The Ultimate Guide to Biotech Marketing

The biotech industry is an extremely competitive landscape, with an estimated 9,022 companies across the various sectors and sub-sectors.

With so many players vying for attention, it is crucial for biotech companies to have a comprehensive marketing strategy in place that will help them stand out from the crowd as they seek favorability with clients, investors, potential partners, prospective employees, and, of course, the media.

In general, biotech companies can be split into three buckets of marketing, all of which can benefit from this guide.

  1. Emerging– Most emerging biotech companies have goals of raising capital, partnering, or commercializing their products, but tend to be in a pre-sales or revenue state.
  2. B2B– Established biotechs are primarily comprised of B2B companies selling to other biotechs.
  3. Pharma– B2C pharma companies with commercialized products selling primarily to consumers or vying for the attention of HCPs.

These companies tend to require different marketing strategies as they are catering to different audiences and buyer personas. More on that below.

Foreword

As a veteran biotech commercial planning and commercial optimization contact once told me:

Every clinician thinks their product is the best, but the reality is that if the brand awareness and relationships that are made through marketing and PR aren’t there, emerging companies will face an uphill battle differentiating, meeting stakeholders, and forming strategic partnerships.

This guide aims to provide your company with a holistic understanding of marketing, from identifying its target audience to measuring your success. By following the advice provided, you can make smart decisions about marketing vendors, budgets, and brand exposure, ultimately helping you to gain a competitive edge in the industry.

The takeaways will be less about the actionable marketing initiatives you need to take and more about the marketing arenas you should consider planning for along with a marketing partner who has your best interests, and budget, in mind.

Understanding Your Audience

Understanding your audience is a crucial first step in developing a successful marketing strategy for biotech companies. This involves identifying your target audience, conducting market research to understand their needs and behaviors, and developing buyer personas. 

Identifying target audience

The first step is to identify your target audience. As a scientist or CEO of an emerging biotech company, your audience may include investors, potential partners, researchers, clinicians, or even patients.

For B2B biotechs, you are likely gearing your marketing up to speak to the types of companies that purchase your products or services, as well as the job titles that you’ve identified are involved in this buying process.

By understanding who your audience is, you can tailor your marketing efforts to reach them effectively. For example, if your audience is investors, your marketing messages should focus on the potential return on investment and the commercial viability of your product.

Conducting market research

The next step is to conduct market research to understand your audience’s needs and behaviors. This involves analyzing data on their demographics, behavior patterns, and preferences. By doing so, you can gain insight into what motivates them to make decisions, what challenges they face, and how they prefer to consume information. This information can then be used to develop a targeted marketing campaign that speaks directly to your audience’s needs.

At Digital Elevator, we recommend that our B2B clients engage in a market research survey that helps our clients see how their prospective clients see them. For example, we have a case study that highlights how we helped an eCommerce biotech with the following:

  • Gathered biotech decision-makers by title, seniority, industry, and company size and showed them the two landing pages on the existing website.
  • With personalized questions, we were able to survey the client’s ideal customer profiles to get their feedback on the product and service pages, and how they felt about the offerings.
  • We workshopped on these findings and updated the sales copy and page designs.

This market research had an immediate impact on sales and conversion rates and helped the client see how they were viewed from the eyes of their prospects.

Developing buyer personas

Finally, developing buyer personas can help you understand your audience on a more personal level. A buyer persona is a fictional representation of your ideal customer, based on research and data. By creating a detailed profile of your target audience, you can gain a better understanding of their motivations, pain points, and buying habits. This can help you tailor your marketing messages and create content that resonates with them on a personal level.

By identifying your target audience, conducting market research, and developing buyer personas, you can create targeted marketing campaigns that resonate with your audience, ultimately helping you to achieve your marketing goals. Once this is done, the marketing comes easier.

Get a free marketing proposal from our team today.


The discovery call is the first step in discussing your business, your goals, and the potential services you need for your marketing or web design campaign.

Biotech Marketing Focus Areas

The next steps are generally performed in the order presented, as this is the most logical way to carry out a marketing campaign. Some of these marketing initiatives may or may not apply to your biotech brand, you’ll have to determine the potential efficacy of each channel with your marketing team.

Logo & Branding

Building a strong brand identity is crucial for biotech companies looking to stand out in a competitive market. One of the first steps in creating a brand identity is designing a logo that accurately represents your company’s values and mission. A logo is a visual representation of your brand and serves as a key element in all of your marketing materials. 

The process of creating a logo typically involves several steps. The first step is to develop a creative brief, which outlines the goals and objectives of the logo design. This brief should include information about your company’s values, mission, and target audience. From there, your vendor will typically present several logo design options for you to choose from, which can then be refined based on your feedback. Once a final design is chosen, the vendor will provide you with the necessary files and formats to ensure that the logo can be used effectively across all marketing channels.

In addition to a logo, a brand guide should also be developed at this stage. A brand guide is a comprehensive document that outlines your company’s brand identity and provides guidelines for its use. This includes information on your logo, color schemes, fonts, and other visual elements that should be used consistently across all marketing materials. By establishing these guidelines, you can ensure that your brand remains consistent and recognizable across all channels.

Creating a strong brand identity is essential for biotech companies looking to build trust with their target audience and stand out in a competitive market. 

Biotech Logo & Branding Costs

Expect to pay anywhere between $5k to $10k for smaller agencies for this type of work and as much as $50k for larger agencies. If you are budget-conscious, consider sourcing talent on a site like 99designs.

Web Design

Having a strong web presence is crucial for biotech companies looking to establish themselves in the industry. In today’s digital age, a company’s website is often the first point of contact for potential clients, investors, partners, and employees. As such, it is important to ensure that your website accurately represents your brand and provides visitors with the information they need to make informed decisions.

As a leading biotech web design agency, we recommend different approaches depending on the type of company you are.

Emerging biotech website considerations
For smaller, emerging biotech companies, we recommend starting with a basic 5-10 page website that includes various sections on their leadership team, science, clinical trials, pipeline, press releases, and contact information. 

A life science hero image from Ironshore Pharma

These sections are essential for providing visitors with a comprehensive overview of your company’s activities and achievements. The leadership team section, for example, should include bios and photos of key executives, while the science section should provide an overview of your technology platform and any patents or intellectual property you may hold.

The Leadership section from Ironshore Pharma

Clinical trials and pipeline sections are also critical for demonstrating your company’s potential for success. These sections should provide detailed information on any ongoing or completed clinical trials, as well as an overview of your product pipeline and development timelines. Press releases are another important component of a biotech company’s website, as they showcase the company’s latest achievements and milestones.

An example of a Pipeline page from Novita Pharma

Contact information is also an essential element of a biotech company’s website. This should include a phone number, email address, and physical address, as well as links to any social media profiles or other digital channels.

B2B biotech website considerations
For an established B2B biotech actively selling products, services, or via eCommerce, we recommend a much more comprehensive website strategy involving information architecture audits, UX/UI considerations, SEO, sales copy, and the continuation of a resource-rich website that helps educate prospects for what are normally long sales cycles.

