Each of these 8 marketing tips reveals a proven low-cost marketing tactic many other small businesses have used to boost their sales and profits. Integrate them into your marketing program now and you'll quickly start enjoying the same results too.

1. Don't Just Sell Benefits
Don't just tell prospects what they gain when they buy your product or service. Tell them what they lose if they do not buy it. Most people fear loss more than they desire gain. Customers want your product or service to enjoy the benefits it provides.  They will want it, even more, when you remind them of what they lose by not buying it.

2. Use Pleasant Surprises to Close Sales
An unpleasant surprise can kill a sale. But a pleasant surprise can help close a sale. For example, adding an unexpected bonus immediately before your prospect takes the last action to complete a sale will eliminate any last-minute hesitation.

3. Provide Fast Delivery - Even When You Can't
The faster you can deliver your product or service the more sales you will get.  If you cannot deliver all or part of your product immediately, add something to the purchase that you CAN deliver immediately. It could be as simple as a series of  helpful tips related to your product posted on your web site ....available only to new customer

4. Make Buying Easier
Every non-essential action in the buying process is an opportunity for customers to reverse their decision to buy. Look for ways you can make your buying procedure easier and faster.  For example, many marketers use a multi-step shopping cart to get online orders when a  simple online order form would do the job with just 1 or 2 quick clicks.

5. Improve Your Offers without Lowering Your Price
You don't have to reduce your price to improve your offer. Instead, simply load it up with bonuses.  Make sure your bonuses have a high perceived value to your customers ...even if they cost you little or nothing.

6. Keep Your Advertising Up to Date
If you never make any changes in your advertising, your sales will eventually decline.  Don't abandon advertising that's working - but do keep trying to improve it.  And regularly test new advertising to see how it works for you.

7. Outsmart Your Competitors with Alternative Marketing
Look for some alternative marketing methods your competitors are overlooking.  That's how one internet marketer discovered direct mail postcards. They proved to be a highly effective and very low-cost way to generate traffic to her website...while concealing her marketing activity from competitors.

8. Neutralize Customer Complaints Quickly
Handle customer complaints quickly and with a positive attitude. Strive to preserve your relationship with the customer instead of your immediate profit from them. They will reward you with repeat sales and referrals instead of punishing you by telling everybody they know about their unhappy experience ...causing you to lose future customers.

By Bob Leduc