decisions, says research by Elie Ofek.
- 05 Dec 2023
What Founders Get Wrong about Sales and Marketing
Which sales candidate is a startup’s ideal first hire? What marketing channels are best to invest in? How aggressively should an executive team align sales with customer success? Senior Lecturer Mark Roberge discusses how early-stage founders, sales leaders, and marketing executives can address these challenges as they grow their ventures in the case, “Entrepreneurial Sales and Marketing Vignettes.”
Tommy Hilfiger’s Adaptive Clothing Line: Making Fashion Inclusive
In 2017, Tommy Hilfiger launched its adaptive fashion line to provide fashion apparel that aims to make dressing easier. By 2020, it was still a relatively unknown line in the U.S. and the Tommy Hilfiger team was continuing to learn more about how to serve these new customers. Should the team make adaptive clothing available beyond the U.S., or is a global expansion premature? Assistant Professor Elizabeth Keenan discusses the opportunities and challenges that accompanied the introduction of a new product line that effectively serves an entirely new customer while simultaneously starting a movement to provide fashion for all in the case, “Tommy Hilfiger Adaptive: Fashion for All.”
- Research & Ideas
Are Virtual Tours Still Worth It in Real Estate? Evidence from 75,000 Home Sales
Many real estate listings still feature videos and interactive tools that simulate the experience of walking through properties. But do they help homes sell faster? Research by Isamar Troncoso probes the post-pandemic value of virtual home tours.
- 17 Oct 2023
With Subscription Fatigue Setting In, Companies Need to Think Hard About Fees
Subscriptions are available for everything from dental floss to dog toys, but are consumers tiring of monthly fees? Elie Ofek says that subscription revenue can provide stability, but companies need to tread carefully or risk alienating customers.
- 29 Aug 2023
As Social Networks Get More Competitive, Which Ones Will Survive?
In early 2023, TikTok reached close to 1 billion users globally, placing it fourth behind the leading social networks: Facebook, YouTube, and Instagram. Meanwhile, competition in the market for videos had intensified. Can all four networks continue to attract audiences and creators? Felix Oberholzer-Gee discusses competition and imitation among social networks in his case “Hey, Insta & YouTube, Are You Watching TikTok?”
- 26 Jun 2023
Want to Leave a Lasting Impression on Customers? Don't Forget the (Proverbial) Fireworks
Some of the most successful customer experiences end with a bang. Julian De Freitas provides three tips to help businesses invest in the kind of memorable moments that will keep customers coming back.
- 31 May 2023
With Predictive Analytics, Companies Can Tap the Ultimate Opportunity: Customers’ Routines
Armed with more data than ever, many companies know what key customers need. But how many know exactly when they need it? An analysis of 2,000 ridesharing commuters by Eva Ascarza and colleagues shows what's possible for companies that can anticipate a customer's routine.
- 30 May 2023
Can AI Predict Whether Shoppers Would Pick Crest Over Colgate?
Is it the end of customer surveys? Definitely not, but research by Ayelet Israeli sheds light on the potential for generative AI to improve market research. But first, businesses will need to learn to harness the technology.
- 24 Apr 2023
What Does It Take to Build as Much Buzz as Booze? Inside the Epic Challenge of Cannabis-Infused Drinks
The market for cannabis products has exploded as more states legalize marijuana. But the path to success is rife with complexity as a case study about the beverage company Cann by Ayelet Israeli illustrates.
- 07 Apr 2023
When Celebrity ‘Crypto-Influencers’ Rake in Cash, Investors Lose Big
Kim Kardashian, Lindsay Lohan, and other entertainers have been accused of promoting crypto products on social media without disclosing conflicts. Research by Joseph Pacelli shows what can happen to eager investors who follow them.
- 10 Feb 2023
COVID-19 Lessons: Social Media Can Nudge More People to Get Vaccinated
Social networks have been criticized for spreading COVID-19 misinformation, but the platforms have also helped public health agencies spread the word on vaccines, says research by Michael Luca and colleagues. What does this mean for the next pandemic?
- 02 Feb 2023
Why We Still Need Twitter: How Social Media Holds Companies Accountable
Remember the viral video of the United passenger being removed from a plane? An analysis of Twitter activity and corporate misconduct by Jonas Heese and Joseph Pacelli reveals the power of social media to uncover questionable situations at companies.
- 06 Dec 2022
Latest Isn’t Always Greatest: Why Product Updates Capture Consumers
Consumers can't pass up a product update—even if there's no improvement. Research by Leslie John, Michael Norton, and Ximena Garcia-Rada illustrates the powerful allure of change. Are we really that naïve?
100+ Case Study Examples for Sales and Marketing
Browse through a wide range of case study templates from various industries.
Imagine you come home after a long, tiring week of work, and you decide to satiate your taste buds by ordering a delicious, exotic dish. What would be your further course of action? Let us guess - you pull out your phone, log in to your favourite on-demand food delivery platform, search for the dish you're looking for, and hit the order button. Oh, wait! We missed out a crucial action that most of us perform while ordering a palate from a new food outlet – Rating & reviews!
The first instinct that each one of us has when we subscribe to a new product or service is to get validation or proof from others.
In this post, we talk about one such crucial marketing collateral that provides proof to your prospects – Case Studies.
What is a Case Study?
Case studies are an indispensable tool for providing proof of quality and utility. They help demonstrate exactly what you have done to help other customers or clients attain their goals. They're sure to draw potential clients because they establish the factor of faith in the ability of your products or services.
To some, case studies may seem dull and boring, but it remains an integral part of a content marketing strategy for almost every B2B company. A content marketing report states that 70% of B2B marketers believe case studies are an effective tool for the content marketing mix.
How long should your case study be?
If you type this query into the Google search bar, the answer that pops up on your screen is 500 to 1500 words. Although this is fairly ideal, it is important to note that there is no hard and fast rule for the word limit of a case study. Like everything else in Marketing, the answer is - it depends.
Depends on various factors like the industry you’re writing the case study for, the narrative you’re building, the audience you’ll cater to and the like.
Case studies are primarily built to generate an in-depth understanding of why exactly prospects should choose your product. In today’s world, where all content consumers have an attention span of roughly 7 seconds (if not lesser) - getting them to read a case study that’s nothing less than 500 words requires skill, to say the least.
The length of a case study depends on the following factors :
Target audience
Identifying the target audience for your case study is the first and foremost step of the writing process. Who will be reading this case study and how do you tailor it to fit their flow of reading? It’s no big secret that everyone’s attention span varies. (We hear you. Do people even have an attention span these days?)
Thanks to the myriad of visual content available in abundance, going through a 50-word post, let alone a 500-word case study, might be an arduous task for most people. However, this massively depends on the target audience and the industry your client belongs to.
Case studies provide deep insight into your product/service and give potential customers one, if not more, solid reasons to get onboard.
Formulating your case study based on these parameters will result in the best outcomes.
