Social media has evolved significantly from early platforms like Facebook and Twitter. It is now a major part of business strategy, allowing two-way engagement between companies and customers. While some initially saw social media as a waste of time, most now recognize it as important for branding, marketing, customer service and sales. Measuring return on investment can include metrics like increased traffic, engagement, leads and sales. Managing social media also requires monitoring tools and a strategy to integrate it with other channels like email.