Biotech Website Costs

For a professionally designed website built by an agency with experience in biotech, the prices can vary greatly. Specialized agencies who build simple, small websites are often found in the $15k to $25k range. For projects that require more planning and consideration into information architecture, UX/UI, and graphic design, expect projects to easily venture into the $40k to six-figure range depending on site size and integrations.

Note that the more complex the graphic design (ex. custom animation), integrations (CRM, ERP, eCommerce, etc.) the more expensive websites can get.

Graphic Design

For biotech companies of all sizes, graphic design is an essential tool for communicating complex scientific concepts to a broader audience, particularly those audiences who may need visual representations to quickly grasp your technology (which, let’s be honest, is everyone).

There are several elements of graphic design that are particularly important for you, including:

  • data visualizations
  • animations
  • medical explainer videos
  • infographics 
  • print adverts
  • digital creatives
  • presentations
  • conference and booth creatives
  • email content 
  • landing pages

Data visualizations are critical for biotech companies, as they enable the clear and concise presentation of complex scientific data. By transforming raw data into visual representations, such as charts, graphs, and diagrams, you can help to communicate your findings to a broader audience. Animations and medical explainer videos are also effective tools for illustrating complex scientific concepts, such as how a particular drug works in the body.

Infographics are another important element of graphic design for biotech companies. These visual representations can help to distill complex information into a more easily digestible format, allowing audiences to quickly grasp the key takeaways of a particular scientific study or concept. Print adverts and digital creatives, such as social media posts and banners, are also essential for promoting your products and services to a wider audience.

Presentations are an important part of the biotech industry, as they allow you to showcase your latest research and development efforts to potential investors and partners. Conference and booth creatives, such as banners, flyers, and other promotional materials, are also important for creating a strong brand presence at industry events. Email content and landing pages are also critical for biotech companies looking to engage with their target audience and convert leads into customers.

Biotech Graphic Design Costs

The costs of creative materials vary from company to company and can depend on factors such as whether you need an ongoing retainer or a la carte items. Each item can have significant cost differences as well. For example, a magazine graphic for print would be much more approachable than a medical explainer video. Expect to pay $175 an hour to as much as $400 an hour, depending on the agency and their background.

Public Relations

Public relations (PR) is a crucial element of marketing for emerging biotech companies. It is a must-have if you are looking to raise funds, partner with other companies, or get acquired. PR can help you to create a strong brand image, establish credibility, and gain exposure to potential investors, partners, and customers.

PR services for biotech companies can include:

  • developing a public relations strategy
  • message development
  • media training
  • media relationship management
  • podcast interviews
  • press release creation and submission
  • content creation
  • thought leadership outreach
  • award submissions
  • trade show pitching
  • editorial calendars
  • KPI measurement

Developing a public relations strategy is the first step in creating a successful PR campaign for a biotech company. This involves defining your key messages, target audience, and goals for the campaign. Message development is also essential, as it ensures that all communications are consistent and aligned with your overall brand message.

Media training and relationship management are also critical for biotech companies, as they help to ensure that spokespeople are prepared and confident when engaging with the media. Podcast interviews can be an effective way to reach a targeted audience and showcase the company’s expertise in a particular area. Press release creation and submission are also essential for getting the word out about new products, partnerships, or research findings.

Content creation and thought leadership outreach can help you to establish yourself as an expert in your field and position yourself as a leader in the industry. Award submissions and trade show pitching can also help to increase visibility and credibility within the industry.

Editorial calendars and KPI measurements are important for tracking the success of a PR campaign and making adjustments as needed to ensure that it is meeting its goals.

While PR is not limited in effectiveness to emerging biotechs, this is what I’d call a must-have for companies looking to get some better exposure. PR for larger, more established brands is also important as brand awareness and the trust that inherently comes from being published in major industry publications cannot be overlooked.

Biotech PR Costs

Public relations costs will vary more than perhaps any marketing channel on this list. Depending on the prestige of the PR firm you hire, the relationships in place, and the number of hours spent getting your brand featured, the fees can vary greatly. For boutique PR firms, expect to pay $5,000 to $7,500 a month, depending on the inherent newsworthiness of your business. For large PR firms, expect to pay $15k to $20k per month.

SEO & Content Marketing

SEO and content marketing are vital components of brand awareness and lead generation. A well-optimized website can drive traffic for relevant searches and content marketing such as blog posts can help familiarize your brand with informational topics where your company may provide solutions.

In general, our agency finds that blending SEO and SEO-driven content marketing — meaning all the content published is researched with keyword volume in mind — is the best use of resources.

SEO services for biotech companies might include:

  • technical audits
  • content audits
  • keyword research
  • competitive analysis
  • on-page SEO
  • link building
  • site architecture analysis
  • user experience analysis

These services help to ensure that a company’s website is optimized for search engines and that it is providing value to its target audience.

Technical audits involve reviewing a website’s technical aspects, such as page load times, mobile responsiveness, and URL structure. Content audits involve assessing the quality and relevance of a website’s content and identifying areas for improvement. Keyword research helps to identify the keywords and phrases that are most relevant to the company’s target audience and that can help drive traffic to its website.

Competitive analysis involves analyzing the strategies and tactics of competitors in the industry and identifying areas where the company can differentiate itself. On-page SEO involves optimizing individual pages on the website for specific keywords and ensuring that they are properly structured for search engines. Link building involves acquiring high-quality backlinks to the website, which can help to improve its authority and visibility in search results.

Site architecture analysis and user experience analysis involve assessing the overall structure and usability of the website, including navigation, layout, and content organization. This helps to ensure that the website is easy to use and provides a positive experience for visitors.

Biotech SEO Costs

SEO and content marketing costs vary by agency. Digital Elevator, for example, focuses on SEO and content marketing initiatives that have business impact whereas other firms may sell you on the notion of running site audits and fixing technical issues. The impact of SEO and content marketing depends on the competitiveness of your topics, and the quality of work you need to outrank competitors. Expect to pay $6k to $8k a month for more streamlined SEO campaigns and as much as $10k+ a month for hyper-competitive content and outreach.

Paid media services are an effective way to drive traffic to your biotech company’s website or specific landing pages, but they also require careful consideration of regulatory restrictions. 

Paid media services include:

  • Google Ads
  • programmatic ads
  • CTV ads
  • native ads
  • display ads
  • social media ads

It is important to adhere to industry regulations when advertising healthcare products or services, including adhering to FDA regulations on advertising, ensuring that claims are supported by clinical data, and avoiding unsubstantiated or false claims. 

In addition, it is important to choose the appropriate channels and targeting options to reach the right audience while ensuring that the ads are compliant with industry regulations. A marketing agency can help navigate these complexities and ensure that your paid media efforts are compliant and effective.

Biotech Paid Media Costs

Paid media involves two costs: the cost of the actual ad spend, which goes directly to the ad platform, and the cost of management. While every product and campaign has different goals and target markets, there is a wide range of costs with paid media as it concerns the competitiveness of your products or services. For example, we’ve successfully run ads with a paid media budget of $3k a month, and have run other campaigns with budgets of 10x that amount. Most management fees will depend on the ad spend amount, with something like 15-25% of ad spend as an average fee, or flat fees, or flat fees plus a percentage of ad spend. Learn more about how agencies price PPC.