For example, if your product caters directly to the general public (B2C) , then your case studies have to be short, precise and to the point. It has to provide just the right amount of information to put forth about your company, the services you offer, its features and benefits. Hence, these case studies can be anywhere between 100-300 words.
On the other hand, formulating a case study for a B2B audience will require more detailed insights, examples, solution-oriented steps, and overall contain highly compelling research. This is solely because the individuals reading our case studies will be established business professionals looking to invest a good amount in your product . These case studies can extend up to 1500 words .
Purpose of the case study
The second factor/question to keep in mind is, “Why are we writing this case study?”. Here we cannot help but think of the famous quote - “You can’t understand someone until you’ve walked a mile in their shoes.”
It’s safe to say that this quote is applicable to almost every situation in life. Especially while selling a product. Or, attempting to do so. In this stage, you need to take into consideration 3 very important factors :
At which point of the sales process are we sending out this case study?
For starters, case study content changes according to the various points of the sales process it is being sent out during. The content required for a case study at the beginning of the sales process differs from the content required for a case study when the deal is about to be closed.
Case studies sent out at the beginning of the sales process focus on the following :
- Recognition of your company/brand
- An insight into your company & what you do
- A generic overview of what your product offers
Hence, these case studies can range anywhere from 300-500 words.
Case studies sent out at the end of the sales process focus on the following :
- Presenting a precise problem faced by a client
- Presenting how your company provided a solution for the same
- The process
- Use-case specific insights
Hence, the sky’s the (word) limit with these case studies. The length that narrates to your prospect that your company is the best solution is the length you stop at.
What do we want our readers to take away from this case study?
The length of your case study also majorly depends on the point you want to put forth in your case study. Are you trying to simply establish brand identity? Are you talking about a new campaign run by your company? Or is it a case study showcasing the work you did for a specific client?
What medium are we sending the case study via?
The medium through which your case study is being sent is a key point while determining the length of your case study.
Let us throw in a quick example here. We are in the midst of our relentless online shopping phase and our package has finally arrived. Obviously, we can’t wait to go through the contents of the package (Because which order even is this?) - Doesn’t it make the unpacking process much easier when the packaging is precise and easy to open? Who wants loads of duct tape and clunky wrapping? It instantly puts us off, and we might even decide to open it later. Similarly, the medium via which you send your case study and the presentation of it matters a lot.
Here are some of the methods through which you can send your case study :
A good ol’ fashioned e-mail
“I’ll send across an email” is a phrase most of us have probably used more than our names. And, that’s fine.
Sending your case studies and other documents through email has unmistakably been the go-to method for the longest time. Even so, sending your documents and case studies via email have its pros and cons.
If you include a number of attachments, your prospects might have a hard time going back and forth between the document and email to open it up. The best option, in this case, is to include a single case study and make it crisp & concise in order to avoid shuffling between tabs. So, we’d say a single case study, about 500 words.
A personalized storyboard
Personalized. Pretty. Extremely easy to go through. Nothing against emails, but imagine sending your case studies in a personalized collection that is exclusive to your reader, gives them a binge-worthy experience with your case studies, enables them to pick up exactly where they left off and much more.
With a presentation like this, we’re sure the length of your case study isn’t going to stop readers from going through the contents of your case study.
Types of Case Studies
Case studies can be broadly classified into the following categories:
1. Third-Person Case Studies
An external agency primarily publishes this type of case study. This external research & consulting firm validates the solution provided by your company to your customers and publishes the same on its website.
2. Explanatory Case Studies
Explanatory case studies are primarily descriptive studies. They typically use one or two instances of a phenomenon or event to show the existing solution. Explanatory case studies primarily exist to familiarize the unfamiliar situation to prospects and give them a brief overview of the subject.
3. Instrumental Case Study
To gain insight into a phenomenon, an instrumental case study is deployed. The focus of this type of case study is not on the results but on the phenomenon. It tries to make the prospects discern the relationship between the phenomenon and its solution.
4. Implementation Case Study
This is perhaps the most important type of case study for a content marketer. It encompasses how your business went about executing the solution of a customer's challenge.
Case studies are the best example of marketing collateral used during the consideration stage and are used to showcase the success stories of your company. They can be written as single-page or multi-page documents.
Steps to writing a case study solution
Crafting the headline.
Headlines are the hellos in the world of writing. Just as a simple hello can help gain surface-level insight into a person, a headline establishes just that about a piece of written content.
The first step to drafting a case study is also to pick a suitable headline.
The headline of a case study has to include the following elements :
- The name of the company
- The use case
- The results
- Quantitative data (all about the numbers)
Let’s go with a fictional take on this -
Let’s say you have a company, “Mattleberg Associates."
Mattleberg Associates offer consultative tools and guidance to understand, buy and adopt marketing technology tools for an enterprise. If Mattleberg Associates is to write a case study on how their product benefited a client of theirs, Acme Corporation , and upped their sales turnover by 70% ,
This is how the case study should ideally be titled :
Acme Corp’s Sales Turnover Increased by 70% - Meet the Mattleberg MarTech Tool that made it possible.
By glancing at this case study title, the reader gets an insight into the company (Mattleberg), the client (Acme Corp), the use case (Increasing sales turnover), the industry (Sales and Marketing) and the outcome (A 70% increase).
Highlighting the challenge/situation
In this part of the case study, the problem is made aware to the reader. This is where we let the reader know that “Hey, there was a grave situation taking place, and this is how it played out.”.
In this part, you have to mention :
- The challenge that was present
- The root cause of the problem
- Statistics about the same
Arriving at the solution
This part of your case study has to be your company’s stellar introduction.
In this part of the case study, you will include :
- How the client arrived at your company
- The process of how the client fixed on your company (yay!)
- The executives involved in the process
Behold! The results
Quantitative results .
This indicates the end of the case study. This is the part you indicate that Happily Ever After was made possible. Here is where you include all of the magical numbers that were a result of your company’s product/service, the remarkable results of the process and the outcome.
Qualitative results
Remember when Spotify allowed 6500 of their employees to work from anywhere in the world?
Now, fast forward to a year later; Spotify has released a statement saying their turnover rate dropped and they’re doing great!
Here’s another example of how a qualitative result approach can be included in your case studies. This is the tie between quantitative and qualitative results. They go hand in hand.
Tying this back to the topic, while writing a case study and mentioning the end results, it is important to also mention how the process eased the lives of the team, resulting in joy in the workplace and so on. This, in return, can directly result in quantitative results. :)
Best Practices to implement while writing a Case Study
More often than not, content marketers find it a herculean task to create a case study that is intriguing for their prospects. Here are 5 easy tips to make your case studies less boring, and more engaging.
1. Incorporate visuals in your case study
Multimedia can make your case studies more engaging and provide you with a means to connect with auditory and visual learners. Here are two ways in which you can incorporate multimedia in your case study:
- Include pictures, charts, and infographics to interpret a story out of the content-heavy data.
- Incorporate videos in your case studies and use them throughout your integrated marketing communication.
