Content

Case Study Interview Outline

A structured interview outline for conducting customer case study interviews. Covers the complete narrative arc from problem to solution to results.

Suggested Subject Line

Case study interview: your {company_name} success story

Template

case-study-outline.txt

CASE STUDY INTERVIEW OUTLINE

Interviewee: {customer_name}, {title} at {company}
Date: {interview_date}
Duration: 30-45 minutes

---

SECTION 1: BACKGROUND (5 min)
- Tell me about {company} and your role there.
- What does a typical day look like for you?
- How big is your team, and what are your key responsibilities?

SECTION 2: THE CHALLENGE (10 min)
- What was the main challenge or pain point you were facing?
- How long had this been a problem?
- What impact was it having on your business/team/revenue?
- What solutions had you tried before? Why didn't they work?
- What was the turning point that made you decide to look for a new solution?

SECTION 3: THE SEARCH & DECISION (5 min)
- How did you discover {your_product}?
- What other solutions did you evaluate?
- What ultimately made you choose us over the alternatives?
- Were there any concerns or hesitations? How were they addressed?

SECTION 4: IMPLEMENTATION (5 min)
- Describe the onboarding and setup process.
- How quickly were you up and running?
- What support did our team provide during implementation?
- Were there any surprises (positive or negative)?

SECTION 5: RESULTS & IMPACT (10 min)
- What specific results have you achieved since implementing {product}?
- Can you share any metrics? (revenue increase, time saved, costs reduced, etc.)
- How has {product} changed your day-to-day workflow?
- What unexpected benefits have you discovered?
- How has this impacted your broader business goals?

SECTION 6: LOOKING FORWARD (5 min)
- How do you see your use of {product} evolving?
- Would you recommend {product} to others? What would you say?
- Is there anything else you'd like to share about your experience?

---

NOTES FOR INTERVIEWER:
- Record the interview (with permission) for accuracy
- Let the customer tell their story -- don't lead their answers
- Follow up on interesting tangents -- the best quotes often come from unscripted moments
- Ask "Can you give me a specific example?" whenever they make a general statement
- Note any metrics or data points for fact-checking

Tips for Using This Template

Send the outline to the customer 2-3 days before the interview so they can prepare any metrics or data they want to share. Prepared customers give better interviews.

Start with easy background questions to warm up the conversation before diving into challenges. This builds rapport and makes the customer comfortable.

Always ask for specific numbers. 'Our productivity improved significantly' is weak. 'Our team saved 15 hours per week' is case study gold.

Record everything (with permission). The best quotes often come from offhand comments, and you can't write fast enough to capture them in real time.

When to Use This Template

Use this when a customer has achieved significant, quantifiable results and is willing to be featured by name. Ideal candidates are enthusiastic customers who've been using your product for 3+ months and can provide concrete metrics. Case studies are most valuable for B2B and high-ticket B2C businesses.

Frequently Asked Questions

How long should a case study interview take?

30-45 minutes is the sweet spot. Under 30 minutes won't give you enough depth. Over 45 minutes and the conversation loses focus. Let the customer know the expected duration in advance so they can block appropriate time.

Should case study interviews be done in person or remotely?

Remote video calls (Zoom, Google Meet) work perfectly well and are more convenient for both parties. In-person interviews can yield richer content and better photos/video, but the logistical barriers reduce participation rates significantly.

How do I get customers to agree to a case study?

Highlight the mutual benefit: they get free exposure to your audience, backlinks to their website, and positioning as a thought leader. Offer to let them review and approve everything before publication. Some companies also offer incentives like extended contracts or premium features.