Social Media

Social media services can be an effective way for biotech companies to engage with their audience and raise awareness about their products and services. However, social media in the biotech industry can be challenging due to strict regulations around what can and cannot be shared publicly.

Social media services might include:

  • social strategy development
  • social calendar management
  • user research
  • social audits
  • user persona research
  • content guidelines
  • branding guidelines
  • social media ads.

Social strategy development involves creating a plan for how your company will use social media to achieve its goals. This includes identifying which platforms to use, how often to post, and what types of content to share.

Social calendar management involves scheduling and publishing content on social media platforms. This ensures that your company is consistently engaging with its audience and sharing relevant information.

User research involves understanding the needs and preferences of your company’s target audience. This information can be used to create content that resonates with the audience and drives engagement.

Social audits involve assessing your company’s current social media presence and identifying areas for improvement. This can include analyzing the content that is being shared, the engagement levels, and the overall effectiveness of the company’s social media efforts.

User persona research involves creating profiles of your company’s ideal customers. This information can be used to create content that is tailored to the specific needs and interests of the audience.

Content guidelines and branding guidelines help to ensure that the social media presence is consistent and aligned with its overall brand messaging. This includes guidelines around tone of voice, visual branding, and content topics.

Social media ads can be a powerful way for biotech companies to reach their target audience and promote their products or services. However, these ads must comply with strict regulations around advertising in the biotech industry.

Biotech Social Media Costs

Social media can be isolated into consulting or ongoing management. Consulting engagements can entail strategy or audits and can often cost $4k to $10k per project, sometimes more. For ongoing maintenance that includes creating content for clients, the monthly costs can be similar, however, the addition of video content on the agency side would greatly increase the monthly cost.

Budget Considerations for Biotech Brands

There are significant differences in cost between biotech marketing agencies like Digital Elevator and larger, well-known ad agencies, which can charge 2x to 5x as much as smaller agencies. 

While these larger agencies may carry a certain prestige and brand recognition, the higher costs are often attributed to the agency’s size and reputation rather than the quality of work or expertise offered. It is worth noting that while these larger agencies may have an impressive portfolio and a long history of successful campaigns, clients may be paired with junior-level marketing representatives once they sign on. 

On the other hand, smaller agencies like Digital Elevator may offer more personalized service, with experienced marketing professionals who are more invested in the success of their clients’ campaigns. These agencies can provide high-quality work at a lower cost, allowing emerging biotech companies to allocate their budgets more effectively while still achieving their marketing goals. Ultimately, choosing an agency comes down to balancing cost with the expertise and level of service provided.

Evolving Your Biotech’s Marketing With Your Company’s Evolution

As biotech companies progress through various stages, their marketing practices need to evolve. It’s important to recognize that not all biotech companies are speaking to the same audience at the same time. Some may be seeking patients for clinical trials, while others may be attracting investors or partners, and others trying to sell products or services to other biotech companies.

The key takeaway is that biotech companies need to improve their ability to identify target audiences and develop effective strategies to communicate with them through multi-channel marketing. Prioritizing marketing efforts alongside the science itself is crucial, as it can significantly contribute to the long-term success of the company.

Effective communication strategies are critical for success, and the right marketing partner can help. It’s essential to choose a marketing agency that understands the unique challenges and opportunities of the biotech industry and can provide tailored multi-channel marketing strategies that align with the company’s goals and target audience.

Overall, biotech companies need to be proactive in their marketing efforts, from creating a strong brand identity to developing a comprehensive marketing plan that includes public relations, content marketing, SEO, and social media. By doing so, they can effectively communicate their science and story to the right audiences and position themselves for success as they evolve over time.

Ready to Market Your Biotech?

If you are ready to share your science with the world and need a seasoned biotech marketing partner, contact Digital Elevator today to get a free analysis.

Get a free marketing proposal from our team today.


The discovery call is the first step in discussing your business, your goals, and the potential services you need for your marketing or web design campaign.

CDMO Marketing Strategies: Meet Buyers at Critical Stages of Their Buyer Journey 

If you Google “CDMO marketing” one of the key trends in the articles that cover this topic is the following:

CDMO sales cycles are long and require multiple marketing touchpoints.

Truer words were never spoken. So while there are a bunch of articles that talk about identifying your target market, building buyer personas, and leveraging social media, I’m going to assume you have heard all that before. 

This guide cuts through the noise to deliver actionable CDMO marketing strategies that address your most pressing challenges. You want to hear how to compete with Lonza and Thermo Fisher (Pantheon) and drive leads today and tomorrow.

I’ll be covering key aspects of how buyers go through their buyer journey and how you can meet them there, and how you can cover most of your bases by getting a few primary marketing channels right.

Value Proposition & Positioning Before Everything Else

When it comes to defining your value proposition as a CDMO, the temptation might be to lean into the tried-and-true claims of being “better, cheaper, or faster.” However, these messages often fall flat—especially when stacked against industry giants like Lonza. 

Lonza’s decades of trust and reputation make it difficult to compete using generic claims like ‘better, cheaper, or faster.’ Instead, focus on your unique strengths.

Example CDMO value proposition

A good example of a value proposition is WuXi Advanced Therapies which positions itself as a comprehensive partner in the cell and gene therapy space, emphasizing its role as a Contract Testing, Development, and Manufacturing Organization (CTDMO).

They have taken the focus of specificity and differentiation in the cell and gene therapy market.

Other areas for differentiation for your value prop might include:

  • Innovation: Highlights the use of advanced technology (single-use systems), which is a key industry trend.
  • Target Audience Alignment: Speaks directly to mid-sized biotech firms, which may feel overlooked by larger CDMOs but need the same high-quality solutions.
  • Solution-Oriented: Addresses a real pain point—providing tailored, scalable solutions for complex biologics that minimize risk and optimize efficiency—without relying on generic promises.

The good news is that you likely already have a unique selling proposition (USP) similar to the examples above—you just need to uncover it. Often, the differentiator lies in what your company is already doing exceptionally well, whether it’s your niche expertise, tailored solutions, or ability to address specific challenges your competitors overlook. 

The key is drawing that out of your messaging and ensuring it’s front and center in your marketing. When a prospect skims your website—which, let’s face it, is how most initial research happens—they should instantly know what sets you apart and why you’re the ideal partner for their needs.

Your Website as Your Best Sales Tool

Your website is your best sales tool—hands down. For CDMOs, it’s often the first impression prospective clients have of your brand, and it sets the tone for your entire buyer journey. To truly capitalize on its potential, your website needs to be both an educational resource and a lead generation machine.

From an educational standpoint, it’s critical to focus on key areas that address your audience’s specific needs and questions. This typically includes service and subservice pages that clearly outline your capabilities, technology pages that showcase your cutting-edge processes and equipment, and educational resources like white papers, case studies, and webinars. 

These sections not only demonstrate your expertise but also align with SEO best practices, ensuring you appear prominently when prospects search for solutions in your space.

For example, here is a screenshot of AGC Biologics and their service menu dropdown. 

CDMO marketing site architecture example

They have what is called a “mega menu” with sections and dedicated pages for Offerings, Services, and Specialized Platforms & Programs.

This portion of the site build is often SEO-led, meaning that when you work with a specialized CDMO marketing agency like Digital Elevator, we are going to provide research for the site architecture as well as the keywords with commercial intent that have the most volume based on conversations with the client. 

