Click image for HQ version
Client success stories are more than just testimonials; they’re powerful narratives that illustrate your product’s impact on real people and businesses. For entrepreneurs and growing businesses, crafting these stories effectively can unlock doors to new opportunities and growth. Let’s dive into how you can structure these narratives to captivate and inspire your audience.
What is a customer story template
A Client Success Story Template is a structured framework designed to help businesses document and share how their products or services have successfully impacted a client.
And we can humbly say that this template is ready to help you create the best customer stories ever!
This template guides you through the essential elements needed to tell a compelling story, ensuring consistency and completeness in highlighting customer achievements.
Why use a client success story template?
There’s no greater satisfaction than clients valuing what you do!
And if they do, you should be shouting it from the rooftops! BUT there’s a way to do it!
A client success story template streamlines the process of creating persuasive and meaningful content that showcases your business’s role in transforming customer challenges into success.
Having a template not only takes the hard work of having to craft the best story, but this template is invaluable in marketing, as it helps potential clients visualize the benefits of your offerings.
It won’t just help you attract new customers but also build credibility and trust among your current clients!
An example of a customer success story from Whale
Use our templates to fast-track your documentation
Customize this template and 100s of others for free in Whale, the fastest way to get your team aligned.
4 Steps to crafting the BEST customer success story
Why do you watch your favorite series on Netflix or read your favorite book?
Because it’s gripping! And often, you probably resonate or see yourself in the story.
A good story helps the client see themselves in the situation. Not in your place, but in place of the customer who found success with your product.
- Maybe they’re in the same industry.
- Maybe they’re having a similar problem.
When they read about how you helped a client solve said problem, they’ll find parallels.
Think PASS
Today’s consumers make about 60% of their buying decision before speaking to a sales rep so it’s important to give them all the tools they need to make up their mind!
To create the BEST Stories that help your customer connect with your product and brand, think PASS!
PASS means Problem, Agitate, Search and Solution.
It’s what happens in ALL great stories!
- First there’s a hero with problem!
- Then the problem get’s worse!
- And the customer frantically searches to try to solve the problem
- And then there’s a winning solution!
Here’s how it looks;
Set the scene & introduce the hero
Start by painting a vivid picture of the client— who they are, what they do, and what sets them apart. This section humanizes the story, making it relatable and engaging for the reader. Introduce your client as the hero of the story, poised for transformation.
Remember the customer is the hero of the story. Describe a bit about their history and their mission. What was their problem?
Highlight the massive problem
How were the obstacles affecting their business? Be very descriptive about the pain these hurdles were causing to their business, their employees, or their customers.
Detail the significant challenges that the client faced which led them to seek a solution. Describe the stakes involved and the potential risks of not finding an effective solution.
This builds tension and hooks the reader, making the eventual solution more impactful.
Introduce the ally (your business)
Now, bring your business into the story as the ally who comes to the rescue. Explain how your product or service uniquely addressed and started to resolve the client’s issues. Highlight specific features or aspects of your service that made a difference, positioning your business as a trusted partner in the client’s journey.
Showcase the Results I.e. what happened as a result of the ally saving the day
In this part of the story, tell how the customer knew you were the one to solve their problem. What fantastic benefits of your product or service factored into their decision?
Why did the customer choose you over the competition and MOST importantly, what was the impact?! THIS IS KEY!
Conclude with the positive outcomes following your intervention. Use real-world statistics for added impact. For example, after implementing your software solution, the client might have seen a 50% reduction in operational costs, corroborated by a market analysis report from TechIndustryStats.com. This not only provides tangible proof of your product’s value but also solidifies the success story’s effectiveness.
Essentials of a great client success story
Think SSS!
Storytelling
A great client success story is not just factual; it needs to be engaging and emotionally resonant. Storytelling is crucial; your narrative should have a clear beginning, middle, and end, with the client’s journey and transformation at its core.
To make it interesting, you may want to include the following types of media in telling your story
- Infographics
- Video
- Images to post on social
Statistics
Numbers don’t lie!
Include growth metrics, and before-and-after comparisons to enhance credibility and make your story compelling.
Remember your goal is to prove to the CEO of your next client that they can trust you and that they need you to take their company to the next level!
Social proof
You know that person who ALWAYS talks about themselves? So much so that eventually you stop listening?
Well your customers feel the same.
No one wants to hear YOU talk about your product, they want to hear what others have to say!
Other items to include in a customer success story
Customer Background
- Name of the customer
- Industry or market segment
- Size of the organization:
- Key pain points or challenges faced by the customer
Solution
- Description of the product or service provided
- How the solution addressed the customer’s pain points
- Talk about the customer service delivered and how the SOP for customer service was followed.
- Unique features or benefits that made a difference
Implementation
- Timeline of the implementation process
- Key steps taken to ensure a successful deployment
- Any obstacles encountered and how they were overcome
Results
- Quantifiable outcomes achieved by the customer
- Key metrics or improvements realized
- Positive impact on the customer’s business or operations
Customer Testimonial
- Quote from the customer expressing satisfaction with the solution
- Highlight any specific comments or feedback from the customer
FAQs on using a customer success story
What should be the length of a good client success story?
Ideally, a success story should be concise—around 500-800 words—to maintain the reader’s attention while providing enough detail to be persuasive.
Can I use direct quotes from clients?
Not only can you, you should!
Direct quotes add authenticity and a personal touch to your story, making it more relatable to potential clients.
What is a good structure for a customer success story?
A good structure for a customer success story is the same as any hero’s journey.
- First there’s a hero with problem!
- Then the problem get’s worse!
- And the customer frantically searches to try to solve the problem
- And then there’s a winning solution!
How many client success stories do we need?
Ideally you should have one customer success story per industry that you work with.
If you specialise in a particular industry try to create success stories that are suited to particular use cases.
Use our templates to fast-track your documentation
Customize this template and 100s of others for free in Whale, the fastest way to get your team aligned.
