Use business-to-business case studies to show prospects that they’re not the only ones who have the problem. And do it with a good story instead of a datasheet.
Marketing managers use B2B case studies so that prospects will think,
Hmm. If this product can do that for them, maybe we can get it to solve our problem, too.
So their real value lies in how quickly and clearly your marketing writer can describe three main things:
- the problem
- the solution
- the resulting benefits
But most business-to-business case studies adhere too closely to that format. The prospect gets a quick, scannable read, and there’s a lot to be said for that in an era of short attention marketing.
But it’s boring.
People want to read a story.
Standard format: Problem, solution, results, 800-number
This example from Juniper Networks is the archetypal technology B2B case study. And it’s a lot like this other example from Juniper Networks, so they obviously rely on a format to help them generate case studies quickly. Not only is it well structured, but it also mentions the product name, includes a hyperbolic quotation, and describes the customer’s business. It probably took the content marketing writer weeks to get it through the gantlet of approvals. Any salesperson would be tickled to show it to prospects.
But your case studies deserve to tell your story, and these examples don’t tell much of a story.
I don’t think there’s anything wrong with your B2B case studies all looking similar, as long as they don’t all sound similar. And format has a lot to do with that.
Why do your business-to-business case studies need a story?
Put yourself in the place of the people who read your case studies. They:
- have a problem to solve
- can’t take forever to solve it
- want to read something short before they (have to) dive into your white paper
- want to read more about your customers’ business and problems than about your products and services
- want to know how your customers solved their problems
- are looking for good reasons to select you over your competitors
Here’s Debbie Weil counseling caution when your PR agency writes your case studies. Why? Because agencies tend to hand readers rose-colored glasses. A real story has some tension and conflict, and those are not usually at the top of the list of things PR agencies will suggest to you.
I’m not kidding you – it’s difficult to find a case study that favors a story over problem-solution-benefit. That means it’s difficult to write one. I think I’ve written a few, but now I’m not so sure.
What do you look for when you’re reading a case study? When you’re writing one?
photo credit: hectore
