How to use case studies to promote your business

Case studies are a great way to promote your business, build your credibility and position your business as an expert. They show potential customers how your business operates and the results you can achieve.

What are case studies?
Case studies are short explanations of a project your business has worked on for a client or customer. They describe a problem, show how you achieved a solution and detail the results you achieved.

How to write a case study
To write a case study you will have to interview a client or customer about how your business has helped them.  You can develop a standard set of questions to help you interview each client. Based on these results you can then write the case study or hire a PR professional to write it for you. Make sure the client always has final approval before you publish the case study.

Here are some tips to help you structure a great case study:

• Introduction: provide a brief overview of your client and what they require your business to do.
• Objectives: provide details of the client’s problem and what your business can do to solve it.
• Strategy: Explains the steps and processes you took to solve the problem.
• Results: Provide detailed statistics or measurable data to back up your results. Explain how the results solved the client’s problem.

Here are some ways you can use case studies to promote your business.

On your website
You can publish case studies on your website, either on your home page or on a separate case study page. This is a great way to establish the credibility of your business and show potential customers the results you can achieve. It will also encourage potential customers to consider your business.

Social media profiles
You could post the entire case study on your social media sites or just post a link to the case studies on your website. This allows you to share your achievements with your followers, promote your business and attract potential customers. You may also be able to tag your client in the post, which will share the case study on their social media followers as well.

Speaking opportunities
If you speak at an event about your business or your expertise, case studies are great practical examples you can include in your presentation. They will help you to explain an issue and its resolution or teach others how to solve a client or customer problem. It will also help to raise the brand awareness of your clients and promote the results your business can achieve.

New business opportunities
Case studies allow you to show potential clients or customers how your business has achieved effective results in the past. This helps you to show clients and customers practical examples of the results you can achieve for them instead of just telling them. You can use case studies in your marketing materials, new client meetings or in a portfolio on display in your office reception.

Relevant publications
Some media publications will accept well written case studies; however they must conform to the publication’s guidelines. Before writing a case study research the publications in your industry you can send case studies to. Write your case study according to their guidelines or it will not be published. This allows you to position your business as an expert in your industry, build the credibility of your business and attract potential customers and clients.

Share your successes
Before writing a case study decide where you want to publish it and write it to suit that format. Case studies allow your business to share its success, attract new customers or clients and promote itself. By publishing a variety of case studies it demonstrates to potential customers and clients you can achieve consistent results for a range of clients.

To read some case study examples see the case studies on our website.

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Sydney Public Relations Agency, CP Communications provides specialist media, traditional and online PR strategies that get amazing results. Contact us today. For more PR tips see www.PublicRelationsSydney.com.au