RainToday’s 2009 Benchmark Report, How Clients Buy, is full of great statistics, data and reliable information. HubSpot just published a chart excerpted from this report, “Top 10 Ways Buyers Find Service Providers.”

I thought it was important to share it with you.

Why? Well…because you’re a service provider. And because you’ve told me marketing, or the lack thereof, is #4 on your list of top 5 copywriter challenges…which makes it important to all of us.

In our quest to find more work, find better quality work, set pricing, and manage our time (the other 4 top challenges) it makes sense to understand how people seek products and services, and how these patterns affect your own marketing plans.

You do have a plan, right?

Here’s the chart:

I’m surprised that ‘website’ and ‘Internet search’ nearly fell into the bottom half. Does that surprise you too?

But wait! Check out #1: “Referrals from colleagues.”

Wow. The more things change, the more they stay the same!

Just one more reason why ‘staying connected’, be it thru social media networks, in-person meetings, phone calls, or the good ol’ postal mail, is more important than ever.

Of course, social networks are all the rage…including the network I founded exclusively for copywriters, The Copywriters Business Network. More pop up every day.

Regardless, it pays to stay in touch.

What surprises you about these findings? How will you integrate these findings into your own marketing? Does it seem websites are becoming less important as a marketing tool, or is it just that there are so many other choices these day?