The Skyscraper Technique for Website positioning: A Newbie’s Information

Are you discovering it powerful to get your content material rating on serps? Struggling to safe that one high-authority backlink regardless of your finest outreach efforts? Frightened that you simply’re lacking out on priceless visitors?

You are not alone. It’s simple to really feel like your well-crafted articles are buried beneath a mountain of on-line noise. You possibly can be writing bestsellers worthy of a Pulitzer, however folks may nonetheless not discover and hyperlink to your content material. It simply isn’t that simple anymore.

However what if you happen to may flip the script and make your content material stand head and shoulders above the remaining? What if the backlinks come on their very own on your content material? 

It is time to introduce you to the Skyscraper Approach, a confirmed Website positioning technique. With a little bit assist from Website positioning instruments, you may flip current content material into one thing larger, higher, and extra partaking that can naturally appeal to many backlinks.

The approach was created by Backlinko’s Brian Dean again in 2015 and gained immense recognition after the natural search visitors to his whole web site doubled in solely 14 days.

On this information, we’ll present you precisely how one can use it to spice up your rankings and construct high-quality backlinks with no massive finances or a model. There’s even a little bit guidelines and a listing of instruments you should use to make it simple. And simply so , we refreshed this text by following the skyscraper approach.

Let’s dive in.

Understanding the Skyscraper methodology intimately

The Skyscraper Approach searches for standard and well-received weblog posts about matters you or your online business usually cowl. When you’ve discovered a bit that matches the standards and already has a considerable viewers, you then search for methods to enhance the content material.

Unique information factors,  listicles, infographics, movies, user-generated content material, and any new and distinctive methods you may make the content material higher – significantly better.

The aim right here is to ship the identical message as the unique weblog put up however with your personal twist. There are myriad methods to do that, which we’ll discover later.

However only a fast notice: the Skyscraper Approach isn’t about copying or replicating current content material. As a substitute, it’s about bettering it from each angle, making your model so complete and priceless that readers received’t have to look wherever else as soon as they discover your article. The aim is to create the definitive useful resource on the subject.

When you’re completed creating the improved content material, attain out to the suitable folks, aka the websites which have linked to the high-ranking content material.

For the reason that web site’s already linked to comparable content material, they’re clearly within the subject and have already got a longtime viewers base for such blogs. This implies all it’s a must to do is get your weblog on their radar, and lo and behold, you’ve landed a promising hyperlink alternative. 

Why the Skyscraper Approach works

Since its launch, the skyscraper approach has been the surefire technique to success for a lot of content material entrepreneurs. Listed below are three the explanation why it really works.

1. There’s a confirmed demand

You hit the jackpot each time you discover current content material that’s already pulling sizable visitors. It is because there’s already assured demand for the subject you’re contemplating. So that you now not must scour for hours to jot down articles your readers aren’t on the lookout for. Piggybacking this fashion cuts down the time and effort required to supply new content material whereas additionally including to the data obtainable to your readers.

All it’s a must to do from right here on is perceive why that subject was so successful. Was it emotional or entertaining? Did it clear up some issues that your readers are experiencing? Have a look at what makes it nice so you may study to do the identical, however significantly better.

2. There’s an current viewers

The viewers you’re writing for has already gone over the unique content material. All it’s a must to do now’s construct upon that content material, and also you’ll have the potential to get them excited. Including visuals and different value-adding content material may have them from the get-go.

In case your subject is well timed, you must also checklist influencers and types who’ve shared the unique content material. This fashion, you may attain out to them instantly and faucet into their viewers whereas they’re nonetheless intrigued.

3. There’s appreciable rating potential

Extra doubtless than not, Google has already ranked the present useful resource effectively if it was so successful. It intuitively follows then that if you happen to create one thing even higher, you may topple over the unique piece. You’ll be able to simply appeal to extra visitors and outrank the earlier weblog put up – particularly if you happen to win over these high-quality hyperlinks. You continue to come out on prime by placing in simply half the trouble. Seems like a reasonably candy deal.

The Skyscraper methodology: confirmed examples

The Skyscraper Approach has helped numerous web sites obtain huge beneficial properties in search rankings, visitors, and backlinks. Let’s dive into some real-world case research of how this technique has been efficiently applied.

Brian Dean’s Backlinko

Brian Dean, the creator of the Skyscraper Approach, used this methodology to extend natural visitors to certainly one of his posts on Backlinko by 110% in simply 14 days.

