Skyscraper Technique
The Skyscraper Technique involves finding well-performing content on competitor topics, creating better versions of that content, and building links to your improved version. It's a content-based link building strategy that targets established demand.
What is Skyscraper Technique?
The Skyscraper Technique, popularized by Brian Dean, is a content marketing and link building strategy that works by identifying competitor content that has earned many backlinks, creating a superior version of that content, and then promoting your version to the sites that linked to the original. The technique is called 'skyscraper' because you're essentially building a taller, more impressive structure on the same foundation. Rather than creating entirely new topics that might not have link opportunities, you build on proven demand and existing interest.
The process begins with competitive research to identify content that's earning backlinks and ranking well for your target keywords. Use tools like Ahrefs, SEMrush, or Moz to identify link opportunities by analyzing what content on similar topics has attracted backlinks. You might find that a competitor's 'Top 50 SEO Tools' article has earned 200 backlinks—this reveals that many people are interested in this topic and willing to link to comprehensive resources. Your opportunity is to create a better version—perhaps 'Top 75 SEO Tools' with more detailed reviews, updated information, and superior formatting.
After creating your superior content, you identify the sites that linked to the original and reach out to them with a personalized pitch highlighting why your version is better. The goal is to encourage them to update their link from the competitor's content to yours. This works because webmasters often appreciate learning about better resources that provide more value to their audience. Success requires that your content genuinely is better—more comprehensive, more current, better designed, or providing unique insights—rather than just claiming superiority.
The Skyscraper Technique combines content quality improvement with strategic link building and is particularly effective for competitive keywords. However, it requires significant effort in content creation and outreach, and works best when targeting topics with established search demand. The technique can be applied to blog posts, tools, resources, guides, and other content types that naturally attract links.
Why It Matters for SEO
The Skyscraper Technique targets content and topics that already have proven demand and link opportunities, making it more efficient than creating content on untested topics. By improving on existing content and strategically building links, you can accelerate ranking growth for competitive keywords.
Examples & Code Snippets
Identifying Skyscraper Opportunities
# Process for finding Skyscraper opportunities:
# 1. Go to Ahrefs Site Explorer
# 2. Enter competitor domain: competitor.com
# 3. Sort by backlinks in top content
# 4. Identify patterns:
# - Most linked: comprehensive guides
# - Topic: "Ultimate Guide to X"
# - Backlinks: 150+
#
# 5. Analyze why it's linkable:
# - Comprehensive coverage
# - Recent data
# - Good formatting
#
# 6. Create better version with:
# - More tools/resources
# - Updated statistics
# - Better design/UXUsing Ahrefs to find link-worthy competitor content
Outreach Email Template
Subject: Better resource for your article on [topic]
Hi [Name],
I came across your article about [topic] and noticed you linked to [competitor resource]. I found that resource helpful but wanted to share an even better option.
We recently published [Your Resource] which includes:
- [Advantage 1]
- [Advantage 2]
- [Advantage 3]
We think your readers would benefit from the updated information. If you agree, updating the link from [old resource] to ours would be great.
Best regards,
[Your Name]Template for reaching out to sites that linked to original content
Use Ahrefs' Site Explorer or SEMrush to identify your competitor's top linked content, then analyze what makes that content linkable. Create your improved version with superior depth, updated data, better design, and unique insights. Compile a list of sites linking to the original, then reach out with personalized messages explaining why your resource is better and linking to it benefits their audience.
Frequently Asked Questions
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