Strong site architecture doesn’t just improve user experience—it also drives organic traffic by aligning with SEO best practices.

Here is a screenshot of some rankings of the services section of the AGC Bio site that showcases some of those rankings for critical keywords like “viral vector services” or “AAV CDMO.”

CDMO marketing rankings example

The above type of site architecture and SEO strategy can be done during a new website build, or post-launch. Regardless of when you do it, it underscores the importance of creating content for your users so they understand your value proposition, but also the depth and breadth of your CDMO services.

CDMO Lead Generation and Brand Awareness

As you’ve probably recognized, the site architecture and SEO best practices discussed above can help set the tone for organic search rankings. SEO (or search engines) is just one channel where prospects may interact with your brand in their buying cycle.

Independent of marketing channels, however, is the deeper principle of buying journeys and how that plays into marketing touchpoints.  

Effective lead generation and brand awareness for CDMOs require a deep understanding of your prospect’s buyer journey. 

This journey typically unfolds in three key stages: 

  1. problem identification, 
  2. solution exploration, and 
  3. requirements building. 

Each stage represents a unique opportunity to connect with potential clients, but it also demands tailored strategies to address their evolving needs.

  • Problem Identification: At this stage, prospects are just beginning to understand their challenges. They’re looking for educational content that validates their pain points and introduces them to potential solutions.
    • Blog posts, white papers, and webinars that address common industry challenges—such as navigating regulatory hurdles or scaling complex biologics production—can position your brand as a trusted authority.
  • Solution Exploration: Once prospects know their problem, they start researching specific solutions.
    • This is where your service pages, case studies, and technology overviews become critical. Prospects are comparing vendors, so it’s essential to highlight your unique capabilities and demonstrate how you solve their exact challenges better than the competition.
  • Requirements Building: By the time prospects reach this stage, they’re narrowing down their options and defining what they need from a partner.
    • Detailed resources like RFQ guides, downloadable specifications, and comparison tools can help prospects align their requirements with your offerings, positioning you as the obvious choice.

Accompanying this framework, the infographic below visually breaks down each stage, showcasing how your content and outreach strategies should align with the mindset of your buyers at every step. By understanding and addressing these stages, you can drive not just leads, but the right leads—those who are primed to engage with your brand and convert.

Worth noting, the website lies at the core of most of these buying processes. While there may be some external channels such as LinkedIn and industry publications mentioned, the bulk of the marketing channels point back to or are derived from your website. 

In the perfect scenario, your CDMO would have processes in place for all of these buckets. However, a good starting point would be the build out of the website itself, the site architecture and SEO mentioned above, and Google Ads and LinkedIn Ads running in tandem.

Online Presence and Content Marketing for Your CDMO

At Digital Elevator, we approach biotech content marketing from a repurposing point of view. For example, if the goals are to create assets like white papers, blogs, and LinkedIn posts, we’d first determine the topics that our CDMOs want to talk about and the subtopics that provide value to their prospects.

From there, we’d create a white paper that could then be repurposed into three or four blogs as subtopics, and then our clients could repurpose elements of the blog or white paper into another 10 or so social media posts. For example, a white paper on viral vector manufacturing could generate blog topics such as regulatory considerations, scaling production, and emerging trends in viral vector technology.

The white paper, in addition to being a downloadable asset on their website or something to distribute to their prospects via email, could also serve as a lead generation and brand awareness asset for a LinkedIn Ads campaign. 

From our point of view, the blogs would be SEO-driven and focused on keywords to drive organic traffic while the white paper could help garner visibility via LinkedIn Ads to an audience that may have limited visibility or awareness of the brand. 

Thus, we are driving brand awareness, pushing prospects down a sales funnel, and establishing trust based on the ways we know prospects buy. Combined with bottom funnel service pages, this encapsulates most of the buying journey.

However, to reinforce the way we know people build trust with brands, we may also promote the creation of case studies. Case studies are invaluable for CDMOs. They’re proof you can deliver, whether it’s scaling complex biologics or navigating regulatory challenges. Pair these with thought leadership content like white papers, webinars, and conference presentations to establish your credibility. This kind of content resonates with decision-makers and builds trust over time.

Here’s an example of benefit-driven case studies from AGC Biologics, with one topic about cost savings and the other about an upgrade from a well-known competitor. 

CDMO Marketing Has Many Layers, Focus on the One’s Most Important

When we work with CDMOs on their marketing, our process is often the same. We look to see where we can provide the most value the quickest based on the client’s goals of speed or weakness in marketing. 

For fast results, a paid media strategy – using Google and LinkedIn Ads – is what we recommend. For establishing touchpoints earlier in the sales cycle that are more sustainable than paid ads, we recommend SEO and content marketing. Both approaches can work in tandem, and that is the most effective way to get in front of CDMO prospects in all stages of the buying process.

For help with your CDMO marketing strategy across all stages of the buyer joruney, reach out to Digital Elevator today.

The 7 Best Pharmaceutical Marketing Agencies in 2025

In the ever-changing and fiercely competitive pharmaceutical landscape of today, where revolutionary breakthroughs and transformative innovations drive progress, the impact of pharmaceutical marketing agencies cannot be overstated.

Whether you’re a CEO, marketing executive, or scientist-founder, successfully navigating the intricacies of pharma marketing demands strategic decision-making and a profound understanding of the value that the right marketing agency can offer.

Just as scientific research is characterized by specialization and diversification, so too are the marketing agencies catering to the pharma industry. By carefully selecting a partner that specializes in your specific area of focus, you gain access to a wealth of expertise, customized strategies, and industry insights that will propel your organization toward its ultimate goals.

Below are some of the best pharma marketing agencies, where specialization and excellence converge to accelerate your path to success.

What makes me qualified to cover this topic?

With almost 15 years of experience in healthcare marketing and holding the positions of CEO and founder of a pharma marketing agency, I possess comprehensive expertise in crafting successful marketing strategies for companies of all sizes. Over the years, I have witnessed both the triumphs and failures of companies based on their marketing partnerships, granting me an intimate understanding of the top-performing pharma marketing agencies and their diverse strengths.

For ease of reference, let me define the agency’s ideal clients based on typical client types. A “small business” is characterized by generating under $38.5 million in revenue annually and having less than 1,500 employees. A “mid-market enterprise” falls within the $38.5 million to $1 billion range in annual revenue and has a workforce of 1,500 to 2,000 employees. Finally, a “large enterprise” surpasses $1 billion in yearly revenue with over 2,000 employees.

Digital Elevator

Digital Elevator is a full-service digital marketing agency based in South Florida that focuses on serving emerging pharma brands and has gained recognition for its expertise in biotech web design services and growth marketing expertise such as PPC and SEO. Notably, the agency distinguishes itself as a budget-friendly alternative to larger ad agencies that primarily target mid-market and enterprise clients.

Specialization:

Biotech website design and development, lead generation, and eCommerce.

Ideal client:

Their ideal clientele includes small businesses and those who serve B2B markets (growth marketing), or pharma companies in need of messaging and comprehensive user experience graphic design.

