Tired of long, unrewarding hours in the office? Wanting to work only on projects you like? It’s not too late to begin your freelance career! In Hong Kong, UX/UI talents are quite in demand and most freelance online platforms have many UX/UI job postings available. Below are a few popular platforms where you can look for projects on:
Although based in the US, Upwork is a global freelancing site that Hong Kong citizens also have access to. It offers multiple job categories, within which includes UX/UI design. As a freelancer, you can choose to sell your service on the platform, or choose a suitable job posted by a client.
It is easy to use Upwork even as a budding freelancer. All you need to do is set up a profile, list your skills, set your hours and prices and you’ll be able to start working! What’s more, this entire process is free. Upwork only starts charging you after you have successfully landed a job, at a rate which decreases the more jobs you do for each client.
Similar to Upwork, Fiverr also provides multiple categories with a focus on web design and development, social media and digital marketing. Freelancers sell ‘gigs’/services and wait for orders from buyers. Once a transaction is complete, the platform takes 20% as a commission fee and sends the rest over to your account, so there is no need to worry about late or missing payments.
There are also courses on Fiverr to help out new freelancers or freelancers looking to expand their skill sets. Although not all are free, these courses are very helpful and may help you attract new clients.
HelloToby is one of the biggest local freelance platforms in Hong Kong. It offers a very vast selection of job categories, many of which tailored to local needs, so a little searching is needed on the website before you can find UX/UI job postings.
HelloToby uses a digital currency system, where you can exchange earned credits with HKD. All actions on the platform, including commission fee deduction, job posting viewing etc. use credits. A downside about this system is that it requires you to first invest some money into buying credits before you can begin any job, which may lead to a loss if you don’t manage to land a few jobs on the platform.
What else should you know as a UX/UI freelancer?
1. Build a promising portfolio
This is very important as your portfolio can make or break a potential deal. No matter how good your skills are, you still need solid evidence to back them up. For this reason, it is best to start freelancing after you have accumulated a few years’ experience working at companies and handling some projects.
If you are a fresh graduate with minimal experience, it will be much more difficult to obtain your desired UX/UI projects. If you are determined to walk down the freelancing path, make sure to accept as many jobs as possible in the initial stage–those that are beneficial to showcasing your talents–regardless of payment.
2. Try creating your own website/app
Many successful UX/UI designers create their own website/app (such as this one by a Hong Kong UX/UI designer) to make them more visible than their competitors. Not only does this offer an alternative channel to get new projects, but if you link the website/app to your social media and freelancer profile, this also shows off what you are capable of to potential buyers of your service.
If you invest quality content with multiple backlinks to popular websites in your website/app, this may boost your Search Engine Optimization (SEO), further making it easier for potential clients to seek you out.
3. Advertise yourself on social media
Solely relying on your freelance platform profile is not enough. Make sure to advertise yourself, showcase your projects and solid experience on popular social media platforms as well. Instagram, LinkedIn, Behance are just the bare minimum. The more exposure you get, the higher your chances at success.
Want more tips about being a UX/UI designer?
