Pay attention to what's going on around you. Buy a composition notebook and use it to jot down your observations. When you're the customer, pay attention to what works and what doesn't work.

When it comes to selling tips the world is indeed your oyster, just make sure you know how to open it.

Here are three selling tips you can use to increase your sales:

Tip # 1 - Here is a fabulous definition of marketing -"Marketing is all the activities you do, big and small, to attract and retain customers."

Here's the sales tip for you. Don't leave marketing, in your territory, exclusively to your corporate marketing department.

I believe a sales person should be the chief marketing officer for his/her sales territory. Keep a file of ideas that are working for other businesses. You don't have to invent anything. There are marketing ideas you can use all over the place.

If you really have an open mind you can find ideas every day in the Sports and Business section of almost every daily newspaper. But your mind has to be open.

Try it!

Tip # 2 - Too many salespeople make commitments to their customers that they can't keep.

Nothing burns a customer more quickly than a broken promise. Don't make promises you can't keep 100% of the time.

Here's an easy way to remember this:

Be slow to commit and quick to deliver.

Tip # 3 - Schedule your priorities instead of prioritizing your schedule. Read that line again. and let it soak in.

Time is money! You'll make better use of your time after you read, "57 Ways To Take Control Of Your Time And Your Life."

Keep two lists. One is the long view and the other is the short view. The short view is what you should be doing today.

These lists should be in writing. If you are creating these lists with an electronic planner, be sure to print it, so you can see it and refer to it often throughout the day.

This will keep you focused and will also minimize the distractions.

There you go, three sales tips you can use to improve your sales productivity.