Client examples:

McKesson, Ironshore Pharmaceuticals, Novita Pharmaceuticals 


Archbow Consulting

Archbow Consulting helps pharmaceutical and biotech companies achieve their commercial goals through strategic and tactical approaches to Distribution, Pharmacy, Patient Access, and Payer support. From this foundation, they have built the requisite skills to support service vendors (i.e. Specialty Pharmacies, Distributors, Patient Support Service Providers, PBMs…)  via targeted messaging into Pharma to accelerate awareness and secure incremental business opportunities.Specialization:
Archbow focuses on end-to-end commercialization support across distribution, pharmacy, patient access, and commercial strategy. They specialize in: Market Landscape Assessments, Solution Design, Market Research, Fair Market Value Support, RFP Management and Vendor Selection, Program Implementation and Optimization. They also offer a wide range of marketing services, including marketing and value proposition, content creation, market research, and branding support to Pharma and Service Vendors alike.
 
Ideal Client:
Their ideal clientele includes a range from small, emerging pharma manufacturers to large enterprise pharma manufacturers, as well as Specialty Pharmacies, Distributors, and Patient Support vendors.
 
Client examples:
 
Due to confidentially, Archbow does not their client list. They support approximately 125 clients at any given time.

BioStrata

Based in Cambridge, England, BioStrata is a marketing agency specializing in offering a wide array of life sciences marketing services. Their expertise spans from digital marketing to lead generation and tradeshow support. While their primary focus lies on serving larger enterprise clients, they also extend some of their services to smaller brands.

Specialization:

Brand awareness, lead generation, and product launches, 

Ideal client:
Mid-market enterprise to large enterprise

Client examples:

Thermo Fisher Scientific, Protagen Diagnostics, NanoImaging Services

Supreme

Supreme is a pharmaceutical marketing agency boasting extensive expertise in the science industry. They offer a range of services, including digital marketing and website development, tailored to cater to the needs of pharmaceutical, medical device, diagnostic, and biotech brands.

Specialization

Digital marketing, lead generation, and ecommerce.

Ideal client:

Mid-market enterprise to large enterprise

Client examples:

FujiFilm, Covaris, 10x Genomics

Samba Scientific

Samba Scientific has built a reputation for its effective lead-generation campaigns, which leverage audience profiling, tactical planning, and comprehensive reporting. Their expertise extends to webinar management and promotion, as well as conference conceptualization, all contributing to successful lead-generation efforts.

Specialization:

Lead generation combined with event management.

Ideal client:

Small business

Client examples:

Fabric Genomics, HTG

Forma Life Science Marketing

Forma Life Science Marketing, headquartered in Raleigh, North Carolina, is a renowned marketing agency specializing in brand strategy and implementation. Their expertise extends to internal employee coaching and alignment, and they also offer comprehensive trade show and marketing support, helping their clients excel in event management.

Specialization:

Brand strategy, identity, and market positioning. 

Ideal client:

Mid-market enterprise to large enterprise

Client examples:

Pfizer, Agilent, TearScience

Orientation Marketing

Orientation Marketing offers a wide range of marketing services, encompassing both traditional and digital approaches. Their expertise includes media planning and PR, media buying, creative design, and web services. Catering to diverse industries, they collaborate with clients in the pharma, biotech, analytical science, nutraceutical, food, and cosmetics sectors.

Specialization:

Brand awareness and lead generation

Ideal client:

Small business to mid-market enterprise

Client examples:

Catalent, SGD Pharma, Benecol

Patrick Wareing

Patrick Wareing is an accomplished digital marketing consultant with a unique blend of experience in scientific research and agency-side digital marketing. Leveraging this expertise, he offers content creation, SEO, and comprehensive digital marketing training services to his clients.

Specialization:

Pharma digital marketing consulting.

Ideal client:

Small business

Client examples:

Tip Biosystems, Fortis Life Sciences

Guide to Working with a Pharma Marketing Agency

When seeking a long-term partnership with a pharma marketing agency, it’s essential to consider key factors that guide your decision-making process:

  1. Industry Expertise: Choose an agency with a deep understanding of the pharma industry, familiar with its challenges, regulations, and trends, enabling them to craft targeted strategies that resonate with your audience.
  2. Specialization: Assess the agency’s focus within the pharma field, ensuring it aligns with your specific area of focus, granting access to relevant industry insights and connections.
  3. Track Record: Examine the agency’s portfolio to gauge their ability to deliver results through successful campaigns that generated engagement, brand awareness, and business growth for clients.
  4. Strategic Approach: Look for a reliable agency that emphasizes thorough research, data-driven decision-making, and adaptability to changing market dynamics in their marketing strategies.
  5. Integrated Marketing Solutions: Opt for an agency offering a comprehensive suite of marketing services, facilitating a cohesive and integrated approach to your marketing efforts.
  6. Collaboration and Communication: Ensure strong collaboration and communication with the agency, fostering a transparent and trustworthy relationship for shared objectives.
  7. Scalability and Flexibility: Verify the agency’s ability to scale and adapt to your evolving marketing needs, providing ongoing support as your company grows or enters new markets.
  8. Client References and Testimonials: Request client references or testimonials to gain insights into the agency’s working style, responsiveness, and overall client satisfaction.

By carefully considering these factors, you can make an informed decision when selecting a long-term partner for your life sciences marketing needs, positioning your company for sustained growth, industry leadership, and impactful brand recognition.

Pharma Marketing Agency FAQ

Pharma marketing agencies provide a diverse array of services that cater to the distinct requirements and challenges of the industry. These services encompass:

What services do pharma marketing agencies provide?

Pharma marketing agencies offer a variety of tailored services to meet the industry’s distinct needs and challenges. These services encompass:

  1. Strategic Marketing Planning: Agencies collaborate with clients to create comprehensive marketing strategies that align with their business goals. This involves conducting market research, competitive analysis, and identifying target audiences, resulting in strategic plans that effectively position products or services.
  2. Branding and Positioning: Agencies assist in developing and refining brand identities, messaging, and positioning strategies. They craft compelling brand stories, design impactful logos and visual assets, and ensure consistent brand representation across various marketing channels.
  3. Digital Marketing: Agencies excel in digital marketing channels, including biotech website development, search engine optimization (SEO), pay-per-click (PPC) advertising, social media marketing, content creation, email marketing, and online lead generation. Utilizing data-driven approaches, they optimize digital campaigns to maximize reach, engagement, and conversion.
  4. Content Marketing: Agencies devise content strategies and create high-quality content tailored to the life sciences industry. This content includes educational articles, blog posts, whitepapers, case studies, videos, infographics, and other formats aimed at engaging and educating target audiences. Content marketing establishes thought leadership, enhances brand credibility, and attracts and nurtures leads.
  5. Thought Leadership and Public Relations: Agencies assist in establishing executives and key opinion leaders as thought leaders in the industry. This involves creating and promoting expert content, securing speaking engagements and media opportunities, managing press releases, and cultivating relationships with relevant media outlets and influencers.
  6. Event Management: Agencies coordinate and execute events, such as conferences, trade shows, webinars, and product launches. They handle event planning, logistics, booth design, promotional materials, and audience engagement strategies to maximize brand exposure and generate leads.
  7. Market Research and Competitive Analysis: Agencies conduct market research to provide insights into market trends, customer preferences, and competitive landscapes. Analyzing data helps identify opportunities, assess market potential, and refine marketing strategies accordingly.
  8. Training and Education: Some agencies offer training and educational programs to empower life sciences professionals with marketing knowledge and skills. These may include workshops, seminars, or online courses tailored to marketing strategies specific to the industry.