• Content material: He created an in-depth information on “Google’s 200 Rating Elements”
• Strategy: Recognized a well-liked however outdated put up, created a extra complete model, and reached out to websites linking to the unique
• End result: 110% enhance in natural visitors, with the put up rating #1 for “Google rating components.”

This put up is refreshed repeatedly, the most recent being in September 2024. It’s nonetheless the #1 consequence for the key phrase “Google rating issue,” together with 150+ key phrases within the prime 3 place, bringing in 8,000+ month-to-month visitors and 17,600+ backlinks. 

G2

G2’s content material and offsite Website positioning group use the tactic to gas their fast visitors progress within the B2B software program assessment house.

Content material: Refreshed and expanded weblog posts, complete software program class insights

Strategy: Recognized and up to date outdated weblog posts, turning them into extra complete, present assets concentrating on top-ranking content material in extremely aggressive software program classes. Provided extra in-depth insights than their rivals

End result: Contributed considerably to G2’s progress from zero to over 1,000,000 month-to-month guests inside a 12 months.

The skyscraper methodology remains to be a part of G2’s link-building technique and helps it persistently get hold of tons of of high quality backlinks from extremely authoritative websites. 

Learn how to execute the Skyscraper methodology

Are you able to attempt the approach out for your self? Right here’s a brief guidelines that can assist you alongside the best way! Let this be your holy grail for executing the Skyscraper Approach. 

1. Analysis and discover alternatives

To begin with the Skyscraper Approach, you first have to do your analysis. Don’t blindly select a weblog just because it’s doing effectively. That clearly received’t add any worth to you or your organization. As a substitute, limit your analysis to related matters that you simply need to cowl.

• Begin by defining the key phrases and matters related to your area of interest and viewers. Take into consideration what matters your audience is looking for, primarily key phrase analysis.
• Use instruments like Google Key phrase Planner, Ahrefs, Moz, or Ubersuggest to establish high-traffic key phrases. These instruments will assist you uncover what individuals are looking for and what rivals are rating for.

For instance, G2 desires to achieve out to Website positioning professionals and encourage them to discover Website positioning instruments obtainable of their market. Focusing on Website positioning-related key phrases, reminiscent of “Skyscraper Approach” or “Website positioning instruments,” is smart to draw this viewers and supply worth associated to their work.

To ensure, concentrating on the KW is useful, you should use key phrase analysis instruments like Ahrefs and Semrush.

2. Analyze current top-ranking content material

Uncover top-ranking modern content material based mostly in your goal key phrases. You’ll be able to simply search instantly on Google to see what ranks on the primary web page for these key phrases. 

Consider the strengths and weaknesses of the top-ranking content material. Overview what makes the present content material profitable: sturdy information, construction, or engagement. Search for gaps within the data, outdated statistics, or lacking multimedia components.

Ask your self: How will you make your content material extra complete, partaking, or priceless than what’s already on the market?

Listed below are some methods to do it.

• Use the Aggressive Evaluation function in Ahrefs to do a competitor evaluation on a scale. Add your current content material URL and the URLs of the top-ranking pages. You will get a listing of key phrases for which the top-ranking content material ranks, however you do not. 

• Use the Website Explorer function on Ahrefs to research every of the competitor’s content material. Right here, you may see the key phrases the competing article is rating for. Use these queries to grasp the search intent and look to fulfill them in your article. 

• Analyze the backlinks and their anchors to see what information factors or data they’re linking again to. This offers you an thought of what you may add to your content material to draw these hyperlinks. 

2. Create higher content material

You’ve the unique content material in entrance of you. How are you going to enhance it? You’ll be able to’t simply copy-paste it, throw some fancy jargon in there, and suppose your work is finished. As a substitute, ample methods exist to enhance the content material into a bit that genuinely excites the viewers.

Listed below are just a few of them:

Use the content material evaluation you probably did within the earlier step to enhance your content material. Concentrate on including worth in these key areas:

• Tackle gaps: Fill in any gaps the unique content material left. Did it overlook new developments or methods? If that’s the case, incorporate them into your model to make your content material extra priceless.
• Add visuals: Improve your content material with visible storytelling. Add infographics, charts, or movies that make the data simpler to digest. Guarantee your visuals are related and add readability to your factors.
• Add information factors: Strengthen your arguments by incorporating unique information factors, up to date statistics, and research-backed insights. This provides credibility and makes the content material extra partaking for readers.
• Broaden on depth: Flip the content material right into a holistic information, making it longer and extra complete. Add recent, up to date statistics, real-life examples, and actionable insights. 

You need to use instruments like Clearscope to search out gaps, grade your content material, assess how effectively it covers related key phrases, and grade its general Website positioning efficiency. 

