Each individual is different so I can't really say what the best advice is for everyone. However here are some I recommend
=====No Annual Fee cards=====
1) I think having 5% rotating category cards are good so below are my 2 picks
-Chase Freedom (for 5% rotating categories)
-Discover IT (for 5% rotating categories)
*There are also other 5% rotating category credit cards so look them up, but these 2 are the most popular
2) If you have a Costco membership then the Costco Citi is a great card, which others have already mentioned the perks. Technically it's a no annual fee card, but you have to be a Costco member. Sams Club credit card is also similar.
3) Higher than 1% everyday card for purchases that fit in no category that can get you > 2% rewards
-Citi Double Cash (2%)
-Chase Freedom Unlimited (1.5%)
*Even though the Freedome Unlimited is only 1.5%, you get ultimate reward (UR) points, which tend to be valued much higher than 1 cent per point. It also usually has a bonus CB if you meet spending requirements. So depends on your value it may be better than 2% cash back cards. Also note there are other 2% CB card these days just research yourself.
4) Other credit cards for your own personal needs. There are tons of other good no annual fee credit cards if you want to optimize CB, so it's up to you to know what is important to you. Target credit card is an example or Chase Ink Business Cash, which has a $300 bonus (if you meet spending requirements) and 5% CB on internet/cablephoe
=====Credit Cards with Fees=====
1) Churning credit cards is an easy way to get basically free money from sign-on bonuses.
-Probably the best one in 2017 was the Chase Sapphire Reserved when they were giving the 100,000 bonus points, $300 travel credit amongst other things. It's still decent with the 50,000 bonus points, but not nearly as strong with it's $450 annual fee. Also shopping in the UR portal gives your points 1.5x value and can transfer 1:1 to tons of other partners. I actually booked 3 seats nonstop from California to Japan to Hong Kong back to California for less than 150,000 UR points. The cheapest I could find cash was ~$2500 total. I decided to keep this card another year since I travel a lot and for me is worth the $150 ($450 minus $300 travel credit) annual fee another year.
-Chase Sapphire Preferred (50,000 bonus), Chase Ink Business Preferred (80,000 bonus) are also 2 other good cards to churn in the UR family.
-Another good one for California residents that travel a lot with pairs or more is the Southwest Credit Card that they are giving 40,000 bonus points an a free companion pass for a year.
-There are other good ones so do your research
2) There are credit cards with fees that may work for you personally so you can decide by your research.
That's it for now. I'm not going into Manufactured Spending (MS) since that is not my forte and I have no idea what people are doing as of current.