Newsletter: My 8-Step Process for Writing Case Studies ✍️ ; Study: Checkout Charity is Making Shoppers Anxious 😟 ; A Crash Course in NFT’s for Good 😇
I'm knee-deep in partnership case study work right now, so I've been suggesting to some partnership peeps who only have one or two partnerships that they should write them themselves.
To help, here's my 8-step process!
🚦Get Permission. Call your contact at the company and ask her if she would be willing to participate in a case study. If they are bigger company, insist that they get the ok from legal and/or public relations. I've written many case studies only to hear back from one or both of these departments that the company can't participate. Womp womp.
📧 Email them a questionnaire. Ask them some basic questions about the partnership.
What were the company's goals for the partnership?
What campaigns did they execute and for how long?
How much did they raise?
Why was the campaign successful?
What did they enjoy about working with you?
I call this getting the "hard details." I've learned that people are more thoughtful and exact when you ask them to write things down.
✍️ Write up a draft. Once you have the questionnaire back, write a draft of the case study. Break it up into sections and use bullets to make it scannable and easy to read.
🎙 Interview your contact on Zoom. This can be short! My Zoom calls are usually less than 20 minutes. Use the time to ask a few clarifying about the questionnaire and to get testimonials. I upload the Zoom recording to Otter.ai so I have a transcript of the call.
✅ Finalize the case study. Using the transcript, revise the case study and fill in all the "soft details" she shared. This content will "humanize" the case study so it doesn't read just like a bunch of facts and numbers.
🤔 Let the partner review the case study. I usually give the partner lots of lead way on what they can add and change. You want this to be as positive an experience as possible for the partner...right? You may not get another partner because of the case study, but you don't want to lose one because of it.
📫 Send it to an editor for review. It's always good to get another set of eyes on the case study to fix any grammar mistakes or awkward phrasing. My daughter, Cate, was a journalism major at George Washington University and now works at CNN. She's my go-to person!
🎬 Send a final version to your partner. It makes sense for them to have a copy for their records. Also, make sure you explain to them how you plan to use the case study. Will you be emailing it to prospects? Will you be posting it on your website? Will you be sharing it in meetings?
Keep in mind that writing a case study takes time. It could take a month or more! I firmly believe that people hire me to write their case studies NOT because I'm some amazing writer - I'm not - but because they know I'll get them DONE. And done is better than perfect!
Just remember that case studies are the single best piece of content you can create for your partnership team and for potential prospects!
Good luck and let me know if you have any questions.
✍️ Partnership Notes
1. Checkout programs are great for raising money, but they also can raise awareness. This UK grocery store chain is handing out 'Boob Receipts.'
2. Speaking of 'Checkout Charity," this study says that being asked to donate at the register can give shoppers anxiety. But there is good news: "Anxiety can be relieved when customers agree to donate, but only when the solicitation comes from a cashier, as opposed to an automated request."
3. Nine highly effective ways to get more client referrals. #4: Create Shareable Content. Give them a case study to share with their contact!
🤑 Marketing Your Cause
1. Carol Cone (aka Mom ❤️) talks to Nick Fontova, Chief Marketing Officer of the Metaverse Team at Landmark Ventures for a crash course in what NFTs are, how they can be used for good, and why you should get involved now. Carol is a curious newbie who asks some great questions!
2. Branding vs Brand Identity: What's the difference?
3. Want to generate more partnership-related content next year (Who doesn't?!). Here's what you need. Start with #1: Executive-level awareness and support.
😎 Cool Jobs in Cause
1. Director of Corporate Partnerships, City Year, Chicago ($80k-$95k)
2. Director of Purpose, Corporate Culture, & Sustainability, Carol Cone on Purpose (Remote)
3. Coordinator, Corporate Social Responsibility & Social Impact, Sony Corporation, NYC
4. Associate Director, Corporate Partnership, Share Our Strength, Washington, DC ($103k - $110k)
🧠🍌 Brain Food
1. How nonprofit boards can keep strategy front and center.
2. 15 questions to go deeper with your donor.
3. The greatest Twitter thread...evahh. Honestly, it's kind of dark, but it has a happy ending.🙂
