METM25 presentation

Choosing less-travelled paths to new clients and collaborations

Gabriela Kouahla, Saint-Étienne, France & Guelma, Algeria

Sometimes, choosing “different” roads in our work can open the door to exciting new opportunities. As a freelance translator and scientific proofreader working from English into French and Romanian, I decided a few years ago to expand my client base and start working with researchers from Mediterranean countries. This choice helped me grow professionally, improve my services, and see localisation in a whole new light, especially when it comes to research.

In this presentation, I’ll talk about the benefits and challenges of working with clients from markets we might not usually consider. That might be because we don’t know much about the country, think the market is too closed off, worry about currency issues, or feel unsure about cultural differences.

In 2018, I took the plunge and started offering my services to researchers in the Mediterranean region. I will explain how I introduced localised work procedures for each type of request, developed a new way of offering online language services, and demonstrated to clients and others that localisation can work in the world of research as well.

We’ll also look at how building long-term partnerships, relying on word of mouth, and offering customised solutions can help us succeed over time. I’ll include practical tips, like how to arrange advance payments and how to build strong, trusting relationships with clients.

This presentation is useful for freelancers and consultants who want to explore new markets and build lasting collaborations. Whether you’re just starting out or have years of experience, you’ll walk away with useful, real-world strategies you can apply to your own journey.
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About the presenter

Gabriela Kouahla is a certified bilingual translator, localiser, and scientific proofreader with a decade of experience and the only certified FR<>RO translator working on-site in North Africa. In 2022, Gabriela founded BEYOND WORDS LINGUISTIC SERVICES, Algeria’s first localisation agency for researchers. She is an advocate for cultural diversity and multilingualism.