You know it’s going to take a marketing push to meet your sales goals this year and increase them. But your budget is tight and you’ll need to use your imagination to make it. Where to start?

For many business owners, marketing doesn’t come naturally. They lurch from one tactic to another without a clear idea in their mind whether the efforts are going to pay off in higher sales.

If that description sounds familiar, here are some time-tested, low-cost techniques to improve your marketing and help you reach your goals.

1. Conduct a survey

2. Pamper your existing customers

3. Commit to online marketing

4. Use all your real estate

5. Work at public relations

6. Turn employees into ambassadors

7. Give back