The Skyscraper Technique: What It Is & Does It Still Work?
What Is the Skyscraper Technique?
The Skyscraper Technique is a link-building strategy that involves identifying high-performing content with many backlinks, creating a significantly improved version, and using that content to attract backlinks and boost search rankings.
How to Execute the Skyscraper Technique:
- Find Popular Content: Identify articles in your niche with a high number of backlinks.
- Create a Superior Version: Improve the content by adding more depth, unique insights, better formatting, or updated information.
- Outreach to Link Sources: Contact websites linking to the original piece and encourage them to link to your improved version.
Website owners want to link to the best resources, so they may consider updating their links to point to your content instead.
Brian Dean, founder of Backlinko, introduced the Skyscraper Technique in 2015. The name comes from the idea of finding the tallest “building” (top-performing content) and constructing an even taller one (a better resource).
While this technique was highly effective when first introduced, SEO has evolved, raising an important question:
Does the Skyscraper Method Still Work?
The short answer: Not as well as it used to.
Why the Skyscraper Technique Has Declined in Effectiveness:
- Overuse: Website owners are inundated with emails about “improved” content, making this tactic feel like cold outreach that gets ignored.
- Formulaic Outreach: Many SEOs use the same email template, making their requests easy to dismiss.
- Longer Isn’t Always Better: Some assume “better” means “longer,” but modern audiences prefer concise, actionable content.
- Evolving Google Algorithms: Backlinks remain important, but Google now prioritizes content quality, relevance, and user experience over sheer link volume.
That said, the core concept—finding popular content and making a superior version—can still work if applied correctly. Here’s how:
How to Make the Skyscraper Technique Work Today
1. Find the Right Content
Identify content that already attracts many backlinks. Use tools like Semrush’s Backlink Analytics to analyze competitors’ most linked content.
Criteria for Selecting Content:
- Relevance: Choose a topic your audience cares about.
- Backlink Quality: Look for pages with at least 50-100 referring domains from reputable sources.
- Improvement Potential: Find content that lacks depth, originality, or up-to-date information.
2. Create Content That Is 10x Better
Your new content should be so much better that websites linking to the original feel compelled to switch to yours.
Ways to Improve Content:
- Offer a Unique Perspective: Don’t just rewrite—bring fresh insights, case studies, or expert opinions.
- Provide Information Gain: Add new data, research, or expert contributions rather than rehashing existing knowledge.
- Satisfy Search Intent: Ensure your content directly answers user queries with clear, concise information.
- Use Custom Visuals: Graphics, infographics, and charts improve engagement and shareability.
- Enhance Readability: Structure with clear headings, bullet points, and concise paragraphs for easier scanning.
3. Reach Out to Websites for Backlinks
Find websites that linked to the original content and suggest they link to yours instead.
Steps:
- Find Linking Sites: Use Semrush’s Backlink Analytics tool to see which sites are linking to the outdated content.
- Identify Decision-Makers: Contact writers or editors rather than generic email addresses.
- Craft a Personalized Email:
- Keep it short and direct.
- Mention something specific about their article.
- Explain how your content is better and more valuable to their audience.
- Suggest where they could update the link in their article.
- Be polite and non-pushy.
Is the Skyscraper Technique Worth It?
While not as easy as before, the Skyscraper Technique can still drive results if executed strategically. Focus on true value addition rather than just length or backlinks, and personalize your outreach for better success.
Want to streamline your link-building efforts? Semrush offers tools to help with backlink analysis, outreach tracking, and more. Sign up today to refine your SEO strategy!