2. Prioritize firsthand knowledge over second-hand evidence
Case studies are stories. And stories can be narrated aptly only when you get real firsthand insights from the customer. Hence, to write a good case study, all you need is an excellent customer interview. Refrain from writing case studies based on resources such as testimonial quotes, videos, email, and so on.
It will only make your case studies time-consuming and difficult (or dare we say boring?).
3. Use slide-in call-to-action in lieu of pop-ups
Huge pop-ups can be annoying to the readers. Hence, marketers should try to use slide-in call-to-action that does the same job without distracting your prospects.
4. Don't be keen on listing the problem statement/challenge
Get into the shoes of your prospects while writing the challenge section. Most businesses often commit the mistake of writing the problem of a case study that caters to a narrow audience. To effectively hook a broader target audience , you should address the problem by considering the perspective of different prospects and write a detailed and compelling challenge . Your case study's first sentence should always address a broad business issue, and provide the reader with context.
5. Improve the tone of the customer quotes
Being a case study writer, you should not be transfixed on strictly reproducing all the customer quotes as it is - that is what a reporter does. As a case study writer, you should embellish the customer quotes in a way that makes their point effective. However, the altered quote should not drift away from the actual customer quote and should live up to the spirit of the customer's statement.
Examples of Case Studies
Here is a list of the finest examples of case studies across each sector with our commentary on a handpicked few to further ease your process of writing a case study.
To give you a holistic understanding of different types of case studies, we have collated the best templates from each industry.
- Aviation and Defense
- Banking, Financial Services and Insurance (BFSI)
- Energy & Utility
- Healthcare and Life Sciences
- Manufacturing
- Technology and Services
- Telecommunications
Best Case Study Examples for Aviation, Aerospace & Defense Sector
While there are over 10+ example case studies that have been handpicked for the Aviation, Aerospace and Defence sector, we are highlighting only about 2 of them for a quick reference on why it works and most importantly, we like them.
1. Electromagnetic Solutions | Leonardo
Type of case study : Explanatory
Leonardo, first, defined their electromagnetic solutions and then furnished an explanatory case study to further enlighten their target audience to the solution they offer. They provided their prospects with a lucid explanation of the phenomenon with their solution in this case study.
2. Indira Gandhi International Airport | Collins Aerospace
Type of case study: Implementation
This case study is one of the best templates you will find in the aviation & defence sector. Two reasons make it exceptional. First, Collins has tailored the case study in a way that it can collaborate with direct marketing efforts . The case study is brief, yet gives a clear explanation of how it went about executing the solution. Also, the testimonial Collins took from Delhi International Airport Ltd., explained in a nutshell, the outstanding results they produced.
Best Case Study Examples for BFSI Sector
While there are over 10+ example case studies that have been handpicked for the BFSI sector, we are highlighting only about 2 of them for a quick reference on why it works and most importantly, we like them.
1. Implementing a Complete Target-Date Fund Solution | JPMorgan Chase
Type of case study: Explanatory
Writing a case study in the sector of financial services is tricky, to say the least. If you are looking to benchmark a case study, this should undoubtedly be the one. JPMorgan deep-dived to explain the needs of the client and listed out the top investment priorities. After that, the cast study introduced the unique solution offered to give their prospects a gist of the same.
2. Global Inventory Management | Broadridge
Broadridge created a stellar case study by incorporating a testimonial, visuals, and an elaborate solution together. The cast study went one step ahead by talking about how it will utilize this opportunity to build Broadridge's future solutions.
Best Case Study Examples for Energy & utilites Sector
While there are over 10+ example case studies that have been handpicked for the Energy & Utilities sector, we are highlighting only about 2 of them for a quick reference on why it works and most importantly, we like them.
1. Creating Value through Technology and Innovation | Canadian Natural Resources Limited (CNRL)
Type of case study: Instrumental
This case study focuses more on the different technologies offered by CNRL. What makes this case study unique is that the brand has included various collaborations for each technology and clearly demarcated the status of each technique. The usage of visuals and quantifiable results is spot on!
2. City of Monterey Park | Engie
Engie has produced a phenomenal template for a case study in the energy sector. Prospects could better relate to this kind of a case study because it includes multiple testimonials alongside the images of the solution which can serve as the best catalyst for prospects in the consideration stage of the buyer journey.
Best Case Study Examples for Healthcare & Life Sciences Sector
While there are over 10+ example case studies that have been handpicked for the Healthcare and Life-sciences sector, we are highlighting only about 2 of them for a quick reference on why it works and most importantly, we like them.
1. BD Vacutainer | Becton Dickinson and Company
BD did a fantastic job of quantifying its success in solid numbers. They have incorporated the same in their headline to make it a worthy read for a prospect. Furthermore, they included a separate "results" section which listed out the benefits and illustrated the same using a bar graph. These best practices help a prospect digest text-heavy content easily.
2. Helping Biopharma Companies Unravel the Many Facets of the Oncology Market | McKesson Corporation
This template is an excellent example of an instrumental case study in the healthcare sector. McKesson takes the onus on them to educate the healthcare industry on the oncology market. It provides vital insights into how the biopharma industry can leverage McKesson's resources and excel in oncology.
Best Case Study Examples for Logistics Sector
While there are over 10+ example case studies that have been handpicked for the Logistics sector, we are highlighting only about 2 of them for a quick reference on why it works and most importantly, we like them.
1. Inventory Optimization Case Study | Neovia Logistics
Type of case study: Third-Person
This case study serves as a great template of collaboration with other organizations to deliver a customized solution for your customer. Neovia Logistics and SAP Service Parts Planning worked in unison to provide a top-notch solution for inventory management. This template makes a brilliant usage of coloured theme and an engaging dashboard to display the results lucidly.
2. Building a better distribution model to accommodate rapid growth | FedEx Corporation
FedEx adopts a customer-centric approach in this case study and explains the challenges faced by the customer in detail. It elaborately explains how the problems of temperature-sensitive products of the clients were dealt with. This type of case study can prove to be very useful as a marketing communication for a client dealing in a similar sector.
Best Case Study Examples for Manufacturing Sector
While there are over 10+ example case studies that have been handpicked for the Manufacturing sector, we are highlighting only about 2 of them for a quick reference on why it works and most importantly, we like them.
1. Twilight River Cruises | Mitsubishi Electric
The testimonial and the embedded hyperlinks (that redirects to their product range) make this case study stand apart from others. Mitsubishi Electric has ensured that the client furnishes a well-crafted testimonial that makes the prospects acquire faith in their prowess.
2. Danfoss' Digital Journey and Strategic Approach to MES | Siemens
This is, by far, the best template we have discovered in the manufacturing sector. It ticks all the boxes for writing a stellar case study – slide-in CTAs (call-to-action), integration with social media, an excellent testimonial, captivating visuals, and a consistent theme. You do not want to miss this out!
Best Case Study Examples for Technology & Services Sector
While there are over 10+ example case studies that have been handpicked for the Technology & Services sector, we are highlighting only about 2 of them for a quick reference on why it works and most importantly, we like them.
