Fascinating research from RainToday.com and Hubspot about how buyers find experts points to one common denominator:  prominent brands work.  According to 200 buyers (who represent over $1.7B in professional service purchases), the top get-in-the-door tactic is also the world’s oldest:  referral from colleagues.  Other highlights:

• Personal recognition and awareness (that’s branding, people) comes in at a close third at 73%.
• In-person seminars (66%) slightly beat out industry presentations (62%).
• Internet search was ninth at 55%.
• Rounding out the top ten:  industry web site or story.

Moral of the story:  good ol’ fashioned reputation trumps Internet activities every time.  Here’s the link if you like bar graphs.

Tags: branding, Marketing, strategy, Vickie Sullivan

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