The Skyscraper Technique is a link building strategy that involves improving existing popular content and replicating its backlinks. It is one of the most famous and effective methods for earning high-quality, authoritative links. A successful Skyscraper Technique campaign can dramatically boost a website’s SEO performance. This guide provides an expert look into this deadly strategy for backlinks. With years of SEO experience, this text explains the complete, step-by-step process. Mastering the Skyscraper Technique is a key skill for anyone serious about building a powerful backlink profile.
Many websites struggle to create content that earns a significant number of links. The Skyscraper Technique provides a proven blueprint to solve this problem. It is a data-driven approach that removes the guesswork from creating link-worthy content. This guide will provide a detailed roadmap. You will learn how to find the right opportunities. You will also discover how to create a superior piece of content and perform effective outreach. Following this strategy will help you to earn the kind of powerful backlinks that can skyrocket your search engine rankings.
What is the Skyscraper Technique?
Before executing this strategy, it is essential to understand its core principles. The Skyscraper Technique is a specific, multi-step process. It is not just about writing a long article. It is a strategic framework for content-led link building. A clear understanding of its philosophy is the first step toward using it effectively.
The Skyscraper Technique can be broken down into three main steps.
- Find: Find a piece of content in your niche that has already been successful in earning a lot of backlinks.
- Improve: Create a piece of content on the same topic that is significantly better than the original.
- Outreach: Reach out to the websites that are linking to the original piece and ask them to link to your superior version instead. This simple, three-step process is the core of the entire strategy.
The Psychology Behind Why This Strategy Works
This strategy is effective because it is based on the natural human desire for the best. Webmasters and content creators want to link to the best, most up-to-date, and most comprehensive resources available. The Skyscraper Technique is a process for creating that best resource. When you present someone with a clearly superior piece of content, you are giving them a compelling reason to update their link.
How It Differs From Other Link Building Strategies
The Skyscraper Technique is different from many other link building strategies. It is a proactive, content-first approach. Instead of just asking for links, you are creating a valuable asset first. It is more targeted than general guest posting. It is also more scalable than some forms of resource page link building. It is a distinct and powerful method.
It’s a key tactic in any serious link building campaign
The Skyscraper Technique is a core tactic in any serious link building program. It is a repeatable and scalable way to build high-quality, relevant links. The successful execution of this technique can result in a large number of authoritative backlinks from a single piece of content. This makes it a very efficient and high-impact strategy.
Phase 1: Finding the Right Skyscraper Opportunity
The first and most critical phase of the Skyscraper Technique is finding the right opportunity. The success of your entire campaign depends on choosing the right piece of content to improve upon. This is a research-intensive process of finding content with proven linkability.
The Core Goal: Finding Content with Proven Linkability
The core goal of this phase is to find a piece of content that has already proven its ability to attract links. You are not trying to guess what people might link to. You are using data to find what they are already linking to. This data-driven approach is what makes the Skyscraper Technique so reliable. This is a specialized form of link prospecting.
Method 1: Using SEO Tools to Find Top-Linked Content
The most efficient way to find these opportunities is to use a paid SEO tool like Ahrefs or SEMrush. You can use their content explorer or keyword explorer features. Enter a broad keyword related to your niche. Then, filter the results to show the pages that have the most referring domains. This will give you a list of the most linked-to content for that topic.
Method 2: Analyzing Top-Ranking SERPs for Your Keywords
Another method is to simply search for your target keywords in Google. Look at the top 10 results. These pages are ranking highly for a reason. They likely have a strong backlink profile. You can take the URLs of these top-ranking pages and put them into your SEO tool to analyze their backlinks. This is a great way to find opportunities directly related to your main keywords.
Method 3: Looking for Outdated or Thin Content
As you are looking for top-linked content, pay special attention to pieces that are outdated or thin. If you find an article from several years ago that still has a lot of links, that is a perfect Skyscraper opportunity. It will be much easier to create a superior piece of content if the original is clearly in need of an update.
How to Qualify a Skyscraper Prospect
Once you have a list of potential targets, you need to qualify them. A good prospect is a piece of content that is highly relevant to your business. It should have a large number of links from high-quality, authoritative websites. And, most importantly, you must be confident that you can create a piece of content that is significantly better.
Phase 2: Creating a Superior Content Asset
The second phase of the Skyscraper Technique is the content creation phase. This is where you take your chosen topic and create a new piece of content that is objectively better than the original. This is the most resource-intensive part of the process, but it is also the most important.
The Goal: Making Your Content Objectively Better
Your goal is not just to create another article on the same topic. Your goal is to create a new resource that is so much better that a webmaster would be doing their audience a disservice by not linking to it. The improvement needs to be clear and undeniable. This is how you create true link bait.
Improvement Tactic 1: Make It Longer and More Comprehensive
One of the most common ways to improve a piece of content is to make it longer and more comprehensive. Read the original article and identify any subtopics or questions that it missed. Your new piece should cover the topic in much greater depth. This added value makes your content a more complete resource.
Improvement Tactic 2: Make It More Up-to-Date
If the original piece of content is old, you have an easy way to improve it. Create a new version that is completely up-to-date. Include the latest information, data, and statistics. Update any outdated screenshots or examples. This freshness is a powerful value proposition for your outreach.
