Skyscraper Technique: Step-by-Step Guide

The Skyscraper Technique is a proven way to boost website traffic and earn high-quality backlinks by creating better content than what's already out there. Here's how it works:

1. Find What’s Popular: Use tools like Ahrefs or SEMrush to identify top-performing content with strong backlinks.
2. Make It Better: Add new research, visuals, and improve formatting to create content that’s more useful and engaging.
3. Reach Out for Links: Contact relevant websites and suggest linking to your improved content.

This method can increase traffic, improve rankings, and build authority. For example, Brian Dean doubled his site’s traffic in 14 days using this approach. Follow these steps to create content that stands out and attracts links naturally.

The Skyscraper Technique: How To 10x Your SEO Traffic

Step 1: Find Top-Performing Content

Start by identifying content that already performs well using data-driven tools and techniques.

Tools and Methods for Research

Leverage popular SEO tools to pinpoint content with strong metrics:

Focus on content that has at least 50–100 referring domains. This gives you a solid starting point. Dive into the backlink profiles to figure out why this content is getting links.

Analyze Backlink Profiles

Here’s how to assess the quality of backlinks:

• Export backlink data using tools like Ahrefs or SEMrush.
• Filter out low-quality or spammy links.
• Study patterns in the links to see what makes the content appealing.

A strong backlink profile highlights what type of content earns authoritative links. Use this insight to guide your content strategy.

Picking the Right Topics

Research tools can help you evaluate topics based on relevance, link potential, and gaps in existing content.

Key considerations for choosing topics:

• Make sure the topic aligns with your business goals.
• Look for subjects that naturally earn links.
• Spot areas where existing content is lacking in depth or practical insights.

The goal is to create content that’s not just better, but far more useful than what’s already out there. For example, if current content is missing actionable examples or data, that’s your chance to step in and create something much stronger.

Step 2: Build Better Content

Once you've pinpointed your top-performing content, the next step is to create something even more impactful.

Add New Research and Data

Strengthen your content by incorporating updated, credible research:

"It's about finding holes in your content, specifically missing content that should help the buyer on their journey." – Chima Mmeje, Founder of Zenith Copy

A great example: Victoria Kurichenko used a topic gap analysis to identify missing elements in her content. By addressing these gaps, she boosted daily clicks from 2–5 to 20–30 and secured top 5 rankings for her target keywords.

Pair this research with visuals that make complex information easier to understand.

Improve Visual Content

Turn complicated data into simple, engaging visuals:

• Custom infographics
• Interactive charts
• High-quality images
• Before/after comparisons
• Video tutorials

For instance, Fusion Medical Staffing uses graphics to highlight the perks of traveling radiologist roles, simplifying career details for their audience. Similarly, Cruise America’s #BeThereNow campaign combines user-generated visuals with social proof, creating relatable and impactful content.

The final touch? Make your content easy to read and search-friendly.

Format for Users and Search

Organize your content to appeal to both readers and search engines. Focus on these key areas:

1. Clear Hierarchy
   Use a logical structure with proper headers (H1–H6). Break down topics into smaller sections to guide readers smoothly through the content.
2. Enhanced Readability
   Keep paragraphs short, use descriptive subheadings, add visuals, and leave plenty of white space. These elements make your content easier to scan.
3. Mobile Optimization
   Ensure your content looks and works great on all devices. Balancing reader experience with SEO-friendly formatting is both an art and a science.

These steps not only improve user experience but also make your content more authoritative and link-worthy.

sbb-itb-5be333f

Step 3: Reach Out for Links

Once your content is optimized, the next step is building backlinks through targeted outreach. AuthorityHacker’s 3-year campaign shows how effective this can be: they identified 152,000 prospects and gained 4,306 backlinks from 4,244 referring domains. Use this as a blueprint to reach out strategically and secure high-quality links.

Build a Contact List

Start by creating a list of potential websites to contact. Focus on sites that align with these criteria:

Export backlinks from top-performing content in your niche using Ahrefs or Semrush. Remove irrelevant links, such as those from directories or forums, to keep your list focused. A well-researched list will improve your chances of success.

Craft Emails That Work

To maximize your response rate, your emails need to stand out. Here’s how to structure them:

1. Subject Line Matters
   Use clear, benefit-driven subject lines. For example, with skyscraper content, you might say: "Enhance Your [Topic] Article with This Updated Resource".
2. Email Body Structure
   • Start with a personalized greeting that references their content.
   • Introduce yourself briefly and establish credibility.
   • Explain how your content adds value or improves on existing resources.
   • Provide a specific suggestion for implementation.
   • End with a single, clear call-to-action.

