Case study template for agencies
A case study is your best salesperson - proof you've solved this exact problem before. The trick is structure: their problem, your approach, and the result with a number. It's the proof your proposal points to. Copy it below, or showcase results to prospects in a branded portal.
0/3 filled - the rest of the [prompts] you finish in your copy.
CASE STUDY [Headline - lead with the result. e.g. "How Acme lifted demo sign-ups 22% with a brand refresh"] Client: [Client name] Industry: [industry] Services: [what you did] Prepared by: [Agency name] 1. THE CHALLENGE [Where the client was and what was holding them back. 2-3 sentences, in their terms.] 2. THE GOAL [What success needed to look like - tied to a metric.] 3. OUR APPROACH [How you tackled it - your method, the key decisions, and why they worked.] 4. THE WORK - [Deliverable / what shipped] - [Deliverable] 5. THE RESULTS - [Metric: before -> after, e.g. "Demo sign-ups: 40/mo -> 49/mo (+22%)"] - [Metric] - [How long it took] 6. IN THEIR WORDS "[A short, specific client quote about the result or the experience.]" - [Name, role, Client] 7. THE TAKEAWAY [One line on who this proves you can help - and a next step. e.g. "If your homepage isn't converting, let's talk."]
pick a version, copy it, or download as .docx or .pdf — then make it yours.
How to fill it in
Lead with the number
The headline should carry the result. 'How [client] [achieved X]' beats 'Acme case study' every time.
Tell it as their story
Frame the challenge in the client's words and world - the prospect should see themselves in it.
Show before and after
A result without a baseline is a claim. 'X to Y' is proof.
Get a specific quote
'Great to work with' is filler. A quote about the outcome is gold - ask for it at the high point (offboarding).
End with who it's for
Close by naming the kind of client this proves you can help, and a next step.
A filled-in case study
A realistic, filled-in version - so you can see what good looks like before you start.
CASE STUDY How Acme Roasters lifted homepage demo sign-ups 22% with a brand refresh Client: Acme Roasters Industry: CPG / coffee Services: Brand + web Prepared by: Northwind Studio 1. THE CHALLENGE Acme's packaging was winning shelf space, but the homepage looked like the old brand and demo sign-ups had flattened. 2. THE GOAL Lift homepage demo sign-ups by 20% before the Q3 push. 3. OUR APPROACH A focused 6-week refresh: new identity, then a homepage rebuilt around one clear "book a demo" path, tested against the old hero. 4. THE WORK - Logo system, colour + type, one-page brand guide - Homepage redesign (desktop + mobile) 5. THE RESULTS - Demo sign-ups: 40/mo -> 49/mo (+22%) in 6 weeks - Bounce rate on the homepage: -14% 6. IN THEIR WORDS "Northwind lifted our retail sell-through and made the site finally feel like us." - Dana Park, CMO, Acme Roasters 7. THE TAKEAWAY If your homepage isn't converting the traffic you already have, let's talk.
Common mistakes
- A headline that names the client instead of the result - it buries the proof.
- All approach, no numbers - a story with no result doesn't sell.
- Results with no baseline, so '+22%' could mean anything.
- A generic 'great to work with' quote instead of one about the outcome.
- No next step, so a convinced reader has nowhere to go.
Turn results into your best pitch
A case study buried in a slide deck never gets seen. Forge can showcase your proof in a branded portal prospects and clients actually open - results, deliverables and quotes in one place that looks like you built it.
Frequently asked questions
What makes a good agency case study?
A specific result up front, the client's problem in their words, your approach, before-and-after metrics, a real quote, and a clear next step.
How long should a case study be?
Long enough to prove the result, short enough to read - usually one page or one screen. Lead with the outcome.
Where do agencies use case studies?
In proposals as proof, on your site, and in outreach. The strongest ones map to a specific service you're trying to sell.