Advice Cloud

G-Cloud experts and government procurement consultants

0330 124 4224

  • About
  • For Suppliers
    • For Suppliers
    • Our Framework Services
      • G-Cloud
      • Digital Outcomes & Specialists
      • Technology Services
      • Transport Technology & Associated Services
      • Medical IT
      • Network Services
      • Technology Products
      • Data and Application Solutions
      • Other Frameworks
    • Our Support Services
      • Buyability™ Review Service
      • Win with G-Cloud
      • Win with DOS
      • Win Public Sector Business
      • Win Central Government Business
    • Our DPS Services
      • Artificial Intelligence
      • Cyber Security Services
      • Automation Marketplace
      • Spark Technology Innovation Marketplace
      • IoT Technologies Services
      • Digital Technology Services
      • Quality Assurance and Testing for IT Systems
      • Gigabit Capable Connectivity
      • YPO Care Technology
      • HSCN Access Services
    • Why Choose Us?
      • Case Studies
      • Our Experience
      • Our Process
  • For Buyers
    • For Buyers
    • Our Services
      • G-Cloud Support Desk
      • G-Cloud Procurement Services
      • Digital Outcomes and Specialists
      • General Support Services
      • UKCloud Health services
    • Why choose us
      • Our Experience
  • Training
  • Spend data
    • Spend data
    • Spend Data
      • G-Cloud Sales
      • Digital Outcomes and Specialists and Digital Services Sales
  • Resources
    • Resources
    • Procurement Essentials
      • Procurement 101
      • What is a Framework?
      • What is a Dynamic Purchasing System?
    • Ultimate Guides
      • Ultimate Guide to G-Cloud
      • Ultimate Guide to Digital Outcomes and Specialists
    • Tools
      • G-Cloud Sales
      • DOS and Digital Services Sales
      • Procurement Pipeline
      • Framework Alert
    • Resources
      • Blogs
      • G-Cloud
      • DOS
      • Business Guides
      • Expert Insights
      • Research
      • Events
      • Press
      • Videos
      • Announcements
  • Contact Us
G-CloudDigital Outcomes & SpecialistsTechnology ServicesTransport Technology & Associated ServicesMedical ITNetwork ServicesTechnology ProductsData and Application SolutionsOther Frameworks

Making the most of Digital Outcomes & Specialists 5

Join our upcoming webinar, on Thursday 11th February, 11am until 12noon, to learn how to use DOS5 to win more public sector business.

REGISTER

Buyability™ Review ServiceWin with G-CloudWin with DOSWin Public Sector BusinessWin Central Government Business

Making the most of Digital Outcomes & Specialists 5

Join our upcoming webinar, on Thursday 11th February, 11am until 12noon, to learn how to use DOS5 to win more public sector business.

REGISTER

Artificial IntelligenceCyber Security ServicesAutomation MarketplaceSpark Technology Innovation MarketplaceIoT Technologies ServicesDigital Technology ServicesQuality Assurance and Testing for IT SystemsGigabit Capable ConnectivityYPO Care TechnologyHSCN Access Services

Making the most of Digital Outcomes & Specialists 5

Join our upcoming webinar, on Thursday 11th February, 11am until 12noon, to learn how to use DOS5 to win more public sector business.

REGISTER

Case StudiesOur ExperienceOur Process

Making the most of Digital Outcomes & Specialists 5

Join our upcoming webinar, on Thursday 11th February, 11am until 12noon, to learn how to use DOS5 to win more public sector business.

REGISTER

G-Cloud Support DeskG-Cloud Procurement ServicesDigital Outcomes and SpecialistsGeneral Support ServicesUKCloud Health services

Read our 'Social Value in IT procurement' White Paper!

Social Value seems to be the hot procurement topic at the moment. But, what is it and does it have a place within IT and Digital procurement? Download our free White Paper.

READ NOW

Our Experience

Read our 'Social Value in IT procurement' White Paper!

Social Value seems to be the hot procurement topic at the moment. But, what is it and does it have a place within IT and Digital procurement? Download our free White Paper.

READ NOW

G-Cloud SalesDigital Outcomes and Specialists and Digital Services Sales

Grab a copy of our Public Sector Sales & Marketing Guide!

Our expert advisers and staff have put together this in-depth report to help you get to grips with navigating the Public Sector market. Grab your FREE copy here.

DOWNLOAD

Procurement 101What is a Framework?What is a Dynamic Purchasing System?

Download our free Guide to DOS Tenders!

Get expert advice and tips on how to write winning bids for opportunities on the Digital Outcomes and Specialists framework.

DOWNLOAD

Ultimate Guide to G-CloudUltimate Guide to Digital Outcomes and Specialists

Download our free Guide to DOS Tenders!

Get expert advice and tips on how to write winning bids for opportunities on the Digital Outcomes and Specialists framework.

DOWNLOAD

G-Cloud SalesDOS and Digital Services SalesProcurement PipelineFramework Alert

Download our free Guide to DOS Tenders!

Get expert advice and tips on how to write winning bids for opportunities on the Digital Outcomes and Specialists framework.

DOWNLOAD

BlogsG-CloudDOSBusiness GuidesExpert InsightsResearchEventsPressVideosAnnouncements

Download our free Guide to DOS Tenders!

Get expert advice and tips on how to write winning bids for opportunities on the Digital Outcomes and Specialists framework.

