Case studies · free
Case studies that get read.
A simple structure that turns a finished project into proof: problem, approach, results, lessons. Publish it on Aqvil and it sits on your business profile, your topics and the profiles of the people who did the work.
The template
A free case study template, section by section.
The same sections and prompts as the Aqvil editor. Click through, or copy the whole outline as Markdown.
Problem
What was broken, slow, expensive or risky? Who felt it? Include a number if you have one.
For example
Support replies took two days on average, and churned customers named it as the reason.
the Aqvil editor gives you these same sections, with the prompts built in
Red pen
What makes a case study convincing.
- 1
Lead with the number
Put the result in the title and the summary. Readers decide in one line whether to keep going.
- 2
Say what didn't work
The failed first attempt is what makes the working one believable.
- 3
Show the constraints
Team size, budget, deadline. Results mean more when readers know what you had to work with.
- 4
Give it a timeframe
“Two days to five hours in six weeks” beats “much faster”.
- 5
End with the lesson
What you'd do differently is the part other teams can actually use.
Before
We improved our support.
After
First reply went from two days to five hours in six weeks.
specific beats impressive.Why publish on Aqvil
Proof that's easy to find.
On your business profile
Attach it to your company and it appears on the business profile, next to your team and your articles.Credited to the people
The author's profile shows it too, so the work counts for the people who did it.Found by topic
Tag the topics it covers and it's listed there, for readers browsing that subject.An editor that asks
Ask the assistant what's missing or what readers will want to know. It marks up your draft; you do the writing.Version history
Save versions as you go and restore an earlier one if an edit goes wrong.Already published elsewhere?
Set a canonical URL and search engines treat your own site as the original.
Questions
Case study FAQ
What should a case study include?
A clear problem, the context, the approach you chose and why, what you actually did, the tools involved, the results with a timeframe, and what you'd do differently. On Aqvil that's 7 sections: problem, context, approach, implementation, technology, results, lessons.
How long should a case study be?
Long enough to show the before and after, and why it worked. Most good ones fit in a few minutes of reading. Fill the sections that matter; empty ones are simply left out.
Is publishing case studies on Aqvil free?
Yes. Writing, publishing and linking case studies to your business profile is free.
Do I need a business profile?
No. You can publish a case study as yourself, or attach it to a business you're a member of so it shows on that company's profile too.
Can I publish a case study that's already on my website?
Yes. Set its canonical URL to the original page, and search engines will treat your website as the source.
Can I include client names and numbers?
Only what you're allowed to share. Get your client's permission for names and figures, or describe them in general terms. Invented numbers aren't allowed under our content guidelines.
Are case studies reviewed?
Case studies follow the content guidelines. Some wait for a quick review before going live, for example from brand-new accounts.
Can I get feedback before publishing?
Yes. The editor's assistant can point out what's missing, list the questions readers will have, and suggest readability fixes. It won't write the case study for you.
You finished the project. Now show it.
Create a free profile, open the case study editor, and fill in the sections. Your first one can be live today.