April 9, 2024
Editorial Guidelines
Experts in this article:
Jane has completed close to 100 projects on ClearVoice (on which she's earned over $7,300), as well as over 560 projects on...
Jane has completed close to 100 projects on ClearVoice (on which she's earned over $7,300), as well as over 560 projects on...
As far as freelancing platforms go, ClearVoice is one of the better options out there. Work isn’t as plentiful on the site as you might like, but the jobs that it does feature tend to be of a fairly high quality, with decent pay and relatively engaged and communicative clients.
In this review, we’ll go over how to apply to ClearVoice, what you can expect from it, and what its pros and cons are so that you can decide whether or not it’s a good fit for you.
ClearVoice is a content writing platform, sometimes referred to as a “content mill.” In other words, it’s a website that connects freelance writers with clients who need their services.
ClearVoice calls its roster of freelancers its “Talent Network.” In October 2023, ClearVoice claimed that it was used by more than 4,000 writers who specialized in creating content for 200+ industries. 1
ClearVoice touts itself as offering the best of both worlds for clients who can’t decide between hiring a content agency and seeking out freelancers on their own. The platform vets all of its writers and matches clients with suitable freelancers, but once a client officially hires someone, ClearVoice’s editors step away and let both parties handle things from there.
ClearVoice’s platform features the following projects:
While there’s work on ClearVoice for writers specializing in all of those areas, the bulk of its clients are looking for web content: articles, SEO blog posts, and website copy. You’ll also see requests for press releases and landing pages. Other types of content are relatively niche and don’t crop up as frequently.
ClearVoice will pay you on a per-word basis. You can set your own rates—the platform won’t lock you into a particular price range. You won’t be considered for projects paying under your minimum.
ClearVoice’s top writers can earn $0.20 to $0.50 per word or more. However, the average is lower; realistically, you can expect to earn closer to $0.10 per word.
$0.10 per word is a respectable rate, although not a spectacular one. For context, it’s close to the entry-level rate recommended by the Editorial Freelancers Association. 2 At that price point, you can realistically earn $50 to $100 per hour, depending on the amount of research required for your assignments and your writing (and typing) speed.
On ClearVoice, you generally won’t find bottom-feeder clients paying just $0.03 or $0.04 per word, which is a significant problem on some other content mills. ClearVoice clients generally expect a higher quality of work and are willing to pay for it.
The rate you can command on ClearVoice depends on several factors, the most critical of which is your area of expertise. These top industries on the platform are:
As you’d expect, your experience is also an important factor. If you’re a newer freelancer without much in the way of published work, you should consider starting out with a lower rate.
Clients can view your rating (a score based on your past feedback) and the number of assignments you’ve completed on the platform. You can—and should—increase your rates as you gain experience.
Note that when you set your rates, you’ll also indicate whether you’re available for part-time or full-time work. Clients will see this when they hire you, and it may affect how much work they send your way.
Although ClearVoice’s rates are decent, they’re not the highest out there. In particular, they aren’t quite as high as the rates on Contently (which is one of the most popular freelance writing platforms and one of ClearVoice’s main competitors).
That’s because Contently focuses on writers whose work has appeared in top-tier publications. If you aren’t on that level, you might never receive an assignment on the platform. In contrast, writers with an intermediate experience level can realistically find assignments on ClearVoice.
Put another way, ClearVoice isn’t the most lucrative freelance writing website to work for, but it’s a pretty good one. It’s a good stepping stone for freelancers who know their worth and aren’t willing to work for pennies but who haven’t quite broken into the big leagues yet.
ClearVoice will pay you via PayPal. When you create an account, you have to link your PayPal account to your profile. This step is mandatory.
Your payments on ClearVoice will always be disbursed within five days of a client approving an assignment. They will frequently arrive more quickly—often within 24 hours.
Like most of its competitors, ClearVoice will take a cut of your profits as a commission. It will take 25% of what you earn.
This is neither particularly high nor particularly low. For context, Upwork (a general-purpose freelance marketplace) takes just 10%, whereas WriterAccess, one of ClearVoice’s other competitors, takes a full 30%. (Read our review of WriterAccess to learn more about this.)
In contrast to some platforms, ClearVoice is upfront about its commissions. It factors its cut into the initial price of each project. In other words, the amount you see when reviewing opportunities will be your actual take-home pay. (That said, when you cash out, there’s a further 4% payment processing fee to cover PayPal and credit card fees.)
In some instances, it’s possible for a client to arrange to pay a writer through other channels rather than PayPal. This is an arrangement the client works out with ClearVoice, not something a writer may request.
If you’re considering signing up for ClearVoice as a freelancer, you’re probably wondering how much work is actually available on the platform.
This is an especially important question right now, given the effect that generative AI models (such as ChatGPT) have had on the freelance writing industry. The work on many content mills has largely dried up since early 2023, and several websites have shut their doors to freelancers entirely.
Unfortunately, ClearVoice is in a similar situation. While there’s still some work available, it’s considerably scarcer than it once was, and you may experience long waits between assignments. This doesn’t mean that the platform isn’t worth signing up for, but it does mean that it shouldn’t be your only writing platform (something that we’ll expand on later).
