Proving the success of your B2B products and services is the typical goal and focus of a case study. It’s been used for decades. But times have changed as B2B buyers self-educate and self-select. They anticipate case studies can help them get the information they need to make purchasing decisions. These tips from Deb Monfette and 10 marketing experts on LinkedIn will help you give buyers what they expect and build more credibility, trust, and influence with your case studies, even if you’re limited in what you can tell.
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The Power of Case Studies: How to build credibility, trust, and influence
1. The Power of Case Studies
How to Build Credibility, Trust,
and Influence
Deb Monfette, Chief Content Writer and Strategist, Contenttriggers LLC
It’s time for a Case Study Makeover
2. Are you taking advantage of the
value case studies
can add to your business?
Deb Monfette, Chief Content Writer and Strategist, Contenttriggers LLC
The Power of Case Studies: How to Build Credibility, Trust and Influence
3. “If you don’t have ANY or only
a few, that can be a very large
mark against you.”
MIKOLKA MORRILL ~ Account Executive,
Northeast Region, Prezi
Deb Monfette, Chief Content Writer and Strategist, Contenttriggers LLC
The Power of Case Studies: How to Build Credibility, Trust and Influence
4. 3 Big Frustrations
With Case Studies
#1. Our case studies aren’t as effective as they should be.
#2. We use the traditional Challenge, Solutions, Results
(CSR) format, but people question the credibility because
they think it’s biased.
#3. It’s difficult for our customers to say YES to a case
study.
Deb Monfette, Chief Content Writer and Strategist, Contenttriggers LLC
5. Research
What are B2B buyers really looking
for when deciding to purchase?
Deb Monfette, Chief Content Writer and Strategist, Contenttriggers LLC
Research Trends Expectations
Actionable
Insights
6. Content Preferences Report
by DemandGen
Deb Monfette, Chief Content Writer and Strategist, Contenttriggers LLC
Which types of content have you used during the past
12 months to research B2B purchasing decisions?
7. Content Preferences Report
by DemandGen
B2B Buyers Have BIG Expectations
Deb Monfette, Chief Content Writer and Strategist, Contenttriggers LLC
8. Content Preferences Report
by DemandGen
They’re looking to compare their efforts with
more benchmarking data.
They want and need to
study real-world examples of their peers.
Deb Monfette, Chief Content Writer and Strategist, Contenttriggers LLC
9. Content Preferences Report
by DemandGen
74% want content
with
less sales
messages
in their search.
Deb Monfette, Chief Content Writer and Strategist, Contenttriggers LLC
10. “We don’t feel a need to hit the reader over the head
with commercial messages. Product and service
messaging are important to communicate, but as a
foundational element.The customer is going to work the
messaging in as the story unfolds .
CHAS KIELT~ Principal Product Marketing Manager, Citrix Cloud
Deb Monfette, Chief Content Writer and Strategist, Contenttriggers LLC
Research Trends Expectations
Actionable
Insights
32. 3 Big Frustrations
Deb Monfette, Chief Content Writer and Strategist, Contenttriggers LLC
#1. Our case studies aren’t as effective as they should be.
How can we get better results?
#2. We use the traditional Challenge, Solutions, Results
(CSR) format, but people question the credibility because
they think it’s biased.
How can we bring credibility to our case studies?
#3. It’s difficult for our customers to say yes to a case study.
How do we get them to agree to participate?
Research Trends Expectations
Actionable
Insights
44. Deb Monfette, Chief Content Writer and Strategist, Contenttriggers LLC
Research Trends Expectations
Actionable
Insights
Don’t Bury the Pain
“One of the critical elements missing in most case studies
is the pain. Unfortunately, many marketers are afraid of
including anything negative in a story about their
customers.Without the problem that needed solving, the
results simply fall flat. It’s not a story without the conflict.”
Cassandra Jowett~ Director of Marketing, LookBookHQ
rebranded to PathFactory
46. Deb Monfette, Chief Content Writer and Strategist, Contenttriggers LLC
Research Trends Expectations
Actionable
Insights
Prove Business Value
“Case studies aren’t just about fixing problems.They can
prove business value, too. For example, enabling facility
expansion, overcoming obstacles such as IT resource
constraints, introducing a new line of business, and
growing top of line revenue and allowing more of it to fall
to the bottom line.” Kielt shares, “the most influential
stories help to achieve a lofty business goal.”
