Portfolio

Did you know I also write? If that’s more your thing, jump to my writing samples ⬇️

Editing & Content strategy

Tax and identification numbers in Belgium

If you’re going to pay taxes in Belgium, you’d better get a tax ID number. I edited this article: fact-checking the content, ensuring it adhered to the style guide, sourcing appropriate images, and making it accessible to a non-specialist audience. I’m sharing it here as an example of my attention to detail, ability to simplify bureaucratic processes, and experience in editing for an international audience.

Renting in Thailand

Producing content is a collaboration. At Expatica we worked with numerous talented freelance writers to create our practical guides, including Renting in Thailand. During the editorial process, I worked closely with the writer to incorporate their local expertise while providing tactful feedback. This resulted in a helpful resource that meets our audience’s needs.

Where to get the news in the UAE

News and media are a sensitive topic in the UAE. I edited this guide to keeping up with current affairs, working with a writer who provided valuable local insight. Together, we shaped the article to provide readers with practical, accurate information while being mindful of political sensitivities. This piece demonstrates my ability to work on topics with cultural and political nuances.

Sentimental Journal – Editing

From 2021 to 2023, I edited Sentimental Journal, a high-end print art magazine focussing on cultural heritage. I worked with numerous freelance writers, providing editorial feedback, maintaining professional relationships, and polishing articles to meet our standards. I also established a style guide for contributors. This role combined concept development, article planning, detailed editing, translation from Dutch and French to English, and final proofs.

European Platform for Democratic Elections (EPDE) – Proofreading press releases

Even translators need an editor sometimes. I proofread and edited English-language press releases for the European Platform for Democratic Elections (EPDE). These texts were translated from Ukrainian and required extensive rewrites while retaining their original meanings. My work ensured the news stories were accessible to an international audience.

Copywriting and Content writing

The minimum wage and average salary in Portugal

How much would you earn in Portugal? This article explains what internationals might earn if they move there. It covers the minimum wage, average income, and even the best-paying jobs in the country. I researched the topic and wrote and published the article, targeting SEO KPIs and making a complex topic accessible to an international audience.

Funny Dutch words

As if the Dutch language weren’t hilarious enough, I wrote this article on ‘Funny Dutch words.’ I combined my personal knowledge and experience of the Dutch language with thorough research to create a light-hearted post about language learning. This article balances humour, SEO, and cultural insight, and increased engagement on social media.

Healthcare and health insurance for seniors in France

This article represents a collaboration between Expatica’s editorial and sales teams and external stakeholders. Our client requested an article about senior healthcare across multiple countries. Once we had our first article, Senior healthcare in Spain, I reverse-engineered a structured template. This was used for articles on other countries, including this one about France. These articles targeted SEO goals, reached a niche audience of older expats, and provided our client with leads.

Income tax in Belgium

Taxes: inevitable and, usually, pretty boring. Furthermore, our tax articles were overlapping significantly, especially “Tax system” and “Income tax.” So I rewrote the templates for these two topics, turning “Tax system” into an overview and “Income tax” into a step-by-step guide. I also simplified the language, making a complex subject slightly more engaging. Separating these two topics decreased keyword cannibalisation and matched user intent more clearly.

Lossi 36 – Newsletter contributions

I regularly wrote short texts for this weekly newsletter covering Central and Eastern Europe, the Caucasus, and Central Asia. This involved researching the latest developments and pressing stories in the region presenting them clearly and concisely for our readers. I covered stories from Armenia, Azerbaijan, Georgia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan. This shows my ability to write about fast-moving, politically sensitive subjects, summarise complex stories, apply a style guide, and work to tight deadlines.

NOTE: to read some of my contributions, contact me: sarah@sarahlfairman.com

Sentimental Journal – Multiple articles, including The Penguin Post Office

Is there anything more adorable than a post office surrounded by penguins? Nope. I wrote The Penguin Post Office for Sentimental Journal’s fifth issue, Correspondence. This article explores one of Earth’s most extreme settings, Antarctica, through a profile of the world’s southernmost post office. It combines history, politics, conservation, and personal stories. This piece showcases my storytelling abilities and love of planet Earth, its people, and its creatures.

NOTE: This piece is print-only; if you’d like to read it or any of my other articles for Sentimental Journal, get in touch: sarah@sarahlfairman.com.

The Calvert Journal (New East Digital Archive) – Whose palace? The opulence and intrigue of 4 mega-mansions

In 2021, I wrote this listicle for The Calvert Journal (now New East Digital Archive). It took inspiration from the uproar over Vladimir Putin’s gigantic palace following an investigation by Alexei Navalny’s Anti-Corruption Foundation. This article drew on (post-)Soviet political history and cultural insight to show how controversial palaces can be used as propaganda and personal monuments. It combined my expertise in Eastern European and Central Asian politics with a healthy dose of humour.