1. FreshDesk - Case Study | Chargebee
The best thing about this case study is that Chargebee incorporated testimonials from different departments and individuals. The case study uses crisp headlines and explains the challenge in detail before jumping the gun to mention the results.
2. Aspire Systems Provides Data Integration Services | Aspire Systems
For a technical product/software, it is important to know where to use technical keywords and where to use plain, simple language. Aspire Systems did a fantastic job of creating different sections for a summary (in plain language) and a tech snapshot (where they mention the suite of data management products). It also included an image of the system architecture to educate their prospects on the process and solutions.
Best Case Study Examples for Telecommunications Sector
While there are over 10+ example case studies that have been handpicked for the Telecommunications sector, we are highlighting only about 2 of them for a quick reference on why it works and most importantly, we like them.
1. Managed Network Services | Telkomtelstra
Incorporating video testimonials in the case study is one of the best practices to be followed to create a compelling case study; and, Telkomtelstra has done that precisely. The practice of integrating social media in your overall content marketing strategy never fails to fetch you brownie points!
2. Supporting the community with a mobilized workforce | Rogers Communications Inc.
Rogers Communications has adopted the strategy of assigning a dedicated page for case studies. It has also integrated social media and slide-in CTAs buttons, in this case study, for enhanced engagement. A unique practice that Rogers embraced in this case study was to mention the details of the current services with that particular client. You may want to consider this strategy while writing your upcoming case study!
Strategies to leverage the power of Case Studies
On the same lines, let us now deep-dive into how content marketers can leverage the power of case studies to their full potential. Mentioned below are some of the strategies you can use to incorporate case studies into your organization's overall integrated marketing communications strategy.
1. Highlight the case studies on a dedicated page
When B2B customers search online for your goods and services, they will search for your company's websites as well as your rivals' websites. So make sure the case studies on your website are easy to find. Refrain from categorizing them in the section of "downloads" or "resources" list, or hiding them so profoundly that visitors need to find them on your search facility.
Offer multiple paths that will lead them directly to the stories of customers that most interest them. Feature your homepage with a recent case study. Ask your webmaster to set up a display that will generate a different case study each time the visitor clicks on a new page or returns to a given page.
Be sure to provide a link where more case studies can be found by the visitor, in case the story does not match the interests of the visitor.
2. Include case studies in white papers
Do you have a case study showing how a client used your product or service to solve a widespread problem in the industry? If so, you have the building blocks for an effective white paper . Case studies and effective white papers share the same basic structure: challenge/solution.
You will need to develop the problem section further, examine previous solutions and why they are not working, and present your solution as part of a generic class.
However, once you have described your solution, you can introduce your particular product by means of an abbreviated version of your case study.
3. Include case studies in press releases
The company press releases are the perfect platform to share customer stories with prospects, customers, partners, and employees. The case studies in your prospect press releases allow you to highlight your solutions and the different verticals that you represent.
This helps to develop trust over time. In addition, case studies are great for keeping partners informed about how customers use your solutions. You'll support their sales efforts by providing customers with new ideas that they can present. You'll also keep them excited about your partnership, as well as about your products and services.
4. Collaborate your direct marketing efforts with case studies
Many of the most popular all-time direct mail promotions start with a story. Stories are enthralling. They promise entertainment and news. Of course, they gain our attention. Hence, a well-written case study for a newsletter or a direct mail campaign can be an excellent lead material.
Moreover, with a lead drawn from a recent case study, you'll not only get the attention of your prospects right away but also establish credibility with a real-world illustration of what your company has done for others already.
5. Consolidate your SEO strategy with case studies
Case studies can be among the best content types to attract attention from search engines. Phrases of keywords are the SEO currency . And if well-written, it is most likely that your case studies will include several instances of keywords and phrases relevant to the product or service they feature.
Make sure you incorporate the links and meta tags to boost the search engine rankings. Google attaches great importance to links, so be sure to link back to your case studies from press releases, blog posts, and discussion forums that refer to them. Encourage your clients to link your website to their success stories.
Even meta tags can improve your search rankings. Ensure that the title and description tags are used well by including your target keywords in them.
6. Collaborate your case studies with your social media marketing strategy
Social media provides a range of platforms to distribute case studies to your target audience. You can post a link to your latest case studies on Twitter, LinkedIn, and other platforms. Forums are another excellent platform way to promote your customer success.
Trade associations and LinkedIn Groups provide thousands of tightly focused discussions across the entire spectrum of interests in the industry. And most of these forums will let you post links, making it easy to reach specific audiences.
Case studies are vital building blocks for your brand’s social currency. With the right balance between data and a compelling narrative, case studies go a long way in positioning your brand as the ideal choice in the minds of your prospects.
So before you rule out this collateral as mundane and boring, ask yourself again - would you order from a restaurant that is not backed by good reviews and ratings?
Other interesting blogs that might help bolster your content marketing strategy:
100+ Best Examples of Press Release Templates
100+ Brochure Examples for Sales and Marketing
100+ Testimonial Examples for Sales and Marketing
The Best White Paper Examples for B2B Marketers
- Case Study Templates
- Case Studies
- Marketing Collateral
- Content Marketing
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Marketing has always been the most sought-after specialization in MBA programs across the world not without reason. Largely, it is as Peter Drucker rightly said decades ago "........ and business has only two functions - Marketing and Innovation. All the rest are costs". Marketing is the engine that provides the requisite stream for any organization to continue its long journey. Marketing as a Discipline encompasses several courses and synthesis of all these courses can be captured in a simple acronym - CAMP
C - Identifying the target customers and serving their potent and latent needs effectively
A - Reaching the target customers in the most effective manner through integrated communication
M - Identifying the appropriate and potential markets for growth
P - Designing and innovating products that match customers' said and unsaid needs
Marketing case studies highlights how to develop good strategy/s to build successful market growth in a challenging environment by exploring marketing opportunities, solving marketing dilemmas with proper strategic positioning.
Ayhrit Infotech - Target Market Dilemma
Throttled throat of delhi: medical waste management at sir mange ram hospital during covid-19, negotiating over goods and service tax (gst) regime — a triumph of pragmatism, an experience of a salesman, 22nd parallel: serving new cities, amitabh bachchan – most enduring & comeback superstar in hindi film industry, grandpa kitchen: opportunity for cause-related marketing, key account management in b2b marketing: challenges for msmes & large enterprises, wooplr’s lean social marketplace: business challenges, ikea in india: market entry strategy, godrej appliances division: channel management, horses for courses: are adaptive marketing strategies going to work for ikea in india*, service failure at axis bank: a celebrity lesson, anthropomorphized greeting tactic to recoup mislaid customers: an authorized car service centre’s approach, micromax vs the chinese incursion.
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Marketing Case Study Examples: Small changes by the marketer, big improvements in results for the business
This article’s case studies demonstrate how small tweaks and changes to marketing strategies can lead to big improvements in metrics like conversions, leads, and rankings. We bring you marketing case studies across different industries from a few different channels – email, SEO, and paid ads. Read on for examples from a Mazda dealership, an online course creator, and a shipping service. |
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Quick Case Study #1: Online course creator adds abandoned cart email, gets 93% conversion rate
A few months ago, Jennie Lakenan realized that she was getting some leads who started the purchase process for her course but didn't finish it.