Pharma agencies provide these diverse services to help organizations navigate the complexities of the industry, effectively reach their target audiences, build strong brands, and achieve their business objectives.

What does pharma marketing cost?

The expenses associated with pharma marketing can vary considerably, influenced by factors such as the scope of services needed, project complexity, organization size, target audience, and campaign objectives. It’s essential to consider that pricing structures and fee arrangements differ among marketing agencies, adding to the variability of costs.

What are some pharma marketing trends?

Pharma marketing is an ever-evolving field, influenced by emerging technologies, changing customer expectations, and industry advancements. Here are some key trends shaping the landscape of life sciences marketing:

  1. Personalized and Targeted Messaging: Pharma marketers increasingly focus on personalized messaging and targeted communication to engage audiences. Leveraging data analytics, customer insights, and segmentation strategies allows for tailored messaging to specific customer personas, addressing their unique needs and preferences.
  2. Digital Transformation: The pharma industry has undergone significant digital transformation, and marketing is no exception. Digital marketing channels like websites, social media platforms, email marketing, and SEO are critical tools for reaching and engaging target audiences. Marketers invest in digital strategies to enhance brand visibility, drive customer engagement, and generate leads.
  3. Content Marketing and Thought Leadership: Content marketing remains a powerful trend in pharma marketing. Organizations develop high-quality content, including blog posts, articles, whitepapers, videos, and webinars, to educate, inform, and establish thought leadership. Valuable content builds trust, credibility, and loyalty among target audiences, positioning companies as industry leaders and go-to resources.
  4. Influencer Marketing: Collaborating with influential figures in the pharma field, such as key opinion leaders, researchers, or renowned healthcare professionals, gains traction. Partnering with relevant influencers helps companies amplify their reach, increase brand awareness, and leverage the credibility and expertise of these influencers to promote products or services.
  5. Patient-Centric Marketing: With a growing emphasis on patient-centric healthcare, pharma marketers shift their focus towards patient engagement and empowerment. Companies create educational materials, patient support programs, and online communities to provide valuable information, resources, and support to patients and caregivers, building strong relationships and loyalty.
  6. Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Learning: AI and machine learning technologies integrate into marketing strategies to enhance customer experiences, streamline processes, and drive insights. AI-powered chatbots, predictive analytics, and data-driven decision-making enable personalized recommendations, automate customer interactions, and optimize marketing campaigns for better results.
  7. Virtual Events and Digital Experiences: The COVID-19 pandemic accelerated the adoption of virtual events and digital experiences in the pharma industry. Webinars, virtual conferences, and online product launches have become popular alternatives to in-person events, allowing for global reach, cost-effective networking, and seamless knowledge sharing.
  8. Regulatory Compliance in Marketing: With strict regulations governing the pharma industry, marketers emphasize maintaining compliance in their efforts. Adhering to regulations set by authorities like the FDA ensures promotional materials and campaigns meet legal requirements, ensuring patient safety and trust.

Should I work with a life sciences marketing agency or consultant?

When considering whether to work with a pharma marketing agency or a consultant, several factors come into play, including the scope of services required, scalability, specialization, flexibility, cost considerations, and desired level of collaboration. Marketing agencies provide comprehensive expertise, scalability, and collaborative teamwork, making them well-suited for organizations needing a full range of services. On the other hand, consultants offer specialized knowledge, customization, and direct engagement, making them an ideal choice for specific projects or niche expertise. Evaluating your organization’s specific needs, resources, and the scale of your marketing initiatives will help determine the best fit for your requirements.

Pharmaceutical Industry Statistics: Unveiling the Global Biotech Landscape in 2025

From groundbreaking therapies to cutting-edge research, the biotech sector has emerged as a global powerhouse.

In this article, we delve into the captivating realm of biotech, exploring statistics – including the impressive global pharmaceutical revenue by technologies, the value share of the biotech sector worldwide by country, and the number of public biotech companies in the United States.

These metrics provide the most up-to-date information in biotech stats as of 2024.

Global overview

Global market growth to exceed $1 trillion

The global prescription drug market is projected to see significant growth between 2022 and 2030. In 2024, worldwide prescription drug revenue is expected to reach $1.12 trillion, with revenues anticipated to surpass $1.7 trillion by 2030. This growth is fueled in part by the rising demand for orphan drugs, which are specialized treatments designed for rare diseases.

Global pharmaceutical revenue by technology

Global pharmaceutical revenue from 2012 to 2026 is categorized across different technologies. Biotechnology accounted for $266 billion in drug revenues in 2019, a figure that has been steadily growing for the past several years. It is projected to reach $505 billion by 2026, while the conventional drug market is expected to be worth $681 billion that same year. 

Value share of the biotech sector worldwide by country

In 2021, the United States emerged as the dominant force in the global biotech industry, commanding nearly 59% of the total global biotech value. Meanwhile, China accounted for approximately 11%.

Value share of the biotech sector worldwide by therapeutic area

The global biotech sector witnessed the dominance of oncology, which commanded a substantial value share of approximately 39%. This underscores the immense focus and investment in advancing cancer treatments and therapies.

The therapeutic landscape of the biotech sector also revealed other significant areas of interest. Neurology and rare diseases each held an 11.6% value share, reflecting the growing attention given to understanding and addressing neurological disorders and rare medical conditions.

Top global biotech companies selection based on market cap

In November 2022, Roche, a company based in Switzerland, was the top biotech company in the world with a market capitalization of $268.27 billion. US-based AbbVie came in second with a market cap of nearly $257 billion during the same period while Danish biopharmaceutical manufacturer Novo Nordisk ranked third with approximately $192 billion.

Top global biotech companies based on number of employees

As of 2022, Danish biopharmaceutical manufacturer Novo Nordisk had nearly 48,000 persons employed worldwide.

US and European landscape

Number of public biotech companies in the US by region

With a total of 107 public biotech companies operating in the region, Northern California ranked second among the top biotech regions in the country. Massachusetts held the leading position with 152 public biotech companies, a testament to its advanced biotech ecosystem.

European countries based on the number of public biotech companies in 2021

Sweden led the way in Europe with 79 public biotech companies, followed by the UK with 57, France with 41, and Germany with 23. The Netherlands ranked lowest on the list, with only seven public biotech companies. 

Market capitalization of US biotech companies by region

Massachusetts and Northern California have some of the most successful public biotechnology companies in the United States, totaling $344,979 million and $278,598 million in market capitalization, respectively. Southern Californian public biotech companies have a market capitalization of $268,827 million, while those in New York are worth $86,496 million.

European countries by public biotech company market capitalization

Germany emerged at the forefront, boasting the highest market capitalization of nearly $83,725 million. This achievement was primarily driven by the success of BioNTech, renowned for its groundbreaking COVID-19 vaccine Comirnaty.

Denmark secured a significant market capitalization of $61,529 million, followed closely by Ireland with $41,461 million.

