When your prospects are nearing a decision in their buyer’s journey, a strong case study can sway them your way. After all, everyone, even corporate decision-makers, loves a good story.
That’s why having satisfied customers showcase your strengths is more impactful than any self-promotion. It boosts credibility and earns you valuable recognition when potential customers come across these case studies.
No matter what you offer, case studies work because they build trust. They showcase real-life success stories, their detailed analysis proving your expertise and the quality of your products or services.
That’s why they’re crucial for organizational growth.
Intrigued? Read on to explore the different types of case studies, their practical applications, and some marketing case study examples.
By the end of this blog post, you will also have learned how to write a case study using a case study template. ✍️
10 Case Study Examples to Learn From
Summarize this article for me pleaseUnderstanding Case Studies
A case study is a detailed study of how your product or service has helped past customers.
It acts as a track record of your company’s association with past customers and an insight into how they benefitted from your product offerings.
You can think of case studies as story-telling based on real-world data and results.
Potential customers trust them because of their attention to detail in describing exactly how you delivered results for past customers. And if the past customer is someone they know or identify with, acquiring their trust is far easier.
According to the Content Marketing Institute, 73% of marketers use case studies, as they are proven tactics to drive sales.
These studies are tailored to various industries, from business and marketing to psychology, technology, and healthcare.
Creating compelling business case studies requires precision and clarity, like drafting a professional document. That’s where creative brief templates come in handy. They provide a structured framework to outline key details and create case study examples that resonate with your target audience.
Summarize this article for me pleaseTypes of Case Studies
Knowing the distinct kinds of case studies will help you use the best combination to influence your potential customers. We’ll also cover a few case study examples later on so you can see the different ways in which you or your marketing team can create your own case studies.
While one type of case study may help customers solve a business problem through a product/solution, others may be more suited for studying a specific event or business phenomenon.
Let’s explore the commonly used types and case study examples.
1. Illustrative case studies
Illustrative case studies describe a particular situation, phenomenon, or event. They use two or more instances to show just what a situation is like. The aim is to provide context, make the unfamiliar more accessible, and provide a real-world context for abstract concepts or theories.
For instance, SaaS case study examples highlight how a software solution significantly improved a client’s sales and efficiency.
Lids, a leading sports apparel retailer, has experienced rapid growth in recent years. To manage this growth effectively, Lids implemented ClickUp, a project management platform, to expedite workflows, save time, streamline administration, and improve results.
The case study demonstrates how integrating a robust project management platform like ClickUp can streamline operations, enhance efficiency, and support substantial organizational growth.
2. Exploratory case studies
Exploratory case studies are conducted before a large-scale investigation to help pinpoint research questions and methods for a more extensive study.
These are often used when there is limited prior knowledge or existing theories about the subject. They are more frequently employed in social science disciplines.
For example, a research case study investigates the link between mental health disorders and social media usage in younger populations.
Researchers conducted a systematic review focusing on the impact of social media use on mental health. The study aimed to provide insights for future mental health strategies by analyzing the relationship between social media use and mental health outcomes.
Utilizing research plan templates can help structure such investigations, ensuring an in-depth analysis and data collection and analysis efficiency.
3. Descriptive case studies
A descriptive case study starts with a descriptive theory as a foundation. It then attempts to find connections between the subject of discussion and the theory. These case studies rely on detailed qualitative data analysis to develop an argument.
Let’s consider a descriptive case study example on the usage of technology in classrooms focused on an elementary school in a suburban district during the 2011-2012 academic year.
This compelling case study highlights the importance of detailed, qualitative data in developing its argument.
4. Cumulative case studies
A cumulative case study collects information from various sources to summarize past studies without increasing costs or time. It aims to aggregate data from multiple sources to draw broader conclusions.
For example, a case study on the impact of climate change on the Indian coastline aggregates data from various sources to provide a comprehensive summary of past research.
It highlights that climate change and climate variability pose significant challenges to this ecosystem.
5. Critical instance case studies
Critical instance case studies focus on a unique or critical event to learn more about its causes and consequences. They are often used to investigate rare or significant events.
For instance, Blackboard utilized Amazon EC2 Spot Instances to scale its virtual classroom solution amidst the COVID-19 pandemic.
This case study demonstrates how Blackboard effectively managed a staggering 4,800% surge in video conferencing usage while optimizing costs and enhancing performance.
6. Instrumental case studies
Instrumental case studies use a specific case to generate insights into a broader issue or to refine a theoretical explanation. They are more frequently used to explore complex concepts or theories.
The story of Accenture’s Global SAP System serves as an instrumental case study example.
It uses Accenture’s journey to create a unified SAP system to generate strategic insights into broader issues related to aligning business and IT strategies, standardizing business processes, and establishing global governance structures.
Summarize this article for me please10 Case Study Examples for Different Use Cases
Exploring a variety of case study examples can help you understand the nuances of their formatting, data presentation, and brand positioning. Here are ten case study examples to inspire you.
