Skyscraper Technique: How to Build Content That Outranks Competitors

The skyscraper technique is a content marketing and link-building strategy where you find high-performing content in your niche, create something significantly better, then reach out to people who linked to the original to link to yours instead. Coined by Brian Dean of Backlinko, it's one of the most reliable ways to earn backlinks and rank higher.

Quick Answer

The skyscraper technique has three steps:

1. Find content that already has lots of backlinks
2. Create something substantially better (more thorough, more current, better designed)
3. Outreach to sites linking to the original and pitch your improved version

How the Skyscraper Technique Works

Step 1: Find Link-Worthy Content

Look for content in your niche that already attracts backlinks. Use tools like Ahrefs, SEMrush, or Moz to find pages with high referring domain counts.

What to look for:

• Posts with 50+ referring domains
• Outdated content that still ranks (easy to improve)
• Listicles or guides with obvious gaps
• Content that looks good on paper but lacks depth

Step 2: Make Something Better

"Better" can mean several things:

More thorough, cover angles the original missed. If they listed 20 tools, list 50 with pros, cons, and pricing.

More current, update outdated statistics, remove dead links, add recent examples and trends.

Better designed, improve readability with visuals, infographics, tables, and clear formatting.

More actionable, add templates, checklists, step-by-step instructions, and real examples.

Step 3: Outreach to Linkers

Find everyone who linked to the original content. Send a short, specific email explaining:

• What the original content covers
• How yours is better (be specific)
• A direct link to your improved piece

Outreach template:

"Hi [Name], I noticed you linked to [Original Post] in your article about [Topic]. I just published an updated version that includes [specific improvements]. Thought it might be a good replacement for your readers. Here's the link: [URL]"

Why the Skyscraper Technique Works

Common Mistakes

Creating content that's only slightly better. A 10% improvement won't convince anyone to swap a link. Aim for a noticeable leap in quality.

Skipping the outreach. Publishing better content doesn't guarantee links. You need to actively tell people about it.

Targeting content with too few links. If the original only has 5 referring domains, the upside is limited. Target content with at least 25-50 links.

Ignoring search intent. If the top-ranking content is a tool and you create a blog post, you're not competing on the same playing field.

Skyscraper Technique for Social Media Content

The same principle applies to social media content creation:

• Find viral posts in your niche
• Create a better version (more value, better visuals, sharper hook)
• Post it and tag or mention the original creators to start conversations
• Use hashtag strategy to maximize reach

Conclusion

The skyscraper technique works because it removes guesswork from content strategy. Instead of hoping your content earns links, you reverse-engineer what already works and make it better. The key is committing to a significant improvement, not just a marginal one.

Related Concepts

• Content Creation, building high-quality content
• Content Strategy, planning content for maximum impact
• Content Marketing, driving growth through content
• Content Curation, finding and sharing the best content
• Expert Roundup Posts, another high-ROI format for earning backlinks

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