Six tips on how to write a case study
Better than 99% of professional case study writers
Case study writing isn’t as easy as it seems. When deciding how to write a case study assignment, you need to know a number of factors such as:
• How long are case studies typically in this industry?
• How long does my client expect this case study to be, and why?
• In which format will the case study be presented—online, in print, in conference materials, ready for download?
In addition to these important factors in how to write the case, you’ve also got the meat of the case history itself to uncover. These six tips on how to write a case study will help you nail the process and the final case study.
How to write a case study: Tip #1
Find out why your client’s customers buy the product or service they are featuring in this case study. Write your case study around this central value—do not deviate.
How to write a case study: Tip #2
Get as much background from the client as possible—save only a few questions for your interview with the end user or customer.
How to write a case study: Tip #3
Ask your customer to please call their client ahead of time and do a soft introduction for the case study. This makes it much more friendly when you call, and that opens up your interview subject to your pointed case study questions.
How to write a case study: Tip #4
Audio record the call or visit you have with the case study subject—that way, you can focus on asking fantastic questions, not taking fantastic notes.
How to write a case study: Tip #5
After your interviews are over, spend a few minutes with your client telling them what you heard, and what you feel the main points of the case study are. This way, you head off any misdirection that may have made its way into your writing and get a clearer picture of what your client wants and expects. If it took a while to get your case study interview subjects lined up, expectations about the final case study and how it is written may have changed. This allows you to write the case study exactly how your client now expects it.
How to write a case study: tip #6
Focus your interviews on outcomes and results—not feelings and background facts. Hard facts are more compelling than generic ones. Make sure your interviews uncover real meat—the case study will then have facts and figures your customers will appreciate.
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