BEFORE – Two-step checkout process
Her checkout system happens in two steps. First, she captures the email address.
Creative Sample #1: First step in checkout flow
The second step was the payment entry page.
Creative Sample #2: Second step in checkout flow
AFTER – Abandoned cart emails
As soon as she noticed that leads were starting checkout but not finishing, she implemented a simple email automation to follow-up with them if they abandoned cart.
She sent the first email one hour after they didn’t finish their checkout, with the following copy…
I noticed that you clicked away without finishing the checkout process for Website Kit for Coaches , my course teaching new coaches how to create their own simple website to attract their first clients.
I understand that getting your coaching business off the ground is no small task.
I want to help make the process as easy as possible for you.
That's why I created this course.
It's a short but powerful program that will help you create a website you can be proud of quickly and easily.
In just 7 snappy modules, you'll learn everything you need to know to set up a simple website to market your coaching business.
Plus, as a certified coach myself, I know exactly how to guide you through the process so you don't get stuck.
"I just used this kit and set up a new website in two days. Super easy, super thorough directions, and not so much info that it overwhelms you."
- Kim Job, Systems & Soul Stories Coach
Don't miss out on this opportunity to take the first step in your website design journey.
Click here to finish your purchase and get started today!
Always here,
Jennie Lakenan
She sent the second abandoned cart email one day after they didn’t finish checkout. Here is the email copy…
I hope you're doing well!
I noticed that you clicked away from my website without completing the checkout process for Website Kit for Coaches .
You know, my course teaching new coaches how to create their own simple website to attract their first clients.
This course will help you create a website you can be proud of quickly and easily.
Plus, as a certified coach myself, I'm here to help you every step of the way.
And because I'm so confident in the value of this course, I'm offering a satisfaction guarantee.
If you watch the entire course, ask for help in the community, and you're still not able to successfully finish your site, I'll give you your money back.
No questions asked.
Click here to finish your purchase and get started today !
All the best,
RESULTS – 93% conversion rate
The conversion rate on this abandoned cart automation is 93.1%.
Of the 28 people who have gone through this automation since she implemented it, 23 of them have bought the course.
“I highly recommend anyone with an online course, e-commerce shop, or any website payment system, frankly, set up an abandoned cart automation if your payment system allows it. Abandoned cart follow-ups are a powerful way to convert!,” said Jennie Lakenan, Website Designer and Strategist, Jennie Lakenan Web Consulting .
Quick Case Study #2: Shipping service makes one simple change to ad, reduces cost per new registration 300%
Stallion Express is a shipping company in Canada.
BEFORE: Ads that appeal to niche of top clients
The team tested a variety of ads, mainly focusing on price savings. The ads included a general figure for the average savings achieved by their top clients.
Creative Sample #3: Ad focused on top clients
The team realized that the ad did not speak to its entire audience because the figure itself – “$60,000 annual savings” – does not mean much to e-commerce sellers with different volumes and hence, different savings.
AFTER: Ad with pricing comparison that could apply to broad audience
They decided to come up with a pricing comparison ad that would be helpful to each individual seller regardless of their sales volume. Basically, an ad which appeals to a broad audience rather than niche sellers.
To appeal to their entire audience, they included concrete figures for a representative example along with some value elements.
Creative Sample #4: Ad that is more broadly applicable
RESULTS – 300% lower cost per new registration
The cost per new registration was reduced by 300% by making this one simple change. They did not make any changes to the landing page or targeting so this is purely based on the ad performance.
This simple image ad also outperformed some of their older, high-quality, cinematic video ads.
One reason the team feels this ad was successful is that their B2B audience loves to see prices and clear-cut comparisons.
“A few other reasons why Meta may have pushed this ad more than our previous ones are the game element – ‘find the difference’ is a good hook and people stuck around and engaged with the ad – and the shipment example is funny and extremely relevant to our audience (Canadian e-commerce sellers + this was published during the NHL season),” said Diana Zheng, Head of Marketing, Stallion Express .
Case Sample #3: Mazda dealership changes SEO tag strategy, gets 10x increase in sales inquiries and service bookings
Redlands Mazda is an auto dealership in Brisbane, Queensland, Australia. It sells new and pre-owned cars and has a 20-car service workshop.
“We were already with a digital agency that was working on our SEO but little did I know that for the money they were charging me, they actually weren't doing the things that they were supposed to do," said Peter Niebling, Dealer Principal, Redlands Mazda .
He continued, “I have heard of horror stories in the past with certain digital agencies, so trust was a concern, in regards to letting go of the old agency. After all they had access to some of our business's digital properties such as our website backend, and Google Analytics. I sell cars for a living and I wasn't sure if they could do anything to hurt the business. Luckily they didn't.”
BEFORE – Tags focused on branded search
“Redlands Mazda was really having issues ranking on page 1 of Google for their major keywords,” said Rob Whaley, Head of Growth & Digital Strategy, Project Local (Redlands Mazda’s new SEO agency).
The team conducted a sitewide SEO audit and identified some key SEO mistakes that were hurting rankings.
The site <title> tag wasn't optimized around a keyword that would actually bring in search traffic. The original site title was: ‘Redlands Mazda | Mazda Dealer Capalaba.’ This site title would help with branded searches, but as Redlands Mazda had recently undergone a rebrand, branded searches were going to be unlikely. “A better alternative was to optimize the website around a keyword such as ‘Mazda Brisbane’ which gets over 800 searches per month according to Ahrefs,” Whaley said.
Capalaba is a suburb of Brisbane. ‘Mazda Capalaba’ gets 50 searches per month.
“There were multiple uses of <h1> tags which confuses Google as to what the page is about,” Whaley said. SEO best practice is to have only one <h1> tag per page. The <h1> tag at the time the new team took over the website was <h1> Redlands Mazda </h1> and, again, wasn't optimized around a keyword that would bring traffic.
“The site <title> tag is one of the best SEO elements to optimize as it directly tells Google what the page is about. The <h1> tag is a close second and is also known as being a ‘mini’ title tag,” Whaley said.
AFTER – Tags focused on local keywords
The team changed the site title from: <title>Redlands Mazda | Mazda Dealer Capalaba</title> to <title>Redlands Mazda Brisbane | Queensland's Premier Mazda Dealer</title>.
The team also ensured they only had one <h1> tag on their homepage and changed it from <h1> Redlands Mazda </h1> to <h1> Redlands Mazda Brisbane Your Local Mazda Dealer Of New & Used Vehicles</h1>.
In fairness, the team did make some other changes as well (SEO tends to be more complex than other tactics), but the tag change stands out as a simple change anyone reading this article could make right now even with limited resources.
“Redlands Mazda was making a lot of SEO mistakes and really needed to get back to basics and increase the health of their website in Google's eyes before they could expect higher rankings,” Whaley said. “Redlands Mazda's domain rating according to Ahrefs was only 0.5.”
