Know-How Exchange : Copywriting

Keep in mind that the Case Study's value is for the prospect. The more specific info you can get out of the client the better. Productivity increases, financial savings, man-hour savings, processes streamlined, etc. are all very beneficial for the reader. ROI is the one thing the reader is looking for and hardly ever get, so if you can fill your study with facts, figures, and quotes, you'll write a better CS.
We write studies all the time and the willing participant is more than half the battle:)

Hi, Vanina! I think your 5 steps look great, however, I have a step 2a that I find really helpful before writing: I make sure the client and I agree on the key takeaways we want a reader to walk away with. For example, I regularly write case studies for one high tech client and the first thing I do after interviewing their customer and processing what I've heard is to brainstorm the over-arching message and the top three benefits that customer achieved using the client's product. I run that past the client and make sure we all agree, and then I start writing. Even if you're not a freelancer like me and you're doing this internally, you might have stakeholders whose buy-in matters, so I'd still suggest this step. :-) I hope that helps!

Vanina - if the client is cooperating, then you should let him have approval of your copy.

If you are carrying out a blind case study based on sources you have uncovered yourself, then you don't need to. Most of the case studies we publish in the Subscriptions Strategy newsletter are blind.

Overall, I would only publish a case study that carries a lesson to be learned. Otherwise they can be boring.

Best wishes

Peter