DOWNLOAD

BlogsPublished: 11 September 2018

How to write a sure fire public sector case study

  • LinkedIn
  • Twitter
  • Facebook
  • RSS

Not sure to how best communicate the work you've been doing with Gov? Our Strategic Adviser Jos Creese, gives you his take on what makes a great public sector case study!

How to write a sure fire public sector case study

There is no doubt that practical case studies and reference examples are powerful ways of promoting your product, bringing a product to life in terms of service outcomes. Since the public sector communicates together a great deal, a good case study will travel and can help to cement a reputation for successful delivery as much as a reputation for technology innovation.

But if you are going to build a case study its important to do it well, so here Jos Creese gives you five tips to help:

Do it collaboratively

Don’t try to write a case study without the full involvement of the public service client referenced, including their marketing team. It may take a little longer, but you will avoid making errors, underplaying true value or simply irritating the client. Ideally, get the client to write parts or at least to review an early draft. In general, public service organisations are keen to promote their success and you can help! Promoting a successful digital development is good for both parties and you may be able to bring bigger marketing strength to bear than they can alone. Equally, if the public sector client is not keen (maybe for reasons of internal politics) then its best to find this out early and back off, or produce an anonymous study explaining why it needs to be confidential. Never publish without approval or based on a ‘verbal understanding’ – the public sector will be very sensitive about that.

Make it practical and punchy

Keep it short (1-2 pages unless you are writing a white paper) and focus on process as much as results. Prospective public sector clients will want to know how hard the journey was with others and how you overcame problems, not just the glittering success you both had in the end. Many case studies fail to talk about the process challenges, yet, as a CIO, this is often a differentiator in understanding the product’s potential. Indeed, how problems were dealt with is often more powerful than simply avoiding them altogether. Of course, this is why you must work with the client – they must not feel embarrassed by the disclosure of problems, and they will often be better at describing the value than your own marketing teams can. A ‘story board’ approach can work well in doing this

Register for our public sector marketing webinar!

Be honest and personal

Don’t let your marketing colleagues go into hyper-drive in eulogising about the amazing credentials of your product. Keep it simple and honest. If you’ve a referenceable project, trying to over-sell the value wont work, and any exaggeration will quickly be exposed and potentially discredit your promotion. Without being too awkward, make it personal – its always more interesting to read quotes from a public sector leader involved, using informal and down to earth language that resonates with a public sector readership. But never lie – if the project wasn’t fully delivered for example, or perhaps only in a small scale, say so, or find a different case study.

Language and translation matter

Many technology vendors have great case studies but not necessarily within the public sector. This need not be a barrier, especially since the public sector is very keen in general to learn from the best practice in the private sector. But there needs to be a translation. So, you might want to tweak a case study from another sector and provide some covering material to explain how it could apply in the public sector. Above all, when you are writing a public sector case study, use a language that works for the audience. For example, if you are targeting a CIO community, it needs to be written in business terms and related to the challenges the public sector is facing (such as, but not limited to, efficiency). Don’t make it too ‘techie’, abstract or generic.

Make it a jolly good read

This sounds obvious, but many case studies are just plain boring. Too many words, too many tech-speak phrases (“a transformational cloud solution, enabling smart and cyber-focussed innovation in the design of public services”). Pretty but generic pictures of conceptual technology models should be avoided, especially when they could almost apply to any sector and technology type. Diagrams are good but go for simple pictures where possible which position the product and solution in terms of the public service value they bring. Ask yourself, if you changed your name to a competitor in the case study, whether it would work as well. If it does, rethink how you are promoting your Unique Selling Proposition (USP). Above all make it fun to read.

Register for our public sector marketing webinar!

Share

  • LinkedIn
  • Twitter
  • Facebook
  • RSS

Tags: Public Sector Marketing

Advice Cloud Latest

  • DOS5 is now Live!
  • Webinar: Making the most of Digital Outcomes and Specialists 5
  • New year, new public sector strategy?
  • Technology Services 3 is now closed
  • What is Find a Tender?
Tweets by @AdviceCloud

Related Posts

  • public sector strategy

    New year, new public sector strategy?

    We're now into 2021, which means suppliers may be re-evaluating their public sector strategy.

    Read more
  • 7 public sector news sources we love

    Seven public sector news sources we love

    We spend a lot of time looking at public sector news, so we thought why not share a few of the best! Here are seven of our favourite sources and a bit about why we like them...

    Read more
  • About
  • For Suppliers
  • For Buyers
  • Training
  • Spend data
  • Resources
  • Contact Us
  • Terms and Conditions
  • Privacy Policy
  • Cookie policy
  • © 2021 Advice Cloud
wiredsussexchambermembertechukcrownsupplierSussex Business Awards 29Brighton and Hove living wageCyber Essentials CertifiedInnopsis

Advice Cloud Limited | Registered in England | Company Registration no 05776223
Registered Office: Advice Cloud Ltd, 15-17 Middle Street, Brighton, East Sussex, BN1 1AL

We use cookies to improve your website experience. For example we use cookies to show you relevant webinars, content etc.

We have placed cookies on your device to help make our website better. Some of the cookies we use are essential for our website to work.

We also use some non-essential cookies to collect information to provide you with a better experience and to improve Our Site by better understanding how you use it.

You can use this tool to change your cookie settings.

To control third party cookies, you can also adjust your browser settings.