Other changes included:
- Images and videos were using the Http protocol instead of the more secure Https
- Many external and internal links were going to pages that no longer existed or had links removed
- The website’s overall speed was slow and needed to be optimized
- The target keyword was not mentioned on the page at all
- With a targeted outreach campaign Redlands Mazda was able to build a number of quality white hat backlinks to boost their domain rating.
RESULTS – Better search rankings
“I spend a lot on Google Ads and the PPC cost for a keyword like ‘Mazda Brisbane’ can be as high as $1.50 per click. Having organic rankings for the same keyword means I am effectively getting that traffic now for free (minus agency costs)," Niebling said.
Within four weeks, the site went from ranking as low as page six for their target keywords all the way to page one. For example, the website ranked 35 th for ‘Brisbane Mazda dealers’ and now ranks fourth.
Organic traffic increased from 1,000 organic visitors per month to 5,000. Service bookings increased at least 10 times, and the number of leads and sales inquiries also increased by roughly the same margin of 10 times what they were originally getting.
Asked what he learned from the experience regarding agency management, Niebling said, “In hindsight, I would ask more questions about what their strategy is, which keywords they are targeting, and what they are doing each month to achieve the said targets and KPIs.”
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Win The Competition For Attention: 3 quick marketing case studies with tips
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Top 40 Most Popular Case Studies of 2021
Two cases about Hertz claimed top spots in 2021's Top 40 Most Popular Case Studies
Two cases on the uses of debt and equity at Hertz claimed top spots in the CRDT’s (Case Research and Development Team) 2021 top 40 review of cases.
Hertz (A) took the top spot. The case details the financial structure of the rental car company through the end of 2019. Hertz (B), which ranked third in CRDT’s list, describes the company’s struggles during the early part of the COVID pandemic and its eventual need to enter Chapter 11 bankruptcy.
The success of the Hertz cases was unprecedented for the top 40 list. Usually, cases take a number of years to gain popularity, but the Hertz cases claimed top spots in their first year of release. Hertz (A) also became the first ‘cooked’ case to top the annual review, as all of the other winners had been web-based ‘raw’ cases.
Besides introducing students to the complicated financing required to maintain an enormous fleet of cars, the Hertz cases also expanded the diversity of case protagonists. Kathyrn Marinello was the CEO of Hertz during this period and the CFO, Jamere Jackson is black.
Sandwiched between the two Hertz cases, Coffee 2016, a perennial best seller, finished second. “Glory, Glory, Man United!” a case about an English football team’s IPO made a surprise move to number four. Cases on search fund boards, the future of malls, Norway’s Sovereign Wealth fund, Prodigy Finance, the Mayo Clinic, and Cadbury rounded out the top ten.
Other year-end data for 2021 showed:
- Online “raw” case usage remained steady as compared to 2020 with over 35K users from 170 countries and all 50 U.S. states interacting with 196 cases.
- Fifty four percent of raw case users came from outside the U.S..
- The Yale School of Management (SOM) case study directory pages received over 160K page views from 177 countries with approximately a third originating in India followed by the U.S. and the Philippines.
- Twenty-six of the cases in the list are raw cases.
- A third of the cases feature a woman protagonist.
- Orders for Yale SOM case studies increased by almost 50% compared to 2020.
- The top 40 cases were supervised by 19 different Yale SOM faculty members, several supervising multiple cases.
CRDT compiled the Top 40 list by combining data from its case store, Google Analytics, and other measures of interest and adoption.
All of this year’s Top 40 cases are available for purchase from the Yale Management Media store .
And the Top 40 cases studies of 2021 are:
1. Hertz Global Holdings (A): Uses of Debt and Equity
2. Coffee 2016
3. Hertz Global Holdings (B): Uses of Debt and Equity 2020
4. Glory, Glory Man United!
5. Search Fund Company Boards: How CEOs Can Build Boards to Help Them Thrive
6. The Future of Malls: Was Decline Inevitable?
7. Strategy for Norway's Pension Fund Global
8. Prodigy Finance
9. Design at Mayo
10. Cadbury
11. City Hospital Emergency Room
13. Volkswagen
14. Marina Bay Sands
15. Shake Shack IPO
16. Mastercard
17. Netflix
18. Ant Financial
19. AXA: Creating the New CR Metrics
20. IBM Corporate Service Corps
21. Business Leadership in South Africa's 1994 Reforms
22. Alternative Meat Industry
23. Children's Premier
24. Khalil Tawil and Umi (A)
25. Palm Oil 2016
26. Teach For All: Designing a Global Network
27. What's Next? Search Fund Entrepreneurs Reflect on Life After Exit
28. Searching for a Search Fund Structure: A Student Takes a Tour of Various Options
30. Project Sammaan
31. Commonfund ESG
32. Polaroid
33. Connecticut Green Bank 2018: After the Raid
34. FieldFresh Foods
35. The Alibaba Group
36. 360 State Street: Real Options
37. Herman Miller
38. AgBiome
39. Nathan Cummings Foundation
40. Toyota 2010
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Lessons from the Field: Analyzing Successful Marketing Case Studies
Discover valuable insights and strategies from real-life marketing case studies in this informative article.
In the ever-evolving world of marketing, success stories serve as valuable lessons. Case studies, in particular, provide real-world examples and insights that can shape marketing strategies, campaigns, and tactics. They offer a window into the strategies employed by successful brands, allowing marketers to extract valuable insights and apply them to their own endeavors. In this article, we will delve into the importance of case studies in marketing, identify key elements of successful case studies, explore how to extract valuable insights from them, and discuss the application of those insights to improve marketing strategies.
Understanding the Importance of Case Studies in Marketing
Case studies play a vital role in the development of marketing strategy. They provide marketers with evidence of what works in real-world scenarios, allowing them to learn from others' successes and avoid their mistakes. Additionally, case studies offer an opportunity to understand the challenges faced by various organizations and how they overcame them.
The role of case studies in marketing strategy development
Case studies serve as a foundation for marketing strategy development. By analyzing successful marketing case studies, marketers can gain a deeper understanding of the tactics and approaches that have proven effective in the past. This knowledge enables them to make informed decisions and craft strategies that are more likely to succeed.
For example, let's consider a case study on a popular clothing brand that successfully launched a new product line. By examining the marketing strategies employed, such as influencer collaborations and targeted social media campaigns, marketers can draw valuable insights. They can learn about the importance of creating a buzz around the launch, leveraging the power of social media influencers, and engaging with their target audience in a meaningful way.
Furthermore, case studies provide marketers with a comprehensive view of the marketing landscape. They showcase different industries, markets, and target audiences, allowing marketers to broaden their perspective. This exposure to diverse case studies helps marketers identify innovative strategies and adapt them to their specific business needs.
How case studies provide real-world examples and insights
Case studies bring marketing theories and concepts to life by showcasing their application in real-world scenarios. They provide concrete examples of marketing strategies, tactics, and campaigns that have achieved measurable success. Whether it's a social media campaign that went viral or a targeted content marketing strategy, case studies offer a wealth of insights into what works and how it can be replicated.
