The further on you read, you'll begin to understand that for the small home based business today, it's not so important how hard you fight to stay afloat, as it is how smart you fight to stay afloat.

The fact of the matter is smart business management is a vital component in the struggle to remain buoyant.

I find that a crucial aspect of my small home based business is targeted customer service. It involves doing the things that make a difference for my targeted customers.

Managing my time efficiently so that they benefit the most from my efforts. Always fine tuning the strong points of my small home based business for customer satisfaction.

I am cognizant of the fact that staying afloat in turbulent internet seas will hinge on my ability to know who my targeted customer is, and the feedback I can get from that customer.

Do you know who your customer is?

Sounds like an obvious question doesn't it? This question should have been tackled somewhere along the way when you initially set up your small home based business.

I'm not saying that this question should have been fully answered before you began your small home based business. I really don't believe that's possible because of the dynamic nature of business as a whole.

However, in most cases this question begins to get more fully answered after you're well submerged in your business.

Indeed, should you feel that you have fully answered this question, try this one on for size.

If you have many streams of product or services bringing in steady revenue for your small home based business, take some time out, study one particular product. Look at that product long and hard from every conceivable angle.

Dissect it, bisect it, and pull it apart. Find out for yourself who your customers are that purchase this product. Target them. Identify them. When every aspect of this product is laid bare, ask yourself these two valuable questions.

1. I know that I have a good handle on who my customer base is, but can I extend my reach to embrace other kinds of customers?

2. This next question is so simple, yet so valuable. The flipside of question number one. Am I ignoring different categories of customers?

Only you can honestly answer these questions, since only you know your particular small home based business inside out.

How do you know if what you sell is considered of value to your customers?

I bet that most, if not all small home based business owners feel confident that they can answer this one. Simple. Give them quality!

Make sure that quality permeates your product (had better).

When a customer decides to purchase your product, they satisfy a want. The customer for all intents and purposes, purchases value.

Allow me to explain. My teenage son doesn't wear just any old sneaker. Oh no! It has to be a teen fashion statement sneaker. For my teenage son, that's where the value is. He doesn't care what the sneaker costs. Quality isn't high on his agenda either.

When considering my older son, he's a bit different. Especially now, he considers himself more mature. My older son has moved beyond teen fashion.

He now looks for quality, good price, a decent fit, you see where I'm going. That teen sneaker holds absolutely no value to him.

But how would you know that as the business owner? Would you guess that? A bit risky wouldn't you think?

No, you must ask! Yes, get feedback from your customers. Feel them out. Ask them questions?

Do you know whether you're delivering value? If you don't, you should. After all, they are your customers.