How to Use the Skyscraper Technique to Get More Links

Link building remains one of the most challenging aspects of SEO. You’ve probably tried guest posting, broken link building, and countless other strategies with mixed results. But there’s one content marketing technique that consistently delivers high-quality backlinks: the Skyscraper Technique.

Developed by Brian Dean of Backlinko, this link-building strategy involves finding popular content in your niche, creating something even better, and then reaching out to websites that linked to the original piece. The results speak for themselves—Dean used this exact method to increase his organic traffic by 110% in just 14 days.

The beauty of the Skyscraper Technique lies in its logical approach. Instead of creating content and hoping people will link to it, you start with proven linkable content and make it impossible to ignore. This guide will walk you through each step of the process, from identifying link-worthy content to crafting outreach emails that actually get responses.

Step 1: Find Popular Content in Your Niche

Your first task is identifying content that has already attracted links. This proves there’s demand for the topic and gives you a roadmap for your content creation.

Use SEO Tools for Content Research

Start with tools like Ahrefs, SEMrush, or Moz to find high-performing content in your industry. In Ahrefs, use the Content Explorer feature to search for keywords related to your niche. Sort results by the number of referring domains to see which pieces have earned the most backlinks.

Look for content that has attracted at least 50-100 referring domains. This indicates a strong link potential while still being achievable to outrank. Articles with thousands of backlinks might be too competitive for newer websites.

Analyze Social Sharing Data

Content that gets shared frequently on social media often attracts links, too. Use BuzzSumo to find the most shared content for your target keywords. Pay attention to articles that perform well across multiple platforms—these tend to have broader appeal.

Check Competitor Backlink Profiles

Examine your competitors’ most linked-to content using their backlink profiles. This reveals what type of content resonates with your shared audience and which websites are likely to link to similar resources in your niche.

Step 2: Create Superior Content

Once you’ve identified your target content, it’s time to build your skyscraper. Your goal isn’t just to match the original—you need to create something significantly better.

Make It More Comprehensive

If the original article covers “10 Ways to Improve Your SEO,” create “25 Proven SEO Strategies That Actually Work.” Add more examples, case studies, and actionable tips. Include sections that the original missed and address common questions in the comments.

Improve the Design and User Experience

Visual appeal matters for both user engagement and link acquisition. Use professional graphics, charts, and screenshots to illustrate your points. Break up text with subheadings, bullet points, and white space to improve readability.

Consider adding interactive elements like calculators, quizzes, or downloadable resources. These features increase time on page and give people additional reasons to link to your content.

Update with Fresh Data and Examples

Replace outdated information with current statistics and recent examples. If the original article references 2019 data, find 2024 research to make your content more valuable. Add new case studies and remove dead links or deprecated tools.

Address Content Gaps

Read through comments on the original content and related social media discussions. What questions did readers ask that weren’t answered? What additional topics did they want covered? Use these insights to make your content more complete.

Step 3: Master Your Outreach Strategy

Creating great content is only half the battle. The real magic happens when you reach out to websites that are linked to the original content.

Build Your Prospect List

Use your SEO tool to export all websites that link to your target content. Focus on relevant, high-authority sites that would genuinely benefit from linking to your improved resource. Remove obvious competitors, low-quality sites, and irrelevant domains.

Look for websites that are linked to the content in context, meaning they referenced it within an article rather than just listing it in a resource page. These contextual links are more valuable and indicate the site owner found the content genuinely useful.

Craft Personal Outreach Emails

Generic link-building emails get ignored. Take time to personalize each outreach message. Mention something specific about their website or content that shows you’ve actually visited and read their work.

Your email should follow this structure:

• Brief, personalized introduction
• Mention their existing link to the inferior content
• Briefly explain why your content is better
• Suggest they might want to update their link
• Make it easy to say yes with no pressure

Keep emails concise—busy website owners don’t have time to read lengthy pitches. Focus on the value you’re providing to their readers, not what you’ll gain from the link.

Follow Up Strategically

Most people won’t respond to your first email, but that doesn’t mean they’re not interested. Send a polite follow-up after one week, and another after two weeks. After that, move on to other prospects.

Each follow-up should add value. Share an additional insight, mention a recent update to your content, or reference a relevant industry development that makes your resource even more timely.

Step 4: Measure and Optimize Your Results

Tracking your success helps you refine your approach and improve future campaigns.

Monitor Your Backlink Growth

Use Google Search Console and your preferred SEO tool to track new backlinks to your skyscraper content. Monitor both the quantity and quality of links you’re earning. One high-authority link often provides more SEO value than dozens of low-quality ones.

Analyze Your Outreach Performance

Keep detailed records of your outreach efforts. Track open rates, response rates, and conversion rates for different email templates and approaches. This data helps you identify what resonates with your target audience.

Note which types of websites are most likely to link to your content. Industry blogs, resource pages, and educational institutions might respond differently to your outreach efforts.

Refine Your Content Strategy

Pay attention to which aspects of your improved content generate the most positive feedback and links. Do people love your additional examples? Are they sharing your custom graphics? Use these insights to guide future skyscraper projects.

Consider updating your content periodically to maintain its competitive advantage. Add new sections, update statistics, and incorporate reader feedback to keep your skyscraper standing tall.

Common Pitfalls to Avoid

Several mistakes can derail your skyscraper technique efforts. Avoid targeting content that’s too broad or competitive for your domain authority. Don’t skip the research phase—understanding why people are linked to the original content is crucial for your success.

Resist the urge to mention your content to everyone who linked to similar pieces. Quality outreach to relevant prospects always outperforms mass email campaigns. Finally, don’t give up too quickly. Link building takes time, and the best results often come weeks or months after your initial outreach.

Building Your Link Building Foundation

The Skyscraper Technique represents a strategic approach to off-page SEO that prioritizes value creation over manipulation. By focusing on genuinely superior content and thoughtful outreach, you’re building relationships that extend far beyond individual links.

Start with one well-researched skyscraper project rather than attempting multiple campaigns simultaneously. Master the process with a smaller scope, then scale your efforts as you refine your approach. Remember that sustainable link building is about providing value to your industry, not just boosting your search rankings.

The websites linking to you today could become collaboration partners, guest posting opportunities, or sources of referral traffic tomorrow. Treat each outreach interaction as the beginning of a potential long-term relationship, and your link-building strategy will deliver benefits far beyond improved search engine visibility.