The Netherlands showcased a robust presence with a market capitalization of $34,744 million, while the UK and Sweden exhibited notable figures of $25,779 million and $22,098 million, respectively. 

Focus: US companies

Sales per employee of select US biotech and drugs companies

As of the third quarter of 2022, US biotech company Gilead Sciences reported $2.3 million in sales per employee for the preceding twelve months. Amgen and Biogen came in second and third, with sales-per-employee figures of roughly $1.3 million and $1.13, respectively.

Research & development

Clinical trial retention remains a massive problem

Trial retention remains a critical factor in the success of clinical studies, yet significant challenges persist. According to Accenture:

  • Awareness Gap: Only 5-10% of eligible patients are aware of ongoing clinical trials, highlighting a major hurdle in recruitment.
  • Dropout Rates: 30% of patients discontinue participation due to non-clinical issues, such as logistical challenges or lack of support.
  • Early Terminations: 19% of trials close or terminate prematurely because of insufficient participants, resulting in an estimated $800 billion in lost value.

Top global biotech companies – R&D expenditure

In 2021, Danish biopharmaceutical major Novo Nordisk demonstrated a strong commitment to research and development in the field of biotechnology, spending $2.7 billion on R&D. Metrics such as R&D intensity (13.6%), productivity and success rate all suggest that Novo Nordisk’s investment in research and development is paying off well. 

Top 50 global pharmaceutical and biotech companies by R&D intensity

R&D intensity is calculated by taking a company’s R&D expenditure and dividing that figure by its sales. Everest Medicines had the highest R&D intensity at 1,109,828% and Arena Pharmaceuticals came in second at 776,783%. 

Average R&D cost to develop new biopharma

According to the data, the average cost to develop a new drug is approximately $2.3 billion.

Rate of return on biopharmaceutical late-stage R&D pipeline

The internal rate of return (IRR) on biopharmaceutical late-stage R&D pipelines varied between 2013 and 2022. The rate of return decreased from 7.2% in 2014 to 1.5% in 2019. The numbers increased to 6.8% in 2021 before another sharp decline to 1.2% in 2022.

Products

AI in drug discovery to reach $3 billion

AI investments in the pharmaceutical industry are projected to reach $3 billion by 2025, as companies leverage the technology to reduce drug development time and costs.

Global biotech drugs sales

In 2012, biotechnology drugs generated sales amounting to $149 billion. However, this figure was projected to surge to over $420 billion by 2022. This significant increase highlights the expanding market presence of biotech drugs and their growing share in the overall global pharmaceutical industry. 

Other estimates indicate a growth to USD 1,683.52 billion by 2030.

Projection of top 2023 pharma and biotech launches by revenue

A highly anticipated product launch in the biotech and conventional pharmaceutical sectors is the Alzheimer’s disease treatment Lecanemab, jointly developed by Eisai and Biogen. It is scheduled for launch in 2023 and is expected to generate approximately three billion US dollars in revenue by 2028. 

Total US pharma and biotech product sales 5 years after launch

In 2021, product revenues in the US totaled $24.5 billion for products launched five years earlier. This is a sharp increase from 2007, when sales under the same heading were valued at $4.3 billion.

US biopharmaceutical export volume

The value of US biopharmaceutical exports quadrupled between 2002 and 2021 to reach an estimated $83 billion.

Funding/M&A/IPOs

Total raised capital in US and Europe biotechnology industry

In 2021, the combined biotech industry in the US and Europe raised over $115,300 million in capital, including risk capital, IPOs, follow-on, and debt. This was a fall from the capital raised in 2020, which stood at $119,900 million.

Venture capital in US and Europe biotechnology industry

In 2021, the biotech industry in the US and Europe raised over $26 million in venture capital. This was a large increase from the amounts raised in 2019 and 2020, which were $18 billion and $18.1 billion, respectively.

US bioscience venture capital investments by segment

Over $53 billion was invested into healthcare technology systems from 2018-2021.

Biotechnology funding by National Institutes for Health

The National Institutes of Health (NIH) played a significant role in funding biotechnology research and development in the United States. In fiscal year 2021, the NIH allocated approximately $7.85 billion toward biotechnology funding.

Select M&As involving US and European biotech companies

2022 saw several M&As involving US and European biotech companies. Amgen acquired Horizon Therapuetics, a deal with a potential value of €27.8 million. Meanwhile, Pfizer took over Biohaven Pharma, which was valued at  €11,600 million.

Compensation in biotech

Select large biotech firms by CEO compensation

In 2019, several large biotech companies awarded significant CEO compensation. Daniel O’Day of Gilead received $29.11 million, Rick Gonzalez of AbbVie took home $21.61 million, Leonard Schleifer of Regeneron received $21.46 million, and Robert Bradway of Amgen was richer by $19.61 million.

These compensation figures reflect the recognition and remuneration bestowed upon these CEOs for their leadership and contributions to their respective biotech companies.

Top biotech & pharma firms by median employee pay

In 2019, Madrigal Pharma secured the top spot for median employee compensation among 231 surveyed companies in the biotech and pharma sector. The median employee at Madrigal Pharma received a remarkable compensation of $791,000 that year. Mirati Therapeutics came in second, offering employees a median compensation of $588,168.

Widest CEO-employee pay gap among biopharmaceutical firms

In 2019, Mylan NV had the widest CEO-employee pay gap among biotech and pharmaceutical companies. Mylan’s CEO received a compensation package that was 427 times higher than the median pay of an employee that year. 

Smallest CEO-employee pay gap among biopharmaceutical firms

Geron and Esperion Therapeutics had the lowest CEO-employee pay gap among biotech and pharmaceutical companies, with their CEOs getting just four times the median employee salary. In contrast, Instellia Therapeutics recorded the highest pay gap with a 9x difference between the salary of the CEO and a median employee.

Top biotech female CEO compensations

The CEO of United Therapeutics, Martine Rothblatt, received a total compensation of roughly $46 million, which made her the best-compensated female biotech CEO. She was followed by Elizabeth Barrett, CEO of UroGen Pharma, who earned close to $26 million, and Cynthia Collins, CEO of Editas Medicine, who received $14.48 million.

Pharma Statistics in 2024

We hope our exhaustive exploration of key statistics of the biotech industry has helped shed light on various aspects of this critical sector. From global pharmaceutical revenue distribution by technology to the value share of the biotech sector worldwide, these figures capture the immense scale and potential of biotechnology.

As the biotech industry continues to thrive and revolutionize the world of healthcare, companies need to effectively communicate their innovations, breakthroughs, and value propositions. 

Step into the spotlight with Digital Elevator, the leading biotech marketing agency ready to amplify your brand’s impact. Schedule a discovery call with our experts today to find out more!

Guide to Hiring Science Writers: Skills, Rates, & Career Insights

In a time where AI content writing is taking the place of humans, the need for specialized science writers has never been more demanding. As advancements in life science and biotechnology are constantly evolving, getting your message across clearly and accurately can spell the difference between communicating clearly to an acquisition partner, or failing short of impressing your target audience due to poorly executed content.

Science writers, and therefore accurate scientific content, can span multiple sectors such as healthcare, tech, and environmental science. They can also be utilized beyond research or technical writing, for marketing purposes. 

