We asked you all to share your favorite things of 2016 with us—favorite book, Netflix series, podcast and more. The following are submissions from our readers, clients, team members and SpinRadio listeners. Thanks for sending us your recommendations and we wish you all a happy and successful new year in 2017! Climb mountains.

Lead generation starts with a good definition. Sales and marketing have to work together to agree on an important question: what is a lead? 

But what if one or both parties are working from an outdated definition of a lead? That could spell trouble and missed opportunities.

Our Website Self-Audit Kit continues to be the most popular resource on our website. We've updated this related blog post (originally publishing in 2015) with current tips and best practices.

'Tis the season for reflection on the old year, and anticipation of the new. For many of us marketers, it's a good time to take stock of our website and marketing programs to see what's working and what needs sprucing up. If you're thinking of a new website project or engagement, the best way to convince your leadership for extra dollars is to do a thorough audit and analysis. 

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You've probably heard that Search Engine Optimization, or SEO, is the secret to increasing traffic to your website. While SEO is a necessary practice, it's certainly not the only game in town.  

Imagine your favorite corner cafe (or if you're like project manager Heather Lyon, the nearest Starbucks). What draws you back to that place? Is it a cozy atmosphere, amazing food or coffee, a rewards program, a good deal, the people ... or all of the above? Your website, blog, email and social media strategies can create an experience that brings first-time visitors coming back for more. But how do you create that kind of environment for your audience? You have to do more than just knowing the right keywords.

We're huge fans of automating our processes. Automation allows us the time to do more cool stuff, like create videos, podcasts, or live chats, and it makes it easier to do our day-to-day business as well. So, with this in mind, Michael, Abby, and Allison shared some of their favorite tools that help boost performance  in marketing and sales on a recent episode of SpinRadio. Here's a breakdown of the tools that could be game changers for you in 2017.

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You know that LinkedIn is a great way to generate and foster professional connections with others in your industry, but have you put much thought into your company's LinkedIn page?

Obviously, you want to put your best foot forward when you're representing your organization, and ensuring that your images are sized properly will lend an air of polish to your Company Page. If you're not sure which image sizes are considered standard, that's okay— we're here to help.

If you feel a sense of dread at the thought of redesigning your website, we get it. The prospect of making huge changes is overwhelming at best, no matter how prepared you think you might be. Let's look at the latest trend in website development—hopefully we can show you that it doesn't have to be terrifying to make (possibly long-overdue) changes to your organization's website. 

As the year comes to a close, many marketers find themselves reassessing their strategies. What worked? What didn't? And what can I add to the mix to improve things in the coming year? 

While we're big fans of innovation, you don't need to completely scrap everything you're doing to make space for the new. By following these steps, you can add new and innovative tactics to your current winning strategy, without sacrificing what is working.

If you're sitting around today, feeling stuffed with turkey and mashed potatoes, the last thing on your mind might be getting into shape. That's OK, because today we're talking about getting your head in the game. (There will be no mention of pushups or burpees.)

So relax, watch a football game, read this post and perhaps ponder the lessons that sports psychology can offer to everyday Joes like us.

In the not too distant past, having someone sponsor your event meant they contributed funds and, in return, you put their logo on your marketing material. Perhaps you might put a flashy web banner on your website—Thanks to our Gold Level Sponsor, Acme Corp!