1. LucaNet and HubSpot
LucaNet is an international finance company that provides performance management solutions. With a global customer base, it wanted to opt for automated, personalized marketing in addition to handling complex lead management.
HubSpot helped LucaNet automate its global marketing operations and bring all customer data into a centralized hub.
What do we like best about this case study presentation? HubSpot immediately showcases its key achievements at the top and provides compelling data on time savings, lead generation, and increase in MQLs.
✔️Takeaway: Highlight your measurable impact to showcase your ability to deliver tangible outcomes.
2. Cartoon Network and ClickUp
Cartoon Network’s social media team struggled with managing complicated workflows across different project management tools.
ClickUp provided them with a unified platform to execute their social media management needs and ensure all team members are on the same page.
ClickUp’s case study of Cartoon Network is a good example of the appropriate use of supporting visuals. Rather than simply stating that ClickUp’s flexible views improved Cartoon Network’s project management, it demonstrates them in practical use.
✔️Takeaway: Create separate sections highlighting your client’s problem and the benefits offered by your solution in bullet points. The usage of supporting visuals is a major plus.
3. Callingly and Zapier
Callingly noticed that Zapier customers tend to get more value from their platform. To capitalize on this, they wanted to educate their customers on how to use Zapier effectively.
Callingly embedded Zapier into its app, allowing customers to discover, create, and edit Zaps directly within the platform. This integration aims to give customers more control over their workflows and automate tasks seamlessly.
The integration makes it easier for customers to discover and use Zapier, reducing the need for customers to switch between platforms or manually set up Zaps.
This makes for one of the brilliant business case study examples, thoughtfully capturing how the company helped Callingly through compelling video demonstrations.
Their ‘why’ and ‘how’ sections are particularly impressive.
✔️Takeaway: Use impactful videos to engage users and educate customers on how your product works and help clients achieve impressive results.
4. Philips and GitHub
GitHub’s case study of Philips concisely lists the customer’s problems, solutions, and products right on top for readers prone to TL; DR. It introduces the customer before presenting figures on how collaborating with GitHub helps Philips centralize their codebase.
You’ll also find excerpts from conversations with several Philips employees, including the principal engineer and the program director, who elaborate on their need for software and how GitHub assisted.
This case study example isn’t limited to products and solutions—it’s about listening to customers and providing real-world value.
✔️Takeaway: Having a well-written case study summary helps. Real conversations with customers and end-users can add interesting detail and value to otherwise serious (and sometimes boring) textual documents.
5. Google Ads and Samsung
Google’s case study of Samsung is well-documented. It elaborately covers how Samsung utilized Performance Max, a goal-based campaign that lets advertisers access their advertising campaign across all of Google’s products from a single interface.
What we like about the case study example is how it is a potential guide for newer businesses to experiment with Performance Max for their own ad campaigns.
As with all of Google’s UI, the case study is minimalistic and straightforward. Yet, it leaves you wanting to experiment and try things out yourself.
✔️Takeaway: A good case study and a how-to guide don’t always need to be different. Great case studies don’t just make a point; they compel readers to take action and see the results for themselves.
6. MovingWaldo and Mailchimp
Mailchimp’s case study is a detailed report on how MovingWaldo leveraged features like email and marketing automation, segmentation, A/B testing, and email marketing. It addresses the ‘how’, ‘why’, and ‘when.’
The case study page provides specific dates detailing when MovingWaldo implemented solutions and began observing their impact. They have also posted a short video describing the process, which breaks the monotony of reading long documents.
Another highlight is a brief section detailing the future course of action, conveying that the journey of success is ongoing with additional feature enhancements. The case study transcends from being an account of the past to offering insights for the future.
✔️Takeaway: Specificity, such as adding exact dates, helps strengthen your case studies. Video and other multimedia content can take it up a notch.
7. Shutterstock and Workday
Workday offers glimpses of its case studies, letting you choose between reading the story or watching the video.
The case study begins with a powerful quote from the customer that demonstrates the impact of the solution. It then provides a brief description of the success metrics and highlights the core impact of the integration.
It addresses Shutterstock’s pain points, such as diverse data sources, team members, and workflows, and showcases Workday’s effectiveness in countering those.
While Workday keeps the case study short, it includes all the key details to educate the customer about the implementation. This is a great example of crafting a brief yet powerful case study.
✔️Takeaway: Short case studies are effective when well written because they pack a punch and tell a compelling story. Utilizing relevant quotes is also helpful.
8. Pidilite and Salesforce
In this case study example, Salesforce brings out its value with the opening lines. It then lists each point of impact created by the software integration and explains its process.
One of the best things about this case study is its organization (value summarized upfront) and thorough explanation of Pidilite’s challenges and how they were solved.
They also feature a ‘what next’ section detailing the next steps Pidilite plans to take in its collaboration with Salesforce, implying that they continue providing value to the customer.