Let's delve into a case study on a startup that successfully disrupted the market with a unique marketing approach. This case study highlights the importance of thinking outside the box and taking calculated risks. By analyzing the strategies employed by the startup, marketers can gain valuable insights into unconventional marketing methods that can create a buzz and differentiate their brand from competitors.
Furthermore, case studies provide an opportunity to learn from failures as well. By examining unsuccessful marketing campaigns, marketers can identify pitfalls to avoid and gain a deeper understanding of what does not work in certain contexts. This knowledge is invaluable in refining marketing strategies and avoiding costly mistakes.
Moreover, case studies offer a glimpse into the ever-evolving digital landscape. With the rapid advancement of technology, marketers need to stay updated on the latest trends and tools. By studying case studies that showcase successful digital marketing campaigns, marketers can gain insights into emerging platforms, innovative techniques, and effective ways to engage with digitally-savvy consumers.
In conclusion, case studies are an essential tool for marketers to enhance their understanding of successful marketing strategies and gain insights into real-world examples. By analyzing case studies, marketers can make informed decisions, craft effective marketing strategies, and stay ahead in the dynamic and competitive marketing landscape.
Identifying Key Elements of Successful Marketing Case Studies
To truly benefit from analyzing case studies, it is essential to identify their key elements. By understanding what makes a case study successful, marketers can find valuable lessons and apply them to their own marketing initiatives.
Case studies are a powerful tool for marketers to gain insights and learn from the successes of others. They provide a real-life example of how a marketing strategy was implemented and the results that were achieved. However, not all case studies are created equal. Some are more effective than others in conveying the key lessons and inspiring marketers to take action.
Defining the objectives and target audience of the case study
Successful case studies clearly define their objectives and target audience. These two factors shape the entire narrative of the case study, ensuring that it aligns with the intended lessons and resonates with the readers who can benefit from it.
When defining the objectives of a case study, marketers should consider what specific insights they want to gain and what actions they hope to inspire. This clarity of purpose will guide the selection of case study subjects and the analysis of their strategies.
Similarly, identifying the target audience is crucial for crafting a case study that speaks directly to the right people. Marketers should consider who will benefit the most from the lessons shared in the case study and tailor the language, examples, and recommendations accordingly.
Selecting the right case study subjects for analysis
The choice of case study subjects is crucial. Marketers should select case studies that closely align with their industry, target market, or specific marketing challenges they face. By analyzing case studies that are relevant and relatable, marketers can extract insights that are directly applicable to their own marketing strategies.
When selecting case study subjects, marketers should consider not only the industry or market segment but also the specific challenges or goals they are facing. For example, if a marketer is struggling with social media engagement, analyzing a case study of a successful social media campaign can provide valuable insights and inspiration.
Furthermore, it is important to consider the credibility and reliability of the case study subjects. Marketers should look for case studies that have been well-documented and have credible sources of information. This ensures that the insights gained from the analysis are based on accurate and trustworthy data.
Analyzing the structure and format of successful case studies
Case studies have a distinct structure and format. Successful case studies often follow a storytelling approach, clearly outlining the problem, the strategy employed, the tactics used, and the results achieved. Analyzing the structure and format of successful case studies can help marketers present their own strategies in a compelling and engaging manner.
When analyzing the structure and format of successful case studies, marketers should pay attention to the flow of the narrative. Is the story easy to follow? Does it build tension and create anticipation? Is the resolution satisfying? These elements contribute to the overall impact of the case study and can make it more memorable and persuasive.
In addition, marketers should consider the use of visuals and supporting data in successful case studies. Visuals such as charts, graphs, and images can help illustrate key points and make the case study more visually appealing. Supporting data, such as statistics and metrics, can add credibility and provide evidence of the effectiveness of the strategies employed.
By analyzing the structure and format of successful case studies, marketers can gain insights into how to present their own strategies in a way that captures the attention of their audience and effectively communicates the key lessons.
Extracting Valuable Insights from Marketing Case Studies
Once marketers have identified successful case studies, the next step is to extract valuable insights that can inform their own marketing initiatives. This involves examining the strategies employed, understanding the impact of market research and data analysis, and learning from innovative and creative marketing campaigns.
Identifying successful marketing strategies and tactics
Case studies provide an opportunity to identify successful marketing strategies and tactics that have proven effective in specific scenarios. By analyzing these strategies, marketers can gain inspiration and adapt them to their own campaigns to achieve similar results.
Understanding the impact of market research and data analysis
Market research and data analysis play a crucial role in successful marketing case studies. These studies often highlight the importance of gathering and analyzing relevant data to inform marketing decisions. By understanding how market research and data analysis contribute to successful marketing, marketers can leverage these tools to enhance their own strategies.
Learning from innovative and creative marketing campaigns
Successful case studies often showcase innovative and creative marketing campaigns that have captured audience attention. By analyzing these campaigns, marketers can learn valuable lessons about creativity, resourcefulness, and out-of-the-box thinking. These insights can then be applied to their own marketing initiatives to create impact and differentiate their brands.
Applying Lessons Learned to Improve Marketing Strategies
Deriving insights from case studies is only valuable if they can be effectively applied to improve marketing strategies. This involves implementing successful case study findings into marketing plans, adapting strategies to fit different industries and target markets, and measuring the effectiveness of marketing strategies based on case study insights.
Implementing successful case study findings into marketing plans
Successful case study findings should not remain mere insights but should be transformed into actionable plans. Marketers should incorporate these findings into their marketing strategies and campaigns, adapting them to suit their own unique circumstances. By implementing successful case study findings, marketers can increase the likelihood of achieving desirable outcomes.
Adapting strategies to fit different industries and target markets
While case studies provide valuable insights, it's crucial to adapt them to fit different industries and target markets. What works for one brand may not necessarily work for another. Marketers should carefully consider the nuances of their own industry and target market and tailor strategies accordingly. By intelligently integrating case study learnings with industry context, marketers can maximize effectiveness.
Measuring the effectiveness of marketing strategies based on case study insights
An effective marketing strategy is one that can be measured and evaluated. Once marketers have applied case study insights to their own strategies, they should establish clear metrics to assess their effectiveness. By measuring the impact of their strategies, marketers can continuously refine and optimize their marketing efforts based on the lessons learned from the case studies they have analyzed.
Storing Templates in the HIVO Platform
In addition to analyzing case studies for insights, marketers can also streamline their marketing processes by utilizing digital asset management platforms like HIVO. One valuable feature of HIVO is the ability to store templates.
Templates provide marketers with a consistent and efficient way to execute marketing campaigns. With HIVO, marketing teams can easily access and use pre-designed templates for various marketing materials, such as landing pages, social media ads, email campaigns, and more.
By storing templates in the HIVO platform, marketers can ensure brand consistency, save time on design iterations, and maintain quality control over the marketing materials. The ability to store templates simplifies the marketing workflow, enhances collaboration among team members, and allows for better scalability in marketing campaigns.
