Reimagining ClearVoice
From Startup to $20M Acquisition
When ClearVoice co-founders and CEOs Joe Griffin and Jay Swansson hired me, they weren’t just looking for incremental growth — they were open to transformative change. Their willingness to evolve the company paved the way for me to overhaul ClearVoice’s brand and content strategy from the ground up. Their forward-thinking leadership allowed us to reposition ClearVoice as a major industry player in the content creation and talent space, proving that real success comes from both vision and adaptability.
As I embarked on this journey, I was mindful of the balance between innovation and strategic execution, while elevating the strides ClearVoice had already made with product and talent. The goal wasn’t just to create more content but to make every touchpoint — every word, design, and interaction — part of a cohesive, scalable growth strategy that was more mindful of both content talent and marketing clients.
Aspire.
Reinvent ClearVoice to Realize Its True Potential
When I joined ClearVoice, a content creation and talent management SaaS startup, the brand was struggling to differentiate itself. The first impression was generic, and its messaging focused too much on the “what” rather than the “how” and “why.” The platform’s self-service model limited its growth potential, and the lack of strategic content, branding, and SEO made it difficult to stand out in a competitive market.
ClearVoice had the right mission, but the vision lacked clarity. Without a cohesive brand identity, engaging design, or a compelling content strategy, the company wasn’t maximizing its potential. The challenge was to elevate ClearVoice from an underdeveloped platform into an established, trusted brand that could scale exponentially and attract major acquisition interest.
Act.
Transform the Brand, Content, and Strategy
To address these challenges, I led a comprehensive transformation that spanned branding, content strategy, user experience, and operational improvements. My goal was to not only make ClearVoice a recognizable and respected brand but also to establish a structured, scalable foundation for its future growth. Through strategic decision-making and creative execution, we reshaped the company’s identity and performance.
Elevating the Brand and Messaging
To make ClearVoice more compelling, I repositioned the brand to be an established, trustworthy authority in content marketing. This involved developing original branding concepts, clarifying the company’s vision, and shifting the messaging from a focus on “what” the platform did to “how” and “why” it mattered to users. By framing ClearVoice as an innovative leader in freelance collaboration, we built stronger connections with potential customers and freelance talent.
Enhancing the User Experience and Engagement
I collaborated with colleagues to rework the website’s design to be more inviting, using a friendlier color palette, and standardizing call-to-action buttons for consistency and clarity. This made it easier for users to take immediate action rather than get lost in unnecessary steps. Additionally, I refined the conversion funnel, implementing consistent lead forms to ensure a seamless experience and better capture interested leads.
Expanding Offerings and Operational Strategy
Beyond aesthetics, I helped spearhead a shift from a self-service model to managed services, unlocking unlimited scale for customers who needed end-to-end content solutions. The introduction of “Teamlancing” reshaped how freelance teams collaborated, providing more structured and valuable opportunities within ClearVoice’s network, where freelance producers — not in-house editors — managed freelance writers, editors, and creatives. Furthermore, I launched 50+ public category pages for freelancers, making it easier for businesses to find the right talent while giving freelancers greater visibility.
A Data-Driven Content Strategy
I overhauled the blog strategy by creating a structured content framework centered around hubs and spokes, which ensured content was both strategic and interconnected. This, coupled with a meticulous SEO strategy, transformed ClearVoice’s visibility. I led the creation of 1,000+ high-quality posts, focusing on long-form content with a strong publishing cadence. I also restructured the core website, adding 60+ pages to support strategic growth and storytelling.
Achieve.
Realize Exceptional Growth
The results of these efforts were transformative. By rethinking ClearVoice’s brand, strategy, and operations, we saw exponential growth in traffic, engagement, and overall business success. These improvements not only positioned ClearVoice as a major industry player but also attracted the attention of a major acquirer, validating the impact of our strategic direction.
Organic Growth and Traffic Surge
By implementing a structured SEO strategy and expanding the website, organic search traffic soared from less than 10% to over 70% of total domain traffic. The blog saw an explosion in engagement, growing from ~4,000 to ~200,000 monthly visits. This shift solidified ClearVoice as a top content destination, while improving lead generation and reducing customer acquisition costs by more than 80%.
Industry Recognition and Thought Leadership
With this renewed content strategy, ClearVoice’s blog earned nominations from the Content Marketing Institute for “Best Multi-Author Blog” (2019) and “Best Blog Post” (2019, 2020). This recognition affirmed the effectiveness of our strategy and the impact of high-quality, intentional content.
Expansion of the Talent Network
The rebranding efforts and content strategy also fueled the expansion of ClearVoice’s freelance talent network, which grew to over 250,000 content professionals. By improving visibility and structuring categories, we made it easier for businesses to connect with top-tier freelance talent, reinforcing ClearVoice’s role as a leader in the content marketplace.
Acquisition by Fiverr: The Ultimate Validation
These sweeping improvements positioned ClearVoice as an attractive acquisition target, beating our top competitors in the space, including Contently and premiere agencies. In 2019, Fiverr (NYSE: FVRR) acquired ClearVoice for $20 million, recognizing the brand’s strategic evolution and market potential. As a testament to my contributions, I was named one of six key employees in the acquisition, validating the pivotal role I played in turning the company around.
Impact
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Acquisition by Fiverr (NYSE: FVRR)
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Monthly blog visits at peak, up from 4,500 monthly visits
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Increase in total domain traffic
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%
Increase in organic search traffic as % of total domain traffic, up from 10%
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+
Talent profiles of content professionals
Accolades
You helped me believe we could do it and do it in a better way. We made that pivot from project management to freelancer first in large part due to your vision. You made a huge difference at ClearVoice and helped so many people! I’m the grateful one.
Jay Swansson, Co-founder, CEO | ClearVoice
Justin is one of the rare exceptional human beings that makes everyone around him better. For several years I saw first-hand how he helps elevate the brand and his team simultaneously… There’s no fear-based tactics, ego, fake persona or power trip either. Justin is a genuinely good-hearted, mindful and thoughtful person who routinely proves that success is not a solo sport; big-time results come from authenticity.
Ethan DeYoung, VP Marketing | ClearVoice
You were the catalyst to turn the company around.
Jeff Nappi, VP Engineering | ClearVoice
Content Marketing Institute Awards, “Best Multi-Author Blog” (2019), “Best Blog Post” (2019), “Best Blog Post” (2020)