"Link building is more than just links; it's about making connections, fostering relationships, and creating value for both parties involved." – Eric Ward, Pioneer of Link Building

Follow-Up Strategy

Persistence is key. Studies show that sending 4-7 follow-up emails can triple your response rate compared to just sending 1-3 emails. For link-building campaigns, follow this schedule: send the initial email, then follow up every 4 business days for three rounds.

Track your outreach efforts to measure success:

Track Results and Expand

Monitor Performance

Keep an eye on how your skyscraper content is performing by tracking key metrics using tools like Google Analytics and other SEO platforms:

• Link Growth: Check for new and lost backlinks to evaluate how well your outreach efforts are working.
• Traffic: Measure organic visitors and page views to see how far your content is reaching.
• Engagement: Look at metrics like time on page and bounce rate to gauge how engaging your content is.
• Rankings: Track your SERP positions to understand the impact of your SEO efforts.

For example, Stan Ventures managed to grow organic traffic from 600 to 10,000 monthly visitors and increased backlinks from 70 to 102 trusted domains by January 2025, all through data-driven tweaks to their strategy.

Adjust Your Approach

Use the data you gather to fine-tune your strategy. Quick action on changes, especially with links, can make a big difference. Here’s how you can use performance data to improve:

• Link Quality Management: Keep tabs on new and lost backlinks. If a valuable link disappears, reach out to the site owner to get it reinstated. For harmful links, use Google's disavow tool to safeguard your site.
• Content Optimization: Dive into engagement metrics to spot areas that need improvement. Update your content with newer data, improve visuals, or restructure sections where readers tend to drop off. These updates help your skyscraper content stay relevant and authoritative.

Find More Topics

Once your current strategy is running smoothly, explore new content opportunities to expand your reach:

Focus on quality over quantity to maintain high standards and ensure your content remains impactful.

Using the Top SEO Marketing Directory

Tools for Skyscraper Content

The Top SEO Marketing Directory organizes tools to support every step of the Skyscraper Technique. Tools are grouped by purpose, making it easier to find what you need.

Match the tools to your budget and goals to get the best results.

• Ahrefs is a top choice for content research and backlink analysis. Its features like link auditing, competitive research, and content gap analysis make it worth the $79/month starting price.
• Pitchbox is ideal for outreach, offering automation, analytics, and team collaboration. These features are especially useful for agencies, justifying the $495/month cost.

Membership Plans

The directory offers three membership levels, each tailored to different needs and budgets, providing access to SEO tools and resources for your Skyscraper campaigns.

• Premium Plan ($49/month): Ideal for content creation and link building, this plan includes advanced listings and agency contacts. It also provides detailed comparisons of tools like Respona and BacklinkManager, helping you choose the right solutions.
• Basic Plan (Free): Perfect for beginners or small teams, this plan offers basic comparisons of SEO tools. While it doesn’t include in-depth features or pricing details, it’s a great starting point.
• Enterprise Plan (Custom): Designed for larger organizations, this plan delivers full access to the directory along with tailored recommendations. It’s a great option for managing multiple Skyscraper campaigns at scale.

Choose the membership level that aligns with your project size and goals to make the most of the directory’s resources.

Conclusion

Summary Points

The Skyscraper Technique has proven to be an effective approach for driving traffic and gaining backlinks. For example, in July 2024, Stan Ventures updated their 'Top 10 Search Engines' post, increasing organic traffic from 600 to over 10,000 and boosting backlinks from 70 to 102.

Here are the key components that contribute to its success:

Getting Started

The results speak for themselves - this method works. Start by choosing one piece of content that has room for improvement. Brian Dean applied this strategy and doubled his organic search traffic in just 14 days by enhancing content quality and executing targeted outreach.

"It's human nature to be attracted to the best." - Brian Dean, Backlinko.com

To maximize your outcomes:

• Regularly update your content to keep it relevant and engaging.
• Monitor your outreach performance and adjust your strategy based on feedback.
• Use tools from the Top SEO Marketing Directory to simplify your process and scale your efforts.

The Skyscraper Technique isn’t just about making content longer - it’s about offering better value that naturally earns backlinks and engagement. G2’s story of growing from zero to over a million monthly visitors in a year highlights how consistent use of this approach can deliver outstanding results. By following the steps outlined here, you can achieve similar outcomes.

Related Blog Posts

• 9 Steps for Competitor Backlink Analysis
• Ultimate Guide to Competitor Backlink Analysis
• How To Create Evergreen Content for SEO
• 10 Skyscraper Technique Tips for Link Building