10 questions to ask when interviewing for a case study

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Case studies are ideal for showcasing your work and building trust. It is storytelling with a lens on the customer. Remember it’s about them, not you. Showcase everything they are doing, and how you fit in, helping them reach their goals.

Case studies work well in the late Decision/Acquisition stage, when buyers are ready to narrow down their selection between a number of vendors. Potential customers want to understand how you solved pain points experienced by similar companies. These are the essential proof points.

Every tech case study should include these10 questions:

  1. The challenges and objectives that led the customer looking for your offering?
  2. Who was involved in the buying/selection process?
  3. What was most important to the customer when evaluating the various options of your offering?
  4. How long did it take to get the solution up and running?
  5. Who was involved in the process during implementation?
  6. Who is using the product or service?
  7. Is there a particular aspect of the product or service that is relied on most by the customer?
  8. What are the key ROI and benefits of the solution? Numbers (quantitative) are absolutely needed.
  9. How has the solution addressed the customer’s challenges and solved their problems?
  10. Ask your customer about their future plans and their vision in using your technology going forward.

Think of your case study as a success story. You know you have a great one when your customer showcases it internally and externally.

Irving Frydman is Chief Branding Officer and Principal of B2B Marketing Insights, a digital marketing consultancy, serving the Information Technology (IT) industry and other sectors. The firm provides services in public relations (PR), content marketing, and social media.

Content strategy for tech: Simplify your content marketing framework

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Getting customer attention is challenging, and even more so when you are a small technology company. There is not only an abundance of “noise” marketers have to contend with, but once you get that coveted attention, the chances are your buyer is not ready to buy. This is where content plays an important role, moving a customer deeper into the marketing funnel.

Content helps build customer relationships and thought leadership, empowering your brand and market positioning. What does your company stand for? What makes your products and services unique? Why should I trust your people and organization? Using content strategically is a foundation for marketing and business success.

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Why B2B content marketing needs a human face

man-1483479_640Chances are your marketing budget is being stretched. Many dollars are often wasted by casting a wide fish net across a number of market segments in the hopes of reaching potential buyers. If your messaging is not resonating with the right people, no one will notice.

One of the best ways to build a brand and deepen customer relationships is via content marketing – the creation, publication, and distribution of relevant, high-value content that is customized to the needs of targeted groups. The goal is moving the prospect deeper into the sales funnel towards conversion.

Business-to-business (B2B) marketers are embracing content marketing for their sales pipeline using various digital formats, including websites, articles, case studies, blogs, whitepapers, and videos. The Content Marketing Institute (CMI) 2016 Benchmark study indicates 88 percent of B2B marketers are using content marketing for top goals of lead generation (85%) and sales (84%).

According to the CMI research, one in five B2B marketers are making content personalization a top priority. It’s important to tailor messaging by industry sector, organization size and buyer role – essentially segmenting your database.

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