Social media’s popularity has exploded over the past decade—with billions of people worldwide actively using social media. Platforms like Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube have transformed how we communicate with others and interact with brands. This new landscape has created a “gold rush” for businesses to reach new customers and engage with them directly. On the other hand, social media can feel like the “Wild West,” with no clear rules—and thousands of competitors duking it out to stake their market claim. In this lesson, you’ll get an overview of the fundamentals, including what social media marketing is, why it’s profitable, best practices, and need-to-know channels.