The verdict in three sentences
A contract research organisation does not win a contract worth $100,000 to $2 million through its website, but it can drop off the shortlist on the first visit from a head of clinical operations. The site must prove real capacity in three clicks: therapeutic areas, phases covered, number of studies, start-up times and GCP and data protection compliance. A realistic budget in London or New York runs from £8,000 to £20,000 or $12,000 to $30,000 with a life sciences agency, while the Kolonell vitrine grid ranges from 1,220 to 5,340 EUR for a solid base, delivered in 7 to 9 weeks for a full scope.
What a sponsor really looks for before calling you
The typical sponsor is a biotech of 20 to 150 people in Cambridge, Boston, Basel or Copenhagen, preparing a phase I or phase II trial and comparing three to six CROs. Its head of clinical operations reads your site on a desktop screen with one simple question: has this team already run a comparable study, in my therapeutic area, on schedule?
A 30-person CRO with 120 completed studies holds a rare asset. The usual problem is that these studies stay invisible, buried in a References page with no filters. The site must turn that number into readable proof, by phase and by therapeutic area, without ever disclosing confidential sponsor information.
| What a sponsor expects | Where to place it | Recommended level of detail |
|---|---|---|
| Therapeutic areas (oncology, neurology, rare diseases) | One page per area | Number of studies, phases, anonymised metrics |
| Phases covered (I to III) | Services page | Average start-up time, number of sites |
| Patient recruitment | Area pages | Recruitment rates achieved, countries covered |
| Quality assurance | Quality page | Audits passed, SOPs, ICH E6 GCP |
| Data protection | Data page | Hosting, DPO, international transfers |
| Leadership team | Team page | Background, years of experience, publications |
| Project contact | Everywhere | Form with phase, area, timeline |
The pages that generate requests for proposal
A qualified request for proposal is valuable: if your RFP win rate is 20% and an average contract is worth £250,000, each additional RFP represents an expected £50,000 in revenue. The site does not need massive traffic. It needs 3 to 6 more qualified requests per year.
The pages that drive these requests are always the same: one page per therapeutic area with anonymised studies, a Start a study page explaining the typical timeline (feasibility, ethics committee and MHRA or FDA submissions, site initiation), and a form asking for the phase, the area, the target patient count and the first patient in date. This form filters irrelevant requests and lets your business development director reply within 24 hours with a first estimate.
For a London or New York CRO working with European and US biotechs, English is the default and a second language is a commercial decision. The number of languages and the translation scope are set in the quote, depending on your market.
Budget, timelines and options in 2026
| Option | Budget, 2026 order of magnitude | Timeline | Main limitation |
|---|---|---|---|
| WordPress template and in-house copy | £1,800 to £4,500 / $2,500 to $6,000 | 3 to 5 weeks | No area pages, generic look |
| Freelancer specialised in healthcare | £4,500 to £9,000 / $6,000 to $12,000 | 5 to 8 weeks | Dependence on one person |
| Life sciences agency | £8,000 to £20,000 / $12,000 to $30,000 | 7 to 9 weeks | High cost, long approval cycles |
| Kolonell vitrine Starter | 1,220 to 1,830 EUR | Per quote | Tight scope, ideal to lay the foundation |
| Kolonell vitrine Growth | 1,830 to 3,050 EUR | Per quote | Blog and analytics included |
| Kolonell vitrine Premium | 3,050 to 5,340 EUR | 7 to 9 weeks for a full scope | Advanced animations and in-depth SEO |
Maintenance matters as much as the build: a CRO site showing an outdated privacy policy or an expired SSL certificate sends the wrong signal to a quality auditor. At Kolonell, maintenance costs 35,000, 75,000 or 120,000 FCFA per month (53, 114 or 183 EUR) depending on the level of support.
On compliance, three points are non-negotiable: hosting in a jurisdiction your sponsors accept (UK, EU or US with appropriate safeguards), a cookie banner compliant with ICO or state privacy rules, and a clean separation between the public site and any trial data platform. A marketing website must never host patient data.
Mini case study
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Sarah, business development director of a 30-person CRO in London, receives an average of 10 RFPs per year, 2 of which are signed for an average contract of £250,000. After the redesign, with therapeutic area pages and a qualifying form, she targets 14 RFPs per year at the same 20% win rate.
Calculation: 4 extra RFPs multiplied by 20% gives 0.8 additional contracts per year, roughly £200,000 in expected additional revenue. With a Premium vitrine at 5,340 EUR and maintenance at 114 EUR per month (1,368 EUR per year), the first-year investment reaches 6,708 EUR. A single contract won through the site covers this spend more than 30 times over.
FAQ
Should sponsor names be published on the site?
No, unless you have written consent. Common practice is to anonymise: European biotech, phase II, oncology, 180 patients, 14 sites. This format proves experience with no contractual risk.
How long does a complete CRO website take?
Plan for 7 to 9 weeks for a scope with therapeutic area pages and full content. The limiting factor is often internal sign-off by quality assurance, which can add 1 to 2 weeks.
Should the site mention GCP and ICH E6?
Yes, on a dedicated Quality page. State the version followed (ICH E6 R3 in 2026), the number of audits passed and the existence of documented SOPs, without copying your internal procedures.
Where should a CRO website be hosted?
In a jurisdiction your sponsors accept, usually the UK or EU for European clients. Quality hosting costs between £10 and £50 per month depending on the solution, and makes sponsor data protection questionnaires easier to answer.
Does SEO matter for a CRO?
Yes, on precise queries such as phase I CRO UK or oncology CRO Europe. Kolonell monthly SEO costs 100,000, 200,000 or 350,000 FCFA per month depending on your ambition.
Let's scope your project. Therapeutic area pages, RFP form and Quality page, delivered in 7 to 9 weeks. Detailed quote within 48 h. WhatsApp +221 77 596 93 33.
Mohamed Bah
Fondateur, Kolonell
Passionate about digital and entrepreneurship in Africa, Mohamed has been helping Sénégalese businesses with their digital transformation since 2020. Founder of Kolonell, he believes every SME deserves a professional and accessible online présence.