Whether you are hiring science writers, require one for marketing, or want to get into a scientific writing career, there is something to learn in this post. 

What Does a Science Writer Do? Science Writing Careers

Marketing Communications

At Digital Elevator, our biotech marketing agency understands that translating complex scientific concepts into clear, engaging content is essential for effective marketing communications. Our science writers, typically PhDs, often play a critical role here, helping businesses and institutions develop blog articles, service pages, and other high-value content that resonates with their audience. From educating readers on groundbreaking research to supporting product and service narratives, skilled science writers bring expertise to every piece they craft.

Science Journalism

Science journalists make scientific developments accessible to broader audiences by crafting stories for mainstream publications, niche science magazines, and news outlets. They may write for online news platforms, print magazines, or broadcast channels, translating complex information into formats that keep the public informed and engaged.

Public Communications

Science writers working in public relations and communications develop press releases, reports, and content for governmental agencies, research institutions, and professional societies. They frequently work with universities or research groups, often assisting with grant proposals, reporting breakthroughs, and fostering public interest in scientific advancements.

Technical Writing in Industry

Within private industry, technical writers focus on creating product documentation, technical bulletins, and press releases tailored to scientific and engineering audiences. Their work ensures that complex details are clearly conveyed to technical stakeholders and assists in the creation of technical papers that showcase industry innovations.

Editing and Content Refinement

Science editors work behind the scenes to polish and refine articles for academic journals, tech and science publications, and government reports. Whether for digital magazines or scientific journals, these editors ensure that all content is accurate, clear, and consistent, helping maintain high-quality standards in science communication.

Key Skills to Look for in a Science Writer

When hiring a science writer, it’s essential to look for a blend of specific skills that ensure content is accurate and compelling. As it relates to marketing and search engine optimization (SEO), this also means the content is optimized for reach. Here’s what top-notch science writers bring to the table:

Scientific Knowledge

A strong foundation in science is critical. Effective science writers understand core concepts and terminologies, making it easier for them to convey complex information accurately and without losing nuance. This knowledge allows them to communicate with authority and clarity.

Adaptability

Science writers often handle diverse topics, from healthcare innovations to environmental science and tech advancements. The best writers can shift seamlessly between subjects, keeping content relevant and tailored to the specific needs of each project.

Industry-Specific Insight

Each industry has its own language, audience, and approach. Science writers who can align their work with industry-specific expectations add value by producing content that speaks directly to the audience’s needs and interests.

Industry-specific insight may be related to work experience or education. For example, if you are focused on PhDs, you may want to seek science writers with that specific education. MDs or DOs are also science writers, as are those with MBAs, or general degrees. Consider this as you perform your research and weigh how important it is to you.

At Digital Elevator, we carefully vet our science writers for these skills. Each writer is selected for their ability to combine deep scientific understanding with the adaptability needed to produce high-impact content. As it relates to SEO and writing content for search engines, we generally look for writers who can follow our keyword research content briefs but also have skills in copywriting. 

Where to Find Qualified Science Writers

Finding qualified science writers is not difficult to do given the wealth of platforms with highly skilled professionals. However, the type of writing you need may shift your focus to one platform over another. 

Specialized Marketing Agencies

If you need marketing-related scientific content such as website content, blog posts, white papers, resource pages, or product and service pages, working with an agency like Digital Elevator will be your best bet. Working with an agency ensures the best writers are already pre-qualified for you with the added benefits of an editorial team, SEO team, and graphic design team, if needed. 

Freelance Platforms

Kolabtree

Kolabtree is the most popular platform for connecting with freelance science writers, often with no agency affiliation. You can select them by area of expertise, view their previous projects, and even have them bid on your projects.  

Upwork

Upwork is a popular freelancer platform, although it is not specific to the scientific community as is Kolabtree. The writers here may bill less per hour, but are likely to be slightly less qualified than what you might find on Kolabtree.

National Association of Science Writers

NASW has a database of 1,000s of science writers along with their expertise. Given the primary focus of the organization, it is a great place to find writers. The downside is that filtering options are not as robust as Kolabtree, requiring a bit more manual work to find writers.

How Much Do Science Writers Charge?

The rates of science writers vary depending on the level of expertise, their specific scientific background, and whether you require additional editing and proofreading services as you would get with an agency.

Agency

At an agency, expect to pay $250 to $400 per hour. Keep in mind this often comes with editorial processes, copywriting expertise, and done-for-you publication.

Freelance writers

Freelance rates can vary greatly depending on expertise, ratings within a given platform (writers with fewer or no ratings will often be cheaper), experience specific to scientific writing, education, and country of origin. Expect to pay anywhere between $50/hour and up ($100 an hour seems to be a common rate), and flat fee rates of as much as $2,500 for specific types of content, like blogs.

Science Writer Salary

Should you want to hire a full-time science writer or if you are a science writer wondering what you can expect, here is some information that will be helpful.

Glassdoor: $80K – $147K/yr

ZipRecruiter: $70,499

How to Work Effectively with a Science Writer

You can never provide too much context or information to a writer. Giving examples, providing content outlines, or setting expectations around quality and rounds of edits should be done upfront. If you are working with a new science writer, start with a small project before investing in larger projects to get an idea of how they work and how you like their communication, availability, turnaround time, and quality. 

Work with Our PhD Writers

If you need scientific writing services or content related to marketing communications, contact Digital Elevator today. We can help you strategize, research, and execute specialized life science or biotech content writing content with a specific focus on promotion and marketing. 

If you are a science writer and are interested in joining our pool of vendors, feel free to drop us a line as well.

FAQ

What should I look for in a science writer?

When hiring a science writer, prioritize candidates with a solid foundation in scientific knowledge, proven adaptability across topics, and a talent for storytelling. Look for writers who understand SEO if your content needs to be optimized for search engines. Additionally, consider any industry-specific experience or relevant degrees (such as PhDs, MDs, or MBAs) that align with your content needs.

What industries benefit most from science writers?

Science writers are invaluable in sectors like healthcare, biotechnology, life sciences, technology, and environmental science. They help communicate complex ideas clearly, supporting areas such as marketing, public communications, product documentation, and academic publishing.

How do I know if I need a freelance or full-time science writer?

Consider a freelance writer if your needs are project-based or if you require specific expertise periodically. Full-time science writers are ideal for companies with ongoing, diverse content needs. An agency can also bridge this gap, providing vetted, highly qualified science writers with editorial support and SEO expertise.

How much should I expect to pay for a science writer?

Rates vary based on expertise and format. Agencies may charge $250-$400 per hour, typically including editorial support and SEO services. Freelance science writers range from $50 to $100+ per hour or may offer flat-rate fees for specific content types. Full-time science writers typically earn annual salaries between $70,000 and $147,000.

How can Digital Elevator help me find the right science writer for my needs?

Digital Elevator connects you with highly qualified science writers with PhD-level expertise. Our vetted writers, backed by our editorial and SEO teams, are skilled in translating scientific content into compelling, marketing-friendly materials tailored for your audience. We can handle everything from research and content strategy to polished, publication-ready copy.

Hire science writers from Digital Elevator today.


Schedule a discovery call today to discuss your content writing needs. Our team specializes in content writing for marketing purposes, written by PhDs.