For instance, whereas engaged on this text, I observed that current content material on the Skyscraper Approach lacked data on superior instruments and methods, reminiscent of utilizing AI instruments for content material evaluation or influencer outreach for link-building. I added a piece on superior Skyscraper Strategies to handle this hole, highlighting new approaches no different article consists of.

3. Record down attainable distribution companions

Despite the fact that you’re writing a weblog that’s certain to be successful, that doesn’t assure that every one the folks you contact will publish it. You want a listing of potential blogs, manufacturers, and influencers excited by your content material to achieve out to.

Brian Dean had an outreach success charge of 11%. This won’t sound like lots, however it made an ideal impression. How so? Keep in mind that it isn’t the amount that issues; it’s the standard. An 11% success charge can deliver superb outcomes in case your whole checklist consists of high-quality hyperlinks. A great way to begin the checklist is to jot down down the blogs you already know of. Then, bounce on-line to seek for comparable blogs with an overlapping viewers. This is the way you do it. 

• Use the Hyperlink Intersect function underneath Competitor Evaluation on Ahrefs to search out the checklist of referring domains linking to the top-ranking content material that you do not have. These are your potential targets.

• You may as well take a look at the competitor content material’s backlink profile and export the checklist of websites linking to it utilizing Website Explorer on Ahrefs.

  

The checklist often consists of spam and irrelevant websites. Clear it as much as embody solely high-authority websites with larger area rankings and related content material.

Discover the related particular person to achieve out to for these domains. They would be the author, editor, web site proprietor, or somebody from the Website positioning or web site administration groups. You need to use instruments like Hunter.io to search out their electronic mail addresses or join with them on LinkedIn. Hold this checklist prepared. 

4. Promote the brand new and improved content material

Displaying social proof is a necessity now earlier than you may attain out to any websites or manufacturers. You have to first create a buzz together with your viewers to ascertain such proof. So get in your social media channels and promote your piece.

• Create social copies: Put together about 20 snippets from the content material to share on social media, together with variations of your headline, key quotes, statistics, or compelling takeaways. Tailor these snippets to completely different platforms (Twitter, LinkedIn, and so on.) for optimum attain. 
• Use visuals: Incorporate your content material’s eye-catching photos, infographics, or quick movies to make the posts extra partaking and encourage shares.
• Tag influencers: Point out or tag related influencers or trade consultants in your posts to extend visibility and encourage engagement.
• Activate Your Community: Ask your group {and professional} community to assist amplify the content material. Their shares and engagement may help construct preliminary momentum and enhance the attain of your put up.

As soon as your content material begins gaining traction, it turns into extra engaging to exterior web sites and companions, who’re likelier to hyperlink to it.

5. Share with the suitable folks

At this level, your enhanced content material may have gained some momentum, so it’s lastly time to share it. Right here, you should use the checklist of attainable distribution companions from step two of the guidelines.

Right here’s how one can do an efficient outreach marketing campaign:

• Personalize your outreach: Whereas you will have a template, at all times personalize every electronic mail to display real curiosity. Point out particular factors about their web site, and clarify why your content material will resonate with their viewers.
• Spotlight mutual advantages: Clearly talk what you are asking for and the way sharing your content material will profit them and their followers. Make it compelling, whether or not it’s filling gaps in current data or offering extra depth.
• Place your content material: Allow them to the distinctive promoting level of your content material over the piece they already hyperlink to.
• Make it simple: Connect a direct hyperlink or copy of the content material to allow them to simply assessment it with out leaping by means of hoops.

6. Work arduous to remain related

Any content material is barely helpful if individuals are excited by studying it. Over time, nevertheless, the usefulness of even probably the most excellent content material begins to say no. Others do the identical as you and publish even higher content material. Newer trade developments emerge. So, your as soon as “new and improved” content material will finally develop into stale.

The one technique to defeat this curse and make sure that your content material stays evergreen is to maintain updating it. It’s arduous work, however it continues to repay since you proceed to create worth and, consequently, rank effectively.

Superior skyscraper strategies for 2025

As Website positioning continues to evolve, so ought to your method to the Skyscraper Approach. Listed below are some superior methods to maintain your content material aggressive:

Use generative AI instruments

Love ’em or hate ’em, generative AI instruments are extraordinarily useful. Use AI-powered instruments like ChatGPT, Claude, and Gemini to generate recent content material concepts, analyze gaps in current content material, and optimize for key phrases.

AI goes past key phrase density and search quantity, providing distinctive insights reminiscent of tone evaluation, content material construction enhancