Pitchrate | Two and a Half Secrets of Compelling Case Studies

Email:
Password:
or log in with your favorite social network:

NOTE: If you don't have a profile and want to sign up with your social network, please click the appropriate icon in the sign up box!

Liz Alexander

Author of nine commercially published self-help books; former freelance journalist (British Airways' Business Life Magazine; Harvard Business Press; Training; Human Resources etc.); now known as The Book Doula, helping aspiring nonfiction authors realize their dream of birthing their wisdom in book ...

Category of Expertise:

Contents is empty

Company:

The Book Doula

User Type:

Expert

Published:

03/16/2011 01:19pm
Two and a Half Secrets of Compelling Case Studies

What’s wrong with him? How can his career survive? When are they going to haul him off for treatment?

Part of our fascination with the exploits of Two and a Half Men star Charlie Sheen, is in not knowing what’s going to happen next. Whether it’s fiction or real-life, we’re always looking for “dramatic tension” in storytelling. Just when you think that the dust is about to settle, the hero’s feet are held to the fire once more. In Sheen’s case this may be self-inflicted, but the result is the same: tension and conflict are what keep us listening, watching and reading.

Our brains are hard-wired for this. Part of our cerebral cortex called Broca’s Area acts like a nightclub bouncer, letting in what’s surprising, impressive and unexpected, while keeping at bay the ordinary and predictable.

Why, then, aren’t more marketers taking advantage of that fact?

It’s no longer hokey for businesses to talk about the power of storytelling. Frequently, in the Harvard Business Press and other prestigious management publications, you’ll find articles about the value of stories. A recent HBR blog post, for example, discussed the way good business leaders “tell stories that turn fear into a powerful motivator.”

You’re probably already familiar with some of the enduring “origin” and “values” stories of big name organizations. How Sam Walton of Wal-Mart, walked anonymously around his stores to get a better feel for the needs of the “average” shopper. Or that Bill Hewlett, co-founder of Hewlett-Packard once took a bolt-cutter to the lock on the supply room door, forever spreading an unspoken “truth” about the importance of trust at HP.

Businesses, like Hollywood, are awash with good stories. Unfortunately most companies poorly communicate one of the most common: the case study. This form of marketing communication, about a time when you helped a client overcome a challenge, appears on websites as well as printed materials. Case studies are often referred to as “success stories,” but that’s not accurate. Not because of any lack of “success,” but because most case studies don’t adhere to a classic story structure that draws us in and keeps us reading or watching.

Traditional case studies are typically crafted in three paragraphs, as follows:

Challenge: What was the client’s problem that brought him/her to you?

Solution: How did you help solve their problem?

Results: What were the benefits (preferably tangible/measurable) experienced by the client after implementing your solution?

Here are two and a half problems with that format and how you can make your case studies stand out from the crowd:

1. Don’t confuse the “inciting incident” with “challenge”

In the mythic story structure known as the “Hero’s Journey” we first meet the hero in their “ordinary world.” This is quickly followed by the inciting incident or “call to adventure.” For example, Harry Potter is living in suburbia when Hagrid turns up to reveal that Harry’s father was a wizard. Prince Albert gets by as a stammerer until his brother abdicates and “Bertie” becomes King George VI, a man who must communicate confidently and powerfully with his British subjects on the eve of World War II, which is the storyline of the Oscar-winning movie, The King’s Speech.

The word “challenge” used in the first paragraph of most case studies is a misnomer for what is really the inciting incident or the event that requires companies to seek out a new product, service or approach. Their challenge doesn’t really end there, nor should it if you want your case studies to be compelling and interesting to read.

2. Don’t omit the heart of your story – the ongoing challenges

The most compelling stories are those that acknowledge ongoing obstacles and impediments. For example, what challenges did your client face from other stakeholders who didn’t immediately buy into the solution? What apprehension did your internal advocate feel about your plan, even a

Keywords

case studies; marketing communication; storytelling in business
Please note: Expert must be credited by name when an article is reprinted in part or in full.

Share with your colleagues, friends or anyone

comments on this article

Powered by: www.creativform.com