Social media platforms have seen explosive success throughout the passed few years. Networks such as Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Google+ (and many more) can be overwhelming when you really think about it, but they can also do wonders for your social media marketing campaign!

Almost everyone is online, and let's face it, most internet users act like social media is their life. From toddlers to adults, social media can provide companies with a large target audience. And, since the popularity of these social networking sites is constantly growing every day, small business, internet marketers, and even large corporations are beginning to understand the opportunities within this digital marketing space.

 Ready to inspire your company's next marketing campaign to incorporate social media? It's time you convince your CEO to increase sales through social interaction, and inbound marketing! Below are some statistics to get you on your way to a stellar presentation!

15 Social Media Marketing Stats You Need to Know.

1) 27% of total U.S. internet time is spent on social networking sites. (Source: Experian)

2) 15% of total U.S. mobile internet time is spent on social networking sites. (Source: Experian)

3) Social media produces almost double the marketing leads of trade shows, telemarketing, direct mail, or PPC. (Source: HubSpot)

4) Social media lead conversion rates are 13% higher than the average lead conversion rate. (Source: HubSpot)

5) 21% of marketers say that social media has become more important to their company over the past six months. (Source: HubSpot)

6) Companies that generate more than 1,000 Facebook Likes also receive nearly 1,400 website visits a day. (Source: HubSpot)

7) 52% of all marketers have found a customer via Facebook in 2013. (Source: HubSpot)

8) On Facebook, brand posts get half of their reach within 30 minutes of being posted. (Source: Socialbakers)

9) 85% of fans of brands on Facebook recommend brands to others, compared to 60% of average users. (Source: Syncapse)

10) 43% of all marketers have found a customer via LinkedIn in 2013. (Source: HubSpot)

11) 36% of all marketers have found a customer via Twitter in 2013. (Source: HubSpot)

12) 59% of Twitter users have visited B2B tech brand sites, compared to 40% for the average internet population. (Source: Compete and Twitter)

13) 25% of consumers who complain about products on Facebook or Twitter expect a response within 1 hour. (Source: American Express)

14) Women are more likely than men to regularly check out a brand's social page (48% vs. 43%). (Source: Ipsos)

15) Approximately 46% of online users count on social media when making a purchase decision. (Source: Nielsen)