The Guide to Data Mining for PVPs: Scaling Your Approach

Part 2 of 2: Discovering PVPs at Scale

Welcome back, Cannonballers! In our first PVP training post we covered the fundamentals of Permissionless Value Propositions, messages so valuable that prospects would pay to receive them.

But discovering one brilliant insight for one prospect is just the beginning. The real power of PVPs emerges when you can systematically uncover them at scale and apply them to pain-based segments at scale.

In this follow-up guide, we're diving deeper into the data mining and technical implementation aspects of PVPs.

Data Sources: Finding Your PVP Gold Mine

The quality of your PVP depends largely on your data sources. The most powerful PVPs come from combining multiple sources in ways your competitors haven't considered. Here's a hierarchy of data sources to explore:

First-Order Sources

Basic, widely accessible data that everyone has:

• Company websites

• LinkedIn profiles

• Basic demographic databases

• Google searches

These have low differentiation value since everyone has access to them.

Second-Order Sources

Industry-specific data with moderate differentiation:

• Industry directories

• Trade association databases

• Industry publications

• Conference attendee lists

Third-Order Sources

Specialized, high-value data with strong differentiation:

• Permit databases (building, Department of Transportation)

• Patent filings

• Weather data

• Job postings (signaling expansion or contraction)

• Tech stack analysis tools

• Legal filings (like the Pacer database for lawsuits)

• Public grant documentation

Cross-Domain Sources

Data from adjacent industries that provides unexpected insights:

• Supply chain logistics data applied to construction timelines

• Healthcare regulatory data applied to construction safety

Temporal Sources

Data showing changes, trends, or upcoming events:

• Regulatory deadlines

• Seasonal industry patterns

• Contract expirations

• Market shortage forecasts