Improvement Tactic 3: Improve the Design and User Experience
You can also improve a piece of content by making it more visually appealing and easier to read. A modern, clean design with high-quality images and a clear structure is a major improvement over an old, text-heavy page. A better user experience is a valid and compelling reason for someone to update their link.
Improvement Tactic 4: Add Unique Data and Visuals
To truly “skyscraper” the competition, you should try to add unique value. This could be in the form of original data from a survey. It could also be a custom-made infographic, chart, or video that helps to explain the topic. These unique elements make your content much more defensible and link-worthy.
Phase 3: The Art of Skyscraper Outreach
The final phase of the Skyscraper Technique is the outreach. This is where you contact the owners of the websites that are linking to the original piece of content. The goal is to persuade them to switch their link to your new, superior resource.
The Goal: Convincing People to Update Their Links
The goal of your outreach is to present a clear and compelling case. You need to quickly and politely show the person that you are providing them with an opportunity to improve their own page by linking to a better resource. A successful outreach campaign is the key to capitalizing on all of your hard work.
Step 1: Exporting the Backlink Profile of the Original Piece
The first step is to go back to your SEO tool. Enter the URL of the original piece of content you improved upon. Then, export a complete list of all the backlinks that are pointing to that page. This will be your outreach prospect list.
Step 2: Vetting and Qualifying the Prospect List
You should not reach out to every single site on that list. You need to vet the list to remove any low-quality or irrelevant sites. You want to focus your outreach efforts on the high-quality, authoritative websites. This will improve your success rate and ensure you are only getting valuable links.
Step 3: Finding the Right Contact Information
For each qualified prospect, you need to find the right contact person. This is usually the author of the article or the editor of the website. Do not send your email to a generic “info@” address. Use a tool or a bit of manual research to find their direct email address.
Step 4: Crafting the Perfect Skyscraper Outreach Email
Your outreach email must be personal, concise, and value-driven. The principles of effective link building outreach are crucial here. Start by letting them know that you found their page and noticed they were linking to the original resource. Then, briefly explain that you have created a new, more up-to-date version. Finally, politely ask them if they would consider updating their link.
Advanced Tips and Considerations for the Skyscraper Technique
While the three-step process is simple, there are some advanced tips that can increase your chances of success. These considerations can help you to get even more value from your Skyscraper campaigns.
The Importance of a Strong Promotional Push
Do not rely solely on your direct outreach. You should also promote your new Skyscraper piece through all of your other channels. Share it on social media. Send it to your email list. This can help to get some initial traction and social proof for your new content, which can make your outreach more effective.
Common Mistakes to Avoid When Using This Technique
There are a few common mistakes to avoid. Do not choose a topic that is too broad or too competitive. Do not create a new piece of content that is only marginally better than the original. And do not send a generic, spammy outreach email to your prospect list.
How a successful campaign can become a great link building case study
A successful Skyscraper campaign can be a fantastic asset for your own marketing. You can write a detailed link building case study that explains your process and showcases your results. This can be a great way to attract new clients and establish your own expertise.
The Core Steps of the Skyscraper Technique
The Skyscraper Technique is a powerful, content-focused approach to link building. It is a repeatable system that can be broken down into a few core phases.
- Find a Proven Asset: Use data to find a piece of content that has already attracted a lot of high-quality backlinks.
- Create a Superior Version: Make a new piece of content that is objectively and significantly better than the original.
- Perform Targeted Outreach: Contact the websites that are linking to the original piece and ask them to link to your new, improved version.
Conclusion
The Skyscraper Technique is a deadly effective strategy for earning high-quality backlinks. It is a testament to the power of a content-first approach to SEO. A commitment to the Skyscraper Technique is a commitment to creating the best possible content in your industry. By consistently finding opportunities and creating truly superior resources, you can build a powerful and defensible backlink profile. This will lead to higher rankings, more traffic, and a stronger and more authoritative brand. This is one of the smartest ways to find and capitalize on new link opportunities.
Frequently Asked Questions
How is the Skyscraper Technique different from resource page link building?
The resource page link building tactic is focused on finding existing resource pages and asking to be added. The Skyscraper Technique is about finding a specific piece of popular content and actively trying to replace its backlinks with your own, superior piece.
What is a good success rate for Skyscraper outreach?
A good success rate for this type of outreach is typically between 5% and 10%. This is a very strong rate for cold email outreach. The high success rate is due to the fact that you are reaching out to a pre-qualified list of prospects with a highly relevant and valuable offer.
Does the Skyscraper Technique still work today?
Yes, it absolutely still works. However, the bar for what is considered “better” content is much higher now. Your content must be truly exceptional to succeed with this strategy in today’s competitive landscape.
Can I use this for any type of content?
This technique works best for informational content, such as guides, listicles, and studies. It is not a good fit for commercial or product pages. The goal is to create a valuable resource that other people will want to reference.
How does this fit into the broader landscape of internet marketing?
The Skyscraper Technique is a key part of the “earned media” component of a comprehensive internet marketing strategy. It is a way to earn high-quality media placements and links based on the merit of your content.