Focus on compliance, proof of value, and educational content to set your brand apart.

As a modern data provider, you know firsthand that while alternative data is booming, so is competition. With data budgets expected to grow in 2025, data buyers are flooded with options. 

In fact, according to a recent 2025 alternative data focused research study by BattleFin and Exabel, over 86% of investment managers said that their use of alternative data would increase overall in the next two years, with different data categories expected to experience varying levels of growth. 

When asked which sources of alternative data they anticipate using more in the next three years, geolocation data emerged as the category with the highest expected growth, with over 52% of respondents indicating a dramatic increase in usage. Consumer spending data closely followed, with around 51% of investment managers expecting to expand their use.

But despite having a vast menu of datasets to choose from, data buyers will only buy what stands out in generating signal for finding alpha or actionable insights for driving better business outcomes. In McKinsey’s recent report about scaling data products, the global consulting firm advises, “It’s about more value, not better data. The goal of developing data products isn’t to generate better data; it’s to generate value.”

So how do you get noticed? To help shed light on the subject, the alternative data experts at BattleFin offer the below three strategic ways to package your alternative data, reduce buyer hesitation, win their trust—and their business.

3 Powerful Ways to Package Alternative Data to Attract More Buyers

1. Front‑Load Compliance & Legal Assurance: Eliminate Risk for Buyers

One of the biggest friction points for data buyers—especially institutional ones—is risk. They must ensure your data is legally obtained, ethically sourced, and defensible against regulatory scrutiny. That’s why you should lead with compliance as a core feature of your offering.

Buyers in financial services require strict compliance documents like DDQs, formal policies governing PII/MNPI, and evidence of GDPR, CCPA or ISO 27001 alignment. Leading risk management firm Deloitte emphasizes the need for due diligence, vendor risk monitoring, and documentation around personally identifiable data. 

Reputation matters. That’s why it’s important to verify your certifications, collect data legally, and provide sample datasets to demonstrate credibility.

• Prepare a robust Due Diligence Questionnaire (DDQ) and make it front and center in your marketing materials.
• Highlight certifications and compliance frameworks like FISD standards, GDPR/CCPA alignment, and any ISO or audit credentials—this signals credibility. 
• Include metadata and data provenance documentation, clearly explaining where your data came from, how it's collected, and its legal basis.
  If possible, include a back‑test summary showing consistent quality and reliability over time. 

By starting here, you reduce barriers early, prove you’ve done your legal homework, and position yourself as a safe, trustworthy alternative data source.

2. Offer Validation: Live Trials and Real Proof of Value

Once compliance is established, buyers want to know: “Does this data actually offer value when used?” Proving your dataset’s effectiveness with concrete evidence is essential.

Trials and back‑testing build trust and let buyers analyze real results before committing. Alternative data buyers rely heavily on trial periods to assess performance. Alternative data analytics platforms like Exabel can help expedite this process with their highly efficient data evaluation offering and alternative data vendor value summaries. 

Flexible trial structures—including extensions—and transparent communication throughout trials improve engagement and conversion rates. 

• Structure live trials—either free (time-limited) or paid, but with enough scope (e.g., a 3‑month window) to let buyers integrate and test your data. 
• Provide sample data, data dictionaries, methodology documentation, and even backtested results as part of the trial—building confidence and speeding the evaluation. 
• Offer post-trial collaboration—let buyers retain access if they ask to extend or keep data past expiration. This flexibility can transform trials into conversions. 
• Track usage, performance accuracy, integration ease—and share insights—so buyers can see proof that your data “gets it right.”

Showing you can deliver reliable insights, and proving it live, makes decision-makers comfortable investing in your Alternative Data—even at premium pricing.

3. Use Whitepapers to Educate and Position Your Brand as a Thought Partner

For data consumers—especially those on data or research teams—whitepapers pack an intellectual punch. They demonstrate thought leadership, showcase real use cases, and create top‑of‑funnel interest in your data.

Buyers in the B2B world often engage with multiple content pieces—3 to 7 or more—before contacting a provider. Whitepapers are a top performer in building trust and awareness. Whitepapers that include case studies, visual insights, and quantifiable results can highlight your value without overt selling. 

Create research-driven whitepapers, for example:

• “How Alternative Data Predicted Q2 Retail Spend Trends”
• “Using Geolocation Data to Forecast Real‑Time Store Traffic”
• Or even an annual “Alternative Data Insights Report in [Your Vertical]”
  
  

Use real anonymized examples, charts, and narrative to explain the impact—not just technical specs. Keep it analytical and educational. Gate these content assets behind a simple form to capture leads, then nurture them via follow-up email content marketing. Repurpose whitepaper content into blog posts, Infographics, or executive summaries—extend reach and reinforce SEO value around the term Alternative Data.

Well-crafted whitepapers say, “We’re not just selling data—we enable better, data-driven decisions.” That differentiates you, especially among research-savvy data buyers.

In 2025, the alternative data market is booming—with buyers spending millions and loyalty running high. To stand out, packaging your data isn’t just about features—it’s about trust, proof, and partnership.

By leading with compliance, proving your data works, and educating the market through whitepapers, you craft a compelling narrative that your alternative data isn’t just available—it’s credible, valuable, and investment-worthy.

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