What Is the Skyscraper Technique?
The skyscraper technique is a link building strategy created by Brian Dean of Backlinko that involves finding popular content in your niche, creating something significantly better, then reaching out to sites linking to the original content.
This method works because you’re not asking for links to average content. You’re offering genuinely superior resources that improve the web and provide more value to readers.
Why the Skyscraper Method Still Works in 2025
Despite being introduced years ago, this technique remains effective because it focuses on creating genuine value rather than manipulative tactics.
The strategy aligns perfectly with Google’s emphasis on quality content and natural link earning, making it a sustainable white hat approach.
Core Principles Behind Success
Sites naturally want to link to the best available resources, content superiority makes link requests legitimate, providing real value eliminates manipulation concerns, and quality always outperforms mediocrity in link acquisition.
Modern Adaptations
Today’s skyscraper content requires higher quality standards, visual elements and data visualization matter more, user experience and mobile optimization are essential, and comprehensive topic coverage beats surface-level content.
Step One: Finding Link-Worthy Content to Improve
Successful skyscraper campaigns start by identifying content that already attracts links and has proven its value.
Using Content Research Tools
BuzzSumo identifies most-shared content in any topic, Ahrefs Content Explorer shows pages with most backlinks, SEMrush reveals competitor top-performing content, and Google search finds currently ranking resources.
Ideal Content Characteristics
Look for content with 50+ referring domains showing link appeal, topics relevant to your industry, content published 2+ years ago allowing improvement, and comprehensive pieces covering broad topics.
Competitive Analysis
Export backlink data for top-ranking content, identify why people link to existing pieces, find gaps or weaknesses to improve, and assess whether you can realistically create something better.
Topic Selection Criteria
Choose evergreen topics with lasting relevance, select subjects within your expertise area, target topics with search volume and interest, and avoid overly technical subjects requiring specialized knowledge.
Combining Skyscraper with Other Link Building Tactics
Integrate skyscraper technique with complementary strategies for maximum impact:
- Use skyscraper content as guest post topics
- Amplify through digital PR campaigns
- Target same prospects for broken link building
- Include expert quotes via HARO
- Promote on social media platforms
- Link internally from other high-authority pages
- Build content clusters around pillar pieces
Step Two: Creating Content That’s Genuinely Better
Simply replicating existing content fails. Skyscraper content must provide substantial improvements justifying link replacement.
Ways to Make Content Superior
Add more comprehensive topic coverage and depth:
- Include latest 2024-2025 data and statistics
- Add original research or case studies
- Create custom infographics and visual assets
- Improve content structure and readability
- Add interactive elements or tools
- Include expert quotes and perspectives
- Provide downloadable resources or templates
- Update outdated information and examples
Content Quality Standards
Ensure factual accuracy with proper citations, write in clear accessible language, optimize for mobile experience, include compelling visuals every 200-300 words, and structure content with descriptive headings.
Making Content Link-Worthy
Original data or research attracts citations, comprehensive guides become reference resources, visual content gets shared more frequently, practical actionable advice provides real value, and unique perspectives stand out from generic content.
Step Three: Finding Link Prospects
Identify websites that linked to the original content as your primary outreach targets.
Extracting Backlink Data
Use Ahrefs to see all sites linking to original content, export referring domains into spreadsheet, remove duplicate domains keeping one entry per site, and filter for relevant high-quality prospects.
Qualifying Prospects
Check domain authority using Moz or Ahrefs (target DA 20+), verify sites receive organic traffic, ensure topical relevance to your content, confirm sites actively publish or update content, and prioritize sites linking from content body over footers.
Prioritizing Outreach
Focus first on high-authority relevant sites, target sites linking to multiple similar resources, prioritize recently updated active sites, and save lower-priority prospects for follow-up rounds.
Step Four: Executing Effective Outreach
Personalized professional outreach converts prospects into actual backlinks.
Finding Contact Information
Check site contact pages for email addresses, use Hunter.io to find email patterns, look for author bylines and social profiles, and try standard formats like firstname@domain.com.
Crafting Outreach Emails
Write compelling subject lines mentioning their content, personalize opening by referencing specific article, briefly explain your superior resource, suggest they might want to update their link, and keep total length under 150 words.
Outreach Email Template
Subject: Your [Topic] Resource
Hi [Name],
I noticed your excellent article on [topic] at [URL]. I especially appreciated your section on [specific element].
I recently published a comprehensive guide on [topic] that includes [unique value proposition – e.g., “2025 data, interactive tools, expert interviews”].
It might make a valuable addition or update to your resource section.
Either way, great work on the original piece!
Best, [Your Name] [Link to your content]
Outreach Best Practices
Send emails Tuesday-Thursday for best response rates, personalize every message avoiding templates, follow up once after 5-7 days if no response, and track all outreach in spreadsheet.
Measuring Skyscraper Campaign Success
Track specific metrics to evaluate effectiveness and refine your approach.
Key Performance Indicators
Count total backlinks acquired from campaign, measure domain authority of linking sites, track referral traffic from new links, monitor keyword ranking improvements, and calculate conversion rate from outreach to links.
Success Benchmarks
Typical response rates range 5-15% for personalized outreach, link acquisition rates average 2-8% of contacted sites, and higher-quality content and outreach improve conversion significantly.
ROI Analysis
Calculate time invested in content creation, assess time spent on outreach, measure traffic and ranking improvements, and compare results to other link building methods.
Common Skyscraper Technique Mistakes
Avoid these frequent errors that reduce campaign effectiveness.
Critical Errors That Hurt Results
Creating content only marginally better than original, using generic mass email outreach, targeting completely irrelevant sites, neglecting content promotion beyond outreach, and giving up after one outreach round all damage results.
Outreach Mistakes
Generic template emails reduce response rates, contacting wrong person at organization, pitching to sites that rarely link out, being pushy or demanding, and sending follow-ups too frequently all hurt success.
Content Quality Issues
Superficial improvements don’t justify link replacement, outdated information undermines credibility, poor design and readability reduce appeal, and missing unique value proposition fails to differentiate.
Best Content Formats for Skyscraper Success
Choose proven formats that naturally attract backlinks:
- Ultimate guides covering topics comprehensively
- Original research with unique 2024-2025 data
- Infographic-heavy visual content
- Interactive calculators or tools
- Expert roundups with industry insights
- Detailed comparison and analysis posts
- Step-by-step tutorials with real examples
Scaling Your Skyscraper Efforts
Once you master the technique, systematic scaling increases results.
Building Content Pipeline
Identify 10-15 skyscraper opportunities quarterly, prioritize topics by link potential and relevance, schedule content creation systematically, and maintain consistent publishing cadence.
Outreach System
Develop repeatable outreach processes, use templates while maintaining personalization, track all campaigns in CRM or spreadsheet, and measure results to optimize approach.
Team Collaboration
Assign content creation to skilled writers, dedicate resources to design and visuals, designate outreach specialists, and coordinate efforts through project management.
Your Skyscraper Implementation Plan
Execute the skyscraper technique systematically by identifying proven link magnets using Ahrefs or BuzzSumo, creating genuinely superior resources with original research and comprehensive coverage, and reaching out to qualified prospects with personalized professional emails.
Track results continuously to refine your approach, focus on creating resources valuable enough that link requests feel legitimate, and maintain consistent execution for sustainable link building success through quality content and strategic outreach.
