AI & Automation
Personas
SaaS & Startup
Time to ROI
Short-term (< 3 months)
OK, so here's something that drives me crazy. I was reviewing a potential agency's work on my phone last month, trying to scroll through their case study page, and it was a complete disaster. Tiny text, images that didn't fit, and I had to zoom in just to read their results. I closed the tab within 30 seconds.
The thing is, this wasn't some random agency. They had incredible work, stellar results, and probably charged premium rates. But their case study presentation on mobile? It was killing their credibility before prospects could even see how good they were.
Here's what most agencies get wrong: they design case studies for desktop first, then wonder why mobile visitors bounce. But here's the reality - over 60% of B2B decision-makers now research vendors on mobile. If your case studies don't work on mobile, you're basically invisible to most of your prospects.
After working with dozens of agencies on their website optimization, I've seen this pattern everywhere. Beautiful desktop case studies that turn into mobile nightmares. But I've also discovered the specific fixes that actually work.
In this playbook, you'll learn:
Why traditional case study layouts break on mobile (and the psychology behind it)
The 5-section mobile structure that keeps prospects engaged
How to present complex data without overwhelming small screens
The one interaction pattern that increased my client's case study completion rate by 130%
Mobile-specific conversion elements that actually drive inquiries
Industry Reality
What agencies typically do wrong
Most agencies approach case study design the same way they've been doing it for years - and it's completely backwards for mobile.
The typical agency case study follows this structure:
Long introduction paragraph explaining the client background
Challenge section with multiple paragraphs of context
Solution overview listing every service provided
Results section with data tables and multiple metrics
Call-to-action at the very bottom
This conventional wisdom exists because it mirrors the sales process - build context, show expertise, present results, ask for business. And on desktop, where people have larger screens and more patience, this can work.
But on mobile, this approach is a conversion killer. Here's why it falls short:
Attention spans are shorter - mobile users are often multi-tasking or browsing in small time windows. They need immediate value, not a lengthy setup.
Cognitive load is higher - reading long paragraphs on small screens requires more mental effort. Users abandon when they feel overwhelmed.
Navigation is harder - scrolling through endless text without clear visual breaks creates friction. Users lose their place and give up.
The biggest problem? Most agencies test their case studies on desktop and assume they'll work on mobile. By the time they realize mobile users are bouncing, they've already lost countless potential clients.
My approach flips this entire framework. Instead of adapting desktop layouts for mobile, I design for mobile first, then enhance for desktop.
Consider me as your business complice.
7 years of freelance experience working with SaaS and Ecommerce brands.
I discovered this problem the hard way while working with a design agency client who was struggling with lead quality. They had an impressive portfolio, premium positioning, and strong referrals, but their website inquiries were mostly tire-kickers asking for cheap work.
When I analyzed their Google Analytics, something stood out immediately: 72% of their case study page visitors were on mobile devices, but the average time on page was only 45 seconds. People were landing on their case studies and leaving almost immediately.
The agency's case studies looked beautiful on desktop - detailed project breakdowns, comprehensive before/after comparisons, and impressive metrics. But when I viewed them on my phone, the experience was painful.
The client background sections were paragraphs of tiny text. The challenge descriptions required endless scrolling. The results were buried at the bottom in tables that didn't fit on screen. Most importantly, there was no clear path for interested prospects to take action.
My first instinct was to simply make the text bigger and images responsive. Classic mistake. We implemented those changes, and while the bounce rate improved slightly, engagement was still terrible. Mobile visitors were spending an average of 1 minute 20 seconds on case studies - not nearly enough time to actually read and process the content.
That's when I realized the fundamental issue: we were trying to force a desktop content strategy onto mobile devices. Mobile users don't want to read three paragraphs about the client's business background. They want to quickly understand what was achieved and whether this agency can help them.
The breakthrough came when I stopped thinking about case studies as stories to tell and started thinking about them as problems to solve for mobile users.
Here's my playbook
What I ended up doing and the results.
The solution wasn't about responsive design - it was about mobile-first psychology. I developed what I call the "Glance and Grab" framework for mobile case studies.
Step 1: The Hook (Above the fold)
Instead of starting with client background, I lead with the most impressive result. The first thing mobile visitors see is something like "How we increased SaaS signups by 340% in 8 weeks" with a clear visual representation.
This immediately answers the question: "What can this agency do for me?" No scrolling required.
