pre_text: Sales and Marketing Expenses Sales and marketing expenses increased $105 million, or 36%, in 2019 compared to 2018. The overall increase was primarily due to increased employee compensation-related costs, including
  amortization of capitalized commissions, of $72 million, driven by headcount growth, and an increase in marketing program costs of $8 million. The increase in marketing program costs was driven by increased volume of advertising activities. Further contributing to the overall increase was an increase in allocated shared costs of $14 million. Sales and marketing expenses increased $80 million, or 38%, in 2018 compared to 2017. The overall increase was primarily due to increased employee compensation-related costs, including amortization of capitalized commissions, of $55 million, driven by headcount growth, and an increase in marketing program costs of $10 million. The increase in marketing program costs was driven by increased volume of advertising activities. Further contributing to the overall increase was an increase in allocated shared costs of $11 million.
table: Year Ended December 31,
table: 2019 2018 2017 2018 to 2019 % change 2017 to 2018 % change
table: (In thousands, except percentages)
table: Sales and Marketing $ 396,514 $ 291,668 $ 211,918 36% 38%
question: Analyse this data from a financial earnings document. What was the increase in sales and marketing expenses from 2017 to 2019?