In conclusion, analyzing successful marketing case studies is a valuable practice for marketers seeking to improve their strategies. By understanding the importance of case studies, identifying key elements of successful case studies, extracting valuable insights, and applying those lessons learned, marketers can enhance their marketing outcomes and drive success in their campaigns. Additionally, leveraging digital asset management platforms like HIVO, with features such as template storage, can further streamline marketing processes and improve efficiency.
COMMENTS
19. " Bringing an Operator to the Game ," by Redapt. This case study example by Redapt is another great demonstration of the power of summarizing your case study's takeaways right at the start of the study. Redapt includes three easy-to-scan columns: "The problem," "the solution," and "the outcome.".
Case Study on Groww. 10.How Groww used its educational content and marketing campaigns to make investing more accessible to Indians. Introduction. Groww is an Indian fintech startup that has revolutionized the world of personal finance by using a combination of educational content and strategic marketing campaigns.
Try to keep your headline under 12 words. Use action words: Incorporate action verbs such as "achieved," "transformed," or "boosted" to convey a sense of accomplishment. Include data: Numbers make your headline more credible. For example, if the case study achieved a 75% increase in sales, include that in the headline.
Airbnb's "We Accept" Social Impact. One marketing case study that stuck with me was the Airbnb "We Accept" campaign, launched in 2017, focusing on social impact. This response to the global refugee crisis aimed to promote inclusivity, diversity, and acceptance within communities worldwide. What made this case study remarkable was its ...
Learn from 10 marketing case study examples that demonstrate how to use data, social proof, and strategy to grow your business. See how to create third-person, explanatory, and implementation case studies for different channels and goals.
We're routinely seeing CEOs of Australian hi techs with turnover of $5 million to $50 million (our target audience) opting in and proceeding to self-qualify before they contact us for a meeting. This is what digital marketing is supposed to do. Read the full case study here. Tracey James, Director. Technoledge. 22.
If your interview is going to become a written case study, include the very best quotes. Make it easy to read by separating your information with the help of headers, bulleted lists, images, and bold or italicized text. 3. Incorporate Your Case Study in Your Marketing and Sales Processes.
2) To build trust. A case study shows how you brought tangible indisputable results. It shows the positive transformation you helped bring about for your client. It's like having a credible friend vouch for you—it has an authentic persuasive effect that nothing you say yourself could ever achieve.
A case study in marketing is a document or web page that includes several basic parts: Description of the subject: Explain your customer's or client's history and pain points. Subject's goal: Identify your customer's or client's goal for the project so readers understand what to expect. Hypothesis for strategy: Tell your audience what ...
14. Include case studies in your lead gen efforts. There are a number of offers you can create based off of your case studies, in the form of ebooks, templates, and more. For example you could put together an ebook titled "A step-by-step guide to reaching 10,000 blog subscribers in 3 months…just like XX did.".
Find discussion questions and write-up requirements for 17 case studies on various topics in marketing management. The cases are from different sources and cover products, services, pricing, promotion, and strategy.
Components of a Marketing Case Study. Using the ingredients above, assemble them in this order to create a basic marketing case study: Write a title: Don't worry about spoiling the ending. With case studies you want your title to let readers know right away how a campaign ended. A case study title should include the name of the company or ...
Influencers aspire to turn "likes" into dollars through brand sponsorships, but these deals can erode their reputations, says research by Shunyuan Zhang. Marketers should seek out authentic voices on YouTube, not necessarily those with the most followers. Marketing research from Harvard Business School faculty on issues including advertising ...
Digital asset management has evolved to become so much more than a place to store assets. DAT: 3 Brand-Boosting Benefits ... According to Hubspot's 2021 State of Marketing report, more than 30% of marketers use case studies as a primary marketing media—up from 13% in 2020. If you're new to the world of case studies, we'll be diving into ...
The best thing about this case study is that Chargebee incorporated testimonials from different departments and individuals. The case study uses crisp headlines and explains the challenge in detail before jumping the gun to mention the results. 2. Aspire Systems Provides Data Integration Services | Aspire Systems.
15. per page. Marketing management case studies deals with various marketing strategies to gain market leadership. Marketing case study highlights how to develop a good strategy to build successful market growth in a challenging environment, exploring marketing opportunities, solve marketing dilemmas with proper strategic positioning.
This article's case studies demonstrate how small tweaks and changes to marketing strategies can lead to big improvements in metrics like conversions, leads, and rankings. We bring you marketing case studies across different industries from a few different channels - email, SEO, and paid ads. Read on for examples from a Mazda dealership, an online course creator, and a shipping service.
Two cases on the uses of debt and equity at Hertz claimed top spots in the CRDT's (Case Research and Development Team) 2021 top 40 review of cases. Hertz (A) took the top spot. The case details the financial structure of the rental car company through the end of 2019. Hertz (B), which ranked third in CRDT's list, describes the company's ...
Case studies serve as a foundation for marketing strategy development. By analyzing successful marketing case studies, marketers can gain a deeper understanding of the tactics and approaches that have proven effective in the past. This knowledge enables them to make informed decisions and craft strategies that are more likely to succeed.
Representing a broad range of management subjects, the ICMR Case Collection provides teachers, corporate trainers, and management professionals with a variety of teaching and reference material. The collection consists of Marketing case studies and research reports on a wide range of companies and industries - both Indian and international, cases won awards in varies competitions, EFMD Case ...
Marketing is keen on documenting, developing, and delivering use cases for salespeople to use when trying to persuade them to buy in and commit. The best Case Studies: 1) Are done in the prospect's industry to show what others (i.e., competitors) are doing. 2) Creates a sense of urgency to act.
Case Study 5: Dell. Dell ranks 31 on the Fortune 500 list of technology companies. The marketing strategy Dell adopt derives keenly from its founding father—Michael Dell's—reasons for establishing the business. Dell started with $1,000 in capital, aiming to eliminate the intermediaries involved in selling custom computers to the public.
Marketing Professor was the best of the different MeclabsAI experts," Ducey said (MeclabsAI is the parent organization of MarketingSherpa and runs the AI Guild). ... Quick Case Study #2: How streamlining digital asset management and product information saves a CPG brand $390,000 a year.
Case studies are a valuable tool for understanding how marketing management principles can be applied in the hospitality industry. By examining real-world examples, you can gain insights into what works and what doesn't in marketing strategy. Whether you're running a small bed and breakfast or a large hotel chain, there's always something ...
Outcome 2 'Explain the importance of establishing a customer base and a marketing presence to achieve the objectives of the business, analyse effective marketing and public relations strategies and apply these strategies to business-related case studies.' Source: VCE Business Management Study Design (2017-2021), VCAA, page 13 Related key ...
In a world of growing content demands and fragmented data, you need to think strategically about your operations. Workfront helps you lay the groundwork for centralized management of your entire marketing lifecycle - leading to comprehensive visibility, robust project management, valuable insights, and the orchestration of campaigns at scale.