Today’s B2B buyer’s journey involves more research, more internet searches, and more social media.

We’ve said it before: The B2B buying process has changed, and you need to adapt. The vast amount of information available on the internet has afforded buyers a level of self-sufficiency that renders traditional sales models moot. It drives the need for new strategies, like content marketing and social media marketing.  

How can supply chain and logistics businesses adjust to the new way of doing things? The latest B2B Buyer’s Survey offers insight into how B2B buyers are finding vendors, engaging with them, and — ultimately — deciding to work with one. Some of the statistics are very telling and give vendors a good idea about where they need to invest their time and money in order to get buyers’ attention

10 stats about the B2B buyer’s journey

1) Length of buying process

The B2B buying process is becoming longer and more complex because the majority of buyers (82%) are using more sources to research and evaluate products and services, and they are spending more time in the research phase itself.

2) Web search is first

62% of B2B buyers say that a web search was one of the first three resources they use to learn about a solution.

3) Online eventually

In fact, in a different study, 94% of buyers reported using online research at some point in the purchasing process.

4) Searching for what?

71% of B2B researchers start with a generic search — rather than searching for a particular company.

5) How many searches?

B2B researchers do an average of 12 searches before engaging with a specific brand’s site.

6) Self-sufficiency on the sales path

Buyers are 57% of the way down the sales path by the time they engage with a brand’s website, meaning they have already spent a fair amount of time educating themselves with the enormous amount of information available to them on the internet.

7) Social media plays a role

And content isn’t limited to your website: A vibrant social media presence helps buyers conduct their research. In fact, more than half (53%) of B2B buyers report turning to social media to make buying decisions.

8) (More than ever)

What’s more, more than a third (34%) say they are spending more time this year than last using social media to research vendors and solutions.

9) LinkedIn is B2B’s network of choice

LinkedIn is reportedly the most impactful to the research process. 81% of respondents said it was very important or somewhat important.

10) But don’t discount video

And, believe it or not, video sites like YouTube and Vimeo are playing an increasingly important role in the B2B buyer’s journey, with 60% of respondents ranking them very important or somewhat important.

Related posts:

• A Web Search is a B2B Buyer’s First Move in the Purchase Process
• Most B2B Buyers Use Social Media in Their Research
• Why 88% of B2B Marketers Use Social Media
• Adapting B2B Sales for the Information Age