This report represents the first in a series of quarterly technology marketing surveys to TechTarget's IT Research Panel. The intent of this report is to establish a benchmark of the buying priorities and media consumption trends of information technology professionals as of Q1 2007 so to monitor any changes over the course of time.

This first report shows an unexpected tendency in technology buying research toward software downloads as the top online media type used by technology professionals - coupled with high usage and effectiveness rankings for attending live conferences.

These preferences, along with other media content consumption trends, suggest that the internet is creating even more opportunities for technology buyers to evaluate solutions online in order to recommend vendor preferences faster to their buying teams prior to initial vendor contact.

Technology marketers will be able to rely on these reports as an ongoing source of information about the buying priorities of information technology professionals and their media consumption trends during the product research process.

Brought to you by TechTarget and the CMO Council