New data: How do B2B marketing leaders START their vendor search in 2025?
"I don't even check Google first anymore..."
That's what 72% of B2B software buyers told us in our latest survey. They're starting their vendor search somewhere else entirely.
We surveyed 100 B2B SaaS CMOs and VPs of marketing (from $50M to $1B+ companies) about how they discover new software in 2025.
Here's where they start their search:
1. "Dark social" dominates (72%). The journey typically starts in private communities BEFORE moving to public sources.
Marketing leaders overwhelmingly turn to peer networks on private Slack channels, WhatsApp groups, and professional communities first.
• 45% start in spaces like Pavilion, CMO Coffee Talk and Exit Five
• 27% text trusted peers directly
"My WhatsApp group of CMOs is my first stop"
2. Google's new role (51%). Still important, but no longer the automatic first stop.
Some certainly start by googling the category (9%), but most buyers use it to validate what they heard from peers.
"I use Google, but only after asking my network"
3. The trust triangle
Most buyers use a three-pronged approach to start their search. They start with peer recommendations, and then 54% use review sites (G2 dominates) and 35% Google.
“I would start within the dark network of the Pavilion community and ask for recommendations. I would then go to G2 directly. Then search by product name or category on LinkedIn.”
Most check G2 to validate what they heard in private communities.
4. The AI Shift.
ChatGPT and Perplexity are now common starting points for vendor discovery (24%). Leaders use AI to get quick market overviews and initial vendor comparisons.
"I ask AI to map the market before I even look at vendors"
6. LinkedIn's role is not what you’d think.
19% turn to it, but they're not looking at ads. What they are doing is
• checking personal connections who work at vendor companies
• searching for organic posts from actual users mentioning the brand
Of course, organic content on LinkedIn is informing people's starter sets: "I'm probably already starting with some base knowledge of the product/space based on my LinkedIn or podcast content"
7. Forrester and Gartner still get action. 17% start with analyst reports - and not just companies with over 1000 employees.
8. Reddit Rising.
12% cited Reddit as a trusted source for unfiltered vendor feedback. Several leaders mentioned they trust Reddit reviews more than traditional review sites.
"Reddit reviews are more honest than G2"
Key takeaway: 84% of buyers use multiple channels in parallel.
Here's what most vendors keep missing: The FIRST touch almost always happens in private communities, not through marketing.
Think about it: your perfect customer is discussing vendors in your space in a Slack channel you can't access. What’s your play here?
The million dollar question: If most buying journeys start in private communities, should we rethink traditional demand gen?
https://www.linkedin.com/posts/peeplaja_new-data-how-do-b2b-marketing-leaders-start-activity-7287449766366478336-PzZ7