That’s the question being asked as more and more businesses are investing in increasing amounts of social media marketing. Personal recommendations and customer opinions are more effective than any other form of marketing. According to a report by Nielsen, 92% of consumers trust recommendations from people they know, and 70% trust opinions posted online. Show an online banner ad though, and only 33% trust its information. Statistics like these explain why social media marketing is a must. If your brand is talked about positively online, the benefits are obvious. The infographic below, by MDG, helps to clear up the confusion by outlining the objectives, benefits and factors that affect the success of social media marketing.