The Skyscraper Technique is a powerful and proven method for building high-quality backlinks by creating content that is better than what already exists. Developed by SEO expert Brian Dean, the Skyscraper Technique involves finding popular, link-worthy content in your niche, improving it significantly, and then promoting your enhanced version to the websites that linked to the original content. This strategy leverages existing demand and ensures that you’re offering valuable content that people are already interested in linking to.
In this guide, we’ll explore how the Skyscraper Technique works, why it’s effective for link building, and the steps to execute this strategy successfully.
What is the Skyscraper Technique?
The Skyscraper Technique is a link-building strategy that focuses on outperforming the competition by creating the best possible version of existing popular content. The idea is simple: find content that already has a significant number of backlinks, create something better and more valuable, and then reach out to the websites that are linking to the original content to suggest that they link to your superior version instead.
The name “Skyscraper” comes from the concept of building the tallest and most impressive content. If you can create a piece of content that’s more comprehensive, updated, and visually appealing than what’s already out there, it stands a good chance of earning more backlinks.
Here’s how the Skyscraper Technique works:
- Find link-worthy content in your niche.
- Create a better version of that content.
- Promote your content to websites that are already linking to similar pieces.
By improving upon what’s already popular, you dramatically increase your chances of acquiring high-quality backlinks.
Why the Skyscraper Technique is Effective for Link Building
The Skyscraper Technique is an extremely effective link-building strategy because it targets content that has already proven to be valuable and linkable. Instead of creating content from scratch and hoping that people will link to it, you’re building on something that’s already been successful. Here’s why it works so well for link building:
1. Targets Content with Existing Demand
With the Skyscraper Technique, you’re focusing on content that has already attracted a large number of backlinks. This means there is clear demand for the topic and that people are willing to link to high-quality content about it. By improving the original content, you tap into this existing demand, making it more likely that websites will link to your version.
2. Provides a Better Resource
The foundation of the Skyscraper Technique is creating something better than what currently exists. Whether it’s by adding more depth, updating outdated information, improving the visual elements, or making the content more user-friendly, your goal is to create the best resource available on the topic. Websites are more likely to link to your content if they see that it provides greater value than what they’re currently linking to.
3. Efficient Outreach Strategy
The outreach process is simplified with the Skyscraper Technique because you already know which websites are linking to similar content. Instead of cold-emailing random websites, you’re targeting sites that have demonstrated an interest in linking to content like yours. This targeted outreach increases the likelihood of success.
By focusing on quality over quantity and building content that’s superior to what’s already out there, you can significantly improve your chances of earning high-quality backlinks.
Step 1: Find Link-Worthy Content
The first step in executing the Skyscraper Technique is identifying link-worthy content that has already earned a significant number of backlinks. These are the pieces of content that are currently ranking well in search engines and have a high number of referring domains.
Here’s how to find content worth improving:
- Use SEO Tools: Tools like Ahrefs, SEMrush, or BuzzSumo are essential for finding content that has earned a lot of backlinks. Use these tools to search for content in your niche that ranks for popular keywords and has a high number of backlinks.
- Look for Weaknesses: Once you’ve found link-worthy content, analyze it for weaknesses. Is the information outdated? Could the content be more in-depth? Is the design or formatting lacking? Identifying areas where you can improve will be key to making your content stand out.
- Check Competitor Content: Analyze the content that your competitors are ranking for. Use tools to look at their backlinks and determine which pieces of content are earning them the most links. This gives you insight into the types of content that are most valuable for your niche.
By finding content that has already proven to attract links, you can ensure that your efforts are focused on high-demand topics.
Step 2: Create a Superior Version
Once you’ve identified a piece of content that has earned a significant number of backlinks, the next step is to create a superior version. The goal is to make your content more comprehensive, visually appealing, and valuable than the original.
Here’s how to create a better version of the content:
- Add More Depth: If the original content is lacking in detail, make your version more thorough by covering additional subtopics, adding expert insights, or including case studies.
- Update the Information: Content that was written years ago may be outdated. Update your version with the latest statistics, data, and trends to make it more relevant to today’s audience.
- Improve the Visuals: Visual content like infographics, videos, and charts can make your content more engaging. If the original content is text-heavy, consider adding visuals to break up the content and enhance the reader’s experience.
- Enhance the User Experience: Ensure that your content is easy to navigate, well-organized, and optimized for mobile devices. Improving the overall user experience can make your content more attractive to both users and website owners.
Creating a better version doesn’t just mean adding more words—it means providing more value in every way possible. The more comprehensive and useful your content is, the more likely you are to earn backlinks.
Step 3: Promote Your Content to Earn Backlinks
After creating your superior content, the next step is promoting it to earn backlinks. With the Skyscraper Technique, you already know which websites are linking to the original content, so your outreach can be highly targeted.
Here’s how to promote your content effectively:
- Find Backlink Sources: Use tools like Ahrefs or SEMrush to identify all the websites that have linked to the original content. These are your top outreach targets because they’ve already shown an interest in linking to content on this topic.
- Craft a Personalized Outreach Email: Reach out to the website owners, editors, or content managers with a personalized email. Mention the content they’re currently linking to and explain how your version is more comprehensive, up-to-date, or valuable. Politely suggest that they consider linking to your content instead.
- Highlight the Value: In your outreach, emphasize the added value that your content provides. Whether it’s new data, additional insights, or a better user experience, make it clear why linking to your content will benefit their readers.
- Follow Up: Many website owners won’t respond to the first email, so don’t be afraid to send a polite follow-up. Persistence is key when it comes to outreach.
By targeting websites that are already linking to similar content, your outreach efforts are more likely to succeed. The key is to demonstrate that your content is the best available resource on the topic.
Best Practices for the Skyscraper Technique
To maximize your success with the Skyscraper Technique, follow these best practices:
1. Focus on Quality
Always prioritize quality over quantity when creating your content. Your goal is to create the best possible version of the content, not just a longer or more complicated version. Focus on adding value by providing actionable insights, updated information, and superior visuals.
2. Be Persistent with Outreach
Outreach is the most critical part of the Skyscraper Technique, and persistence is key. Many website owners may not respond to your first email, but don’t give up. A polite follow-up can often make the difference in securing a backlink.
3. Track Your Results
Use tools like Google Analytics or Ahrefs to track your outreach results and monitor your backlink growth. Keep an eye on which outreach emails are successful and refine your approach over time based on what works best.
4. Keep Improving Your Content
SEO and content trends are constantly evolving, so don’t stop at one update. Continuously improve and update your content to ensure it remains the best resource available on the topic.
Conclusion
The Skyscraper Technique is an effective and efficient way to build high-quality backlinks by creating superior content and promoting it to websites that are already linking to similar pieces. By focusing on improving what’s already working, you can increase your chances of earning valuable backlinks that boost your website’s SEO and authority.