Chas Kielt ~ Principal Product Marketing Manager at Citrix Cloud
53. Deb Monfette, Chief Content Writer and Strategist, Contenttriggers LLC
Research Trends Expectations
Actionable
Insights
“We follow the CSR format mostly out of necessity.
Nearly all of our clients are under NDA and we are
extremely limited in what we can, as marketers, say
about our customers and any work we do for them.
We end up talking about ourselves by default—yet we
still do what we can to make sure that profile is one
our customer is proud of.”
STEPHANIE VAN NESS ~ Marketing Communications
Manager & Chief Storyteller, ViewPoint Interactive Solutions
Advantages of the CSR Format
56. Deb Monfette, Chief Content Writer and Strategist, Contenttriggers LLC
Research Trends Expectations
Actionable
Insights
“The CSR format works best where the reader wants
to get directly to the point, and may be further along
in the buying cycle.They have a strong interest and
need reinforcement. It’s also great for senior
management when you can talk bottom line numbers,
saving money, and increasing productivity.”
DENISE BOYD ~ Global Marketing Communications
Manager, PerkinElmer
Advantages of the CSR Format
66. Deb Monfette, Chief Content Writer and Strategist, Contenttriggers LLC
Research Trends Expectations
Actionable
Insights
Be the Go-To-Resource
Content Ideas:
• Create a customer success story with more
details about customer and his/her journey.
• Create an interview style success story.
• Craft a slide presentation.
• Create a visual such as an infographic visualizing
the benefits.
• Create a one-page handout, article, or blog post.
• Include an interactive tool like a worksheet, an
assessment, or knowledge quiz at the end of the
case study.
• Create a booklet of case studies to give away
at conferences.
81. Deb Monfette, Chief Content Writer and Strategist, Contenttriggers LLC
Research Trends Expectations
Actionable
Insights
Keep the Spotlight on the Customer
“First, I introduce the idea of building industry and thought
leadership for themselves and for their organization.
Next, I explain what’s expected of them, including time. I let
them know they’ll have a chance to review and make changes
before publication.
I also give them a discussion guide with starter questions and
bullet points they can consider working into their responses. It
simply prepares them for the interview and it alleviates the deer in
the headlights reaction by staring at a blank page.”
CHAS KIELT ~ Principal Product Marketing Manager, Citrix Cloud
82. Are you taking advantage of the
value case studies
can add to your business?
Deb Monfette, Chief Content Writer and Strategist, Contenttriggers LLC
The Power of Case Studies: How to Build Credibility, Trust and Influence
Summary
83. Research shows that 78%
of B2B buyers use case studies
more than any other resource to
research purchases.
Deb Monfette, Chief Content Writer and Strategist, Contenttriggers LLC
The Power of Case Studies: How to Build Credibility, Trust and Influence
Summary
84. Deb Monfette, Chief Content Writer and Strategist, Contenttriggers LLC
The Power of Case Studies: How to Build Credibility, Trust and Influence
Summary
We examined:
• 3 Big frustrations B2B companies
have with case studies
• The research
• The trends
• B2B Buyer expectations
• The solutions
• Actionable insights from 10 marketing
and sales technology professionals
85. Deb Monfette, Chief Content Writer and Strategist, Contenttriggers LLC
The Power of Case Studies: How to Build Credibility, Trust and Influence
Summary
Key Takeaways:
1. Shine the Spotlight on Your Successful customer
– Your Advocate. Your company will shine as the
story unfolds.
2. Sell the Journey, Not the Destination.
3. Be the Go-To- Resource and help B2B buyers
make decisions as a trusted source.
4. Always remember to Give Customer Love and
make it easy for your successful customers to
say Yes!
87. In the end, you will build more
credibility,
trust,
and influence,
even if you’re limited in what you can tell.
Deb Monfette, Chief Content Writer and Strategist, Contenttriggers LLC
The Power of Case Studies: How to Build Credibility, Trust and Influence
Summary
88. Remember to
get your free
Case Study
Makeover Guide
here!
Deb Monfette, Chief Content Writer and Strategist, Contenttriggers LLC
www.contenttriggers.com
The Power of Case Studies: How to Build Credibility, Trust and Influence
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