As more newspapers struggle to keep in print, like the Capital Times here in Madison, readers, job seekers, and house hunters will continue to turn to online sources to find what they’re looking for.

The reverse, however, is also true. Just as you try to find work, there are ways to make your work more attractive to potential buyers by inserting keywords relevant to the market you’re targeting. If you think about it, the idea of using keywords to highlight your resume, query letters, writer’s submissions or portfolio is nothing new. Human resource departments have been filtering out resumes, comparing it to keywords within their classified ad for years. Many writers, though, make the mistake of offering one version of their resume in multiple places, believing that it’s enough.

Earlier I pointed out, that one of the biggest challenges as a writer is whether or not to diversify. By modifying your resume, using keywords found within similar ads or markets, you can navigate the waters of online job markets to find work by turning the tables on prospects so you can appropriate address your market.