Unfortunately, finding work on ClearVoice can be particularly challenging if you’re just starting out. The exception is if you’re highly specialized and can write technical content in an in-demand field.
If you’re more of a generalist, you might have a better time starting out on an entry-level platform, such as WriterAccess, before working your way up to ClearVoice.
If you plan on making freelance writing your primary source of income rather than a side gig, don’t rely solely on ClearVoice.
Even before advanced AI burst onto the scene in 2023, freelance writing was a competitive industry, and work on the platform tended to ebb and flow, being plentiful for months at a time and then drying up unexpectedly.
This “feast or famine” effect has always been common on freelance writing websites—not just ClearVoice—and the spread of AI-generated content has only exacerbated it.
If you want to turn writing into a full-time gig, you’ll be more successful (and will probably sleep better at night) if you sign up on other popular freelance writing websites as well. That way, you won’t find yourself in trouble if work on ClearVoice dries up for an extended period.
As mentioned, ClearVoice doesn’t feature an open marketplace where you can apply to jobs that interest you. You have to wait for their editors to match you with jobs they think you’d be suited for.
When there’s work available, you’ll receive an email notification from ClearVoice. Opportunities are divided into four categories:
When you receive an opportunity via email, it will appear in your dashboard (the interface is shown below, although the screenshot doesn’t feature any current assignments). The opportunity will include a due date and word count, along with a brief description of the work you’ll be called upon to do.
When a client hires you for an assignment, you’ll be sent a brief for the project. This will explain:
The brief will also include any pertinent reference materials, industry reports, or other sources that you should be aware of.
If you have questions about the brief (or anything else), you can message an editor or the client for clarification in ClearVoice’s in-app messenger.
Once you complete an assignment and review it, copy it into the assignment window in the ClearVoice platform and hit Submit Assignment.
The client (or a ClearVoice editor) may request revisions. Generally, these must be submitted within 48 hours. Once the client approves your assignment and marks it complete, you’ll get paid.
ClearVoice’s staff will match you with assignments based on your industry, pay rates, and experience. This is a straightforward process, although it isn’t completely transparent (they won’t tell you when you’re being considered for an assignment—you’ll only see actual invitations).
To increase your chances of landing gigs, ClearVoice advises adding a substantial portfolio of past articles to your profile, setting a realistic rate, and filling out a full list of your areas of expertise.
Be aware that before matching you with your first assignment, the platform’s managers will vet your identity, credentials, and experience to ensure you really are who you say you are.
ClearVoice has a tier system that it uses to categorize projects. This affects what level of expertise you need in order to claim the assignment.
Tiers are referred to as “content levels.” There are five of these:
| Content level | Required experience | Estimated research time (per 500 words) | Writing time (per 500 words) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Level 1 | None | Under 30 minutes | Under 30 minutes |
| Level 2 | Entry level | 30 minutes to 1 hour | 30 minutes to 1 hour |
| Level 3 | Intermediate | 1 to 2 hours | 1 to 2 hours |
| Level 4 | Deep | 2 to 4 hours | 2 to 4 hours |
| Level 5 | Expert | Upwards of 5 hours | Upwards of 5 hours |
As you’d expect, higher-level projects tend to pay more, but they’re also significantly harder to land and require more verified experience.
You can create an account on ClearVoice using the button below:
When you sign up, ClearVoice will prompt you to create a “CV portfolio.” You’ll need to fill out at least 70 percent of the profile and must include the following:
After submitting your CV, ClearVoice will vet your profile. This generally takes at least 48 hours and may take longer.
Approval isn’t guaranteed on the ClearVoice platform. If your profile is sloppy, you might get rejected.
It goes without saying that you should double-check your CV to make sure there are no spelling mistakes or grammatical errors. It’s also important to be thorough when listing your specialties and the type of content you produce.
Make sure your writing samples are recent and relevant (i.e., in your industries). This will give you the best possible chance of being approved. Don’t forget to keep your profile updated with fresh work even after you’re accepted onto the platform.
Waiting times on ClearVoice can be quite variable. As mentioned, work has gotten a lot scarcer since the advent of ChatGPT, and you should be prepared to wait for several weeks before you receive your first shot at an assignment.
Remember that when you do, you probably won’t be the only candidate. You’ll almost certainly be competing with many other freelancers. Put your best foot forward—if it’s a pitch request, put as much effort as you feasibly can into crafting a compelling pitch.
Yes, working for ClearVoice is worth it. As content platforms go, it’s one of the better ones out there. It offers higher rates than many of its competitors, such as WriterAccess, and its assignments tend to be of a higher quality as well.
Most of the work on ClearVoice is reasonably engaging, and both clients and the platform’s editors tend to be fairly communicative. Some clients also want their articles bylined, which means you’ll receive authorship credit and can add the piece to your portfolio.
The biggest downside of ClearVoice is that there just isn’t enough work on the site for it to be your primary source of gigs. That’s unfortunate, but it’s an issue that you’ll also find on every other writing platform right now, not just ClearVoice.
It doesn’t mean the platform isn’t worth trying; it just means you should keep your expectations realistic and treat it as one small component of your freelance writing side hustle rather than the entirety of it.
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