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Final Analysis: Measuring Online Marketing Impact

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User Experience Consultancy Pitches Up

Clearleft, a Brighton-based web consultancy led by three respected industry experts specialising in user-focused design, accessibility and web standards, launched on 19 September with a public sector focus...

Clearleft Ltd ( www.clearleft.com ), a Brighton-based web consultancy specialising in user-focused design, accessibility and web standards, led by three respected industry experts, launched on 19 September with a public sector focus...

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Aimed primarily at the public sector and publicly funded organisations such as museums, charities, universities and local councils, Clearleft demonstrates high levels of accessibility and web best practices. Offering services ranging from initial site audits to full-scale web development, Clearleft is ideal for clients that have experience of dealing with external consultants and are seeking valued partners rather than standard suppliers.

Clearleft consults on web strategy, information architecture, accessibility and design and creates fast-loading pages which are attractive to search engines. With a focus on customer service, its working practises include project management, the use of web-based tools, and regular weekly meetings to keep clients abreast of the progress of their projects.

Renowned trio join forces

Clearleft’s three directors comprise internationally renowned user experience designer and developer, Andy Budd; top-level XHTML, CSS, Javascript and PHP designer, Jeremy Keith; and specialist in information architecture, project planning and project management, Richard Rutter. They are renowned within the international web design scene for their popular blogs and books, and for speaking at international conferences.

Andy Budd comments: “Out of thousands of web design consultancies, very few specialise in accessibility and web standards. This is a rapidly growing field and the directors of Clearleft are possibly the best known practitioners in the UK. We are targeting museums, charities and public sector organisations because they need to demonstrate usability, accessibility, and adherence to web best practices so their sites are well organised, easy to use and don’t lock anyone out.”

An edge in the middle-market

He adds: “This sector is currently under serviced by web consultancies, which tend to be smaller, generalist agencies focusing on the budget end of the market or large agencies that charge a fortune. We intend to bridge this ‘middle market’ gap and champion the cause of best practice throughout the industry.”

Molly E. Holzschlag, author, consultant and steering committee member for the Web Standards Project, comments: "Clearleft combines some of the best minds working in the industry today. Budd, Keith and Rutter have individually become thought-leaders by practicing what they preach: creating attractive, usable, accessible and standards-compliant websites which are built properly and can be easily maintained and modified.”

Besides web design and consultancy services, Clearleft will offer expert workshops and training seminars to in-house web teams and the web design community at large.

About Clearleft:
Clearleft was set up by Brighton-based web development specialists, Andy Budd, Jeremy Keith and Richard Rutter. After years of working for other companies or themselves, they decided it would make sense to pool their resources and operate as a team. The resulting consultancy provides a range of web auditing and development services for public sector and publicly funded organisations. www.clearleft.com

Andy Budd's blog: www.andybudd.com

Jeremy Keith's blog: www.adactio.com/journal/

Richard Butter's blog: www.clagnut.com/