What Is the Skyscraper Technique?

The Skyscraper Technique is a link building strategy coined by Brian Dean of Backlinko. The concept is simple: find content that already has lots of backlinks, create something significantly better, then reach out to the people linking to the original piece and ask them to link to yours instead.

The name comes from the principle behind skyscrapers in city skylines. Nobody gets excited about building the 10th tallest building. People only care about the tallest one. The same applies to content: to attract links, you need to be the best resource available on a given topic.

The Three Steps

Step 1: Find Link-Worthy Content

Start by identifying content in your niche that has already attracted a significant number of backlinks. Use tools like Ahrefs, SEMrush, or Moz to find pages with strong backlink profiles.

How to find candidates:

• Search your target keyword in Ahrefs Content Explorer and sort by referring domains
• Analyze competitor pages that rank on page one and check their backlink counts
• Look for older content that was once the definitive resource but has become outdated
• Browse industry roundups and "best of" lists to find frequently linked resources

The ideal candidate has at least 25-50 referring domains and covers a topic you can genuinely improve upon.

Step 2: Create Something Better

This is the most critical step. Your content needs to be noticeably superior to the original. "Better" can mean several things:

More comprehensive. Cover subtopics the original missed. Add sections, examples, and edge cases that make your piece the definitive resource.

More current. Update outdated statistics, tools, strategies, and examples. Content from 2-3 years ago often references tools that no longer exist or strategies that no longer work.

Better designed. Improve the visual presentation with custom graphics, charts, tables, and screenshots. A well-designed page is more shareable and linkable.

More practical. Add actionable steps, templates, checklists, or downloadable resources that readers can immediately use.

Better structured. Use clear headings, a table of contents, jump links, and logical organization that makes the content easier to navigate.

The goal is to make your content so obviously better that anyone who sees both pieces would choose yours.

Step 3: Outreach to Linkers

Once your content is published, contact the people who link to the original piece and let them know about your improved version.

Finding link prospects:

1. Enter the original URL into Ahrefs, SEMrush, or Moz
2. Export the full list of referring domains
3. Filter out irrelevant sites (forums, social media, low-authority domains)
4. Find contact information for each site (editor email, contact page, or social profiles)

Outreach approach:

• Mention that you noticed they link to [original piece] on their [specific page]
• Explain that you just published an updated, more comprehensive version
• Briefly describe what makes yours better (2-3 specific improvements)
• Suggest they might want to check it out and consider updating their link
• Keep it short, specific, and genuinely helpful

Why the Skyscraper Technique Works

Proven demand. You are not guessing whether a topic will attract links. You already know it does because the original piece has backlinks. You are tapping into existing demand.

Clear value proposition. When you reach out, you are not asking for a random favor. You are offering a genuinely better resource that improves their page for their readers.

Scalable. The technique can be repeated for any topic in your niche. Each successful skyscraper piece can generate dozens or hundreds of backlinks.

Realistic Expectations

The Skyscraper Technique is not a guaranteed win. Here is what to expect:

Results vary significantly based on the quality of your content, the competitiveness of the topic, and the effectiveness of your outreach emails.

Common Pitfalls

Making it only marginally better. Adding 200 extra words to a 2,000-word article is not a skyscraper. Your improvement needs to be substantial and obvious.

Targeting content with too few links. If the original piece only has 5 referring domains, the pool of outreach targets is too small. Aim for pieces with 30+ referring domains.

Poor outreach. Generic, mass-sent emails get ignored. Personalize each message and reference the specific page where they linked to the original content.

Ignoring content promotion. Do not rely solely on outreach. Share your skyscraper content on social media, in communities, and through your email list to build initial traction.

Choosing topics outside your expertise. Your skyscraper content needs to demonstrate genuine expertise. Picking a topic you know nothing about will show in the quality.

Skyscraper Technique 2.0

Brian Dean later refined the technique with what he calls Skyscraper 2.0. The key difference is matching search intent more precisely. Instead of just making content longer or more comprehensive, the focus shifts to understanding exactly what searchers want and delivering it better than anyone else.

This means studying the top-ranking results, understanding why they rank, and creating content that serves the searcher's actual needs more effectively, even if that means a shorter, more focused piece rather than a longer one.

Key Takeaways

The Skyscraper Technique is a proven link building strategy that works by creating the best content on a topic and promoting it to people who already link to inferior alternatives. Success depends on genuinely superior content, targeted outreach, and realistic expectations about conversion rates. When executed well, a single skyscraper piece can generate dozens of high-quality backlinks and establish your site as an authority on the topic.