✔️Takeaway: End your case study with a brief overview of your future collaboration plans with your customer. This tells your readers that the collaboration is ongoing and that you aim to keep improving your services to add value.
9. SentinelOne and Storylane
This case study example is an excellent showcase of customer success. What stands out is the use of a tabular format to list different use cases of Storylane’s software and provide a before-and-after for each use case.
The table works well to summarize key achievements in a way that’s easy on the eye. The ‘Before’ column details the company’s pain points, and the ‘After’ column highlights the results that were brought about once Storylane entered the picture.
✔️Takeaway: Using ‘before’ and ‘after’ succinctly in your case studies helps drive impact and make your case studies stand out.
10. Benchling and Airtable
We liked this case study example because it simply explains how Airtable assists Benchling in prioritizing collaboration and addressing customer needs.
It explains the functioning of the biology-first platform in a way that helps even non-technical readers understand the context.
The case study ends with an insight into Airtable and Benchling’s future collaboration plans, indicating that more is to come in the years ahead.
✔️Takeaway: Write a case study using simple language so customers can easily understand the product and software integration.
Summarize this article for me pleaseHow to Create Your Own Case Study
We hope these case study examples have inspired you to portray your success over the years with some fantastic case studies.
While you may have ideas, feeling stuck with the marketing planning process is natural.
Here’s how you can create your own case study in six easy steps. We’ll divide the process into two stages, research and prep, and production.
Stage 1: Research and preparation
- Choose the customer: First, choose a customer willing to share their story and provide a testimonial and results. It’s important to choose a customer who has experienced significant benefits from your product or service since this will make your case study more compelling
Pro Tip: Not sure how to write an effective outreach email to enlist customer support for your case study program? Take help from ClickUp Brain’s AI Writer to write persuasive copy. Moreover, you can email your customers directly from ClickUp!
- Outline the customer’s journey: Detail the customer’s journey from start to finish, including their actions before, during, and after using your services
Pro Tip: Storyboard your case study with your team using collaborative ClickUp Whiteboards. Once you’re happy with the outcome, create a ClickUp Task directly from the whiteboard. Assign it to the relevant owners, add tags for easy filtering, and use ClickUp Brain to generate sub-tasks and a brief task description automatically.
- Collect data: Gather quantitative and qualitative data on the company’s performance after using your services. This could include metrics like increased sales, improved efficiency, or higher customer satisfaction
Stage 2: Producing the case study
- Draft the case study: Begin writing the case study by introducing the company and providing background information. Next, discuss the challenges they faced before using your product or service. Then, detail the solution you provided and how it was implemented. Finally, showcase the results and benefits the customer experienced after using your product or service, using the data you collected to support these points
Pro Tip: Brainstorm possible case study formats and outlines with ClickUp Brain, your creative partner in this endeavor.
- Get approval from the customer: Once you’ve drafted the case study, share it with the customer for their feedback and approval. This ensures that all the information is accurate and that the customer is comfortable with how their story is presented. It also provides an opportunity to make any necessary revisions
Pro Tip: Create a shareable case study in ClickUp Docs and share it with your customer in a single click for approval
- Publish and promote: After obtaining the customer’s approval, publish the case study on your website, blog, or other relevant platforms. Promote it through various channels such as social media, email newsletters, and sales presentations
Pro Tip: When your case study is ready to be distributed, add the relevant owners for social media and email distribution by simply mentioning them in a task comment
Use the ClickUp Case Study Template
Instead of the process we just outlined, you can also use ClickUp’s free case study templates to plan, structure, and execute your case studies to maximize the efficiency of your content marketing efforts.
With ClickUp’s Case Study Template, you can:
- Gather data from distinct sources to analyze it and identify key takeaways
- Craft compelling stories using an organized template to drive real impact
- Collect ideas and note testimonials from clients to showcase real-life results
- Create a visual journey of the customer’s software integration steps
- Monitor and analyze the case study’s engagement
- Collaborate with marketing team members to create the case study together
ClickUp helps marketing teams optimize the entire process of writing a case study, from collecting data to finally sending customers an email for approval.
Summarize this article for me pleaseCraft Effective Case Studies with ClickUp
Case studies are an excellent way to build trust with prospective clients and provide evidence for your claims. They exemplify how your products and services have aided others in reaching their business and marketing goals. Studying popular case study examples can help you ideate and find the perfect format for your own customer stories.
Collaborative work management platforms like ClickUp can help you plan and execute your case study project with ease. Draft customer success case studies showcasing results effectively using ClickUp’s Case Study Template. It not only provides you with a rough layout but also improves team collaboration, helps maintain consistency with the format, collects data, and much more.
Use the integrated AI assistant, ClickUp Brain, to generate outlines, write catchy copy, and brainstorm ideas. Put your case story together, along with the relevant links, images, and rich formatting, in ClickUp Docs and share it with stakeholders for input and approval.
Sign up for ClickUp today to create the most impactful marketing case studies to attain your marketing goals.
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