Step 2: The Proof (Visual metrics)
Rather than burying results in text, I created mobile-optimized metric cards. Big numbers, clear labels, easy to scan. Think "Before: 120 leads/month" and "After: 890 leads/month" in large, contrasting text.
These cards stack vertically on mobile and create natural scroll points. Each metric gets its moment to shine.
Step 3: The Context (Condensed challenge)
Here's where I broke conventional wisdom. Instead of explaining the entire business situation, I focused on one specific challenge that mobile users could relate to in 2-3 sentences max.
Example: "This SaaS startup had great product-market fit but couldn't scale their trial-to-paid conversions. Sound familiar?"
Step 4: The Method (Solution highlights)
I replaced lengthy solution descriptions with 3-4 key tactics, each with a one-line explanation and a small icon. Mobile users can quickly scan and understand the approach without getting overwhelmed.
Step 5: The Action (Multiple CTAs)
Instead of one CTA at the bottom, I placed conversion opportunities throughout the case study. A "Get similar results" button after the metrics, a "Schedule strategy call" link after the solution, and a final CTA with social proof.
The key insight: mobile users make decisions faster but need more encouragement to act. By providing multiple conversion opportunities, I capture intent at different engagement levels.
But here's the game-changer - I added an interactive element. Mobile users could tap to reveal "behind-the-scenes" details for each tactic. This satisfied prospects who wanted deeper information without overwhelming those who just needed the highlights.
This approach transformed case studies from passive content into interactive experiences that actually worked on mobile devices.
Visual Hierarchy
Lead with results, not background. Mobile users need immediate value to stay engaged.
Scannable Metrics
Use large numbers and clear labels. Create visual breathing room between different data points.
Progressive Disclosure
Hide detailed information behind taps. Let users choose their level of engagement depth.
Multiple CTAs
Place conversion opportunities throughout, not just at the end. Match CTAs to user intent at each section.
The transformation was dramatic and immediate. Within two weeks of implementing the mobile-first case study redesign, my client saw significant improvements across all engagement metrics.
Mobile bounce rate dropped from 68% to 29% - prospects were actually staying to read the content instead of immediately leaving.
Average mobile session duration increased from 1:20 to 4:45 - users were engaging with the interactive elements and consuming the full case study.
Case study completion rate (scrolling to CTA) jumped by 130% - more prospects were reaching the conversion opportunities.
But the most important metric: qualified inquiries from case study pages increased by 85% within the first month. These weren't just more leads - they were better leads who understood the agency's capabilities and came prepared to discuss serious projects.
The client also reported that prospects who found them through case studies were significantly more educated about their process and required less hand-holding during sales calls.
What I've learned and the mistakes I've made.
Sharing so you don't make them.
After implementing this mobile-first approach across multiple agency clients, I've learned some critical lessons that can save you time and improve your results.
Start with mobile, always - Don't design for desktop first and adapt. The constraints of mobile force you to prioritize what's truly important.
Test with actual mobile users - What looks good in Chrome's mobile preview often behaves differently on real devices. Get feedback from people using their actual phones.
Metrics need context, not just numbers - Big numbers are great, but mobile users need to quickly understand what those numbers mean for their business.
Interactive elements increase engagement - But keep them simple. Taps to reveal more info work well, but complex interactions can backfire on mobile.
Multiple CTAs aren't spam if they're contextual - Match the call-to-action to where the user is in their evaluation process.
Loading speed matters more on mobile - Compress images aggressively and avoid heavy elements that slow down the experience.
When this approach works best: B2B services, agencies, consultants, and any business where case studies are part of the evaluation process. It's especially effective for prospects who research on mobile but convert on desktop.
When it doesn't work: Extremely technical B2B sales where prospects need comprehensive details upfront, or industries where mobile usage is genuinely low.
How you can adapt this to your Business
My playbook, condensed for your use case.
For your SaaS / Startup
For SaaS startups looking to implement mobile-friendly case studies:
Lead with usage metrics (MAU growth, churn reduction, feature adoption)
Show before/after screenshots of key workflows
Include trial-to-paid conversion rates as social proof
Link to optimized trial signup pages
For your Ecommerce store
For ecommerce stores showcasing successful campaigns:
Highlight revenue increases and ROAS improvements prominently
Show mobile product page optimization results
Include conversion rate improvements at each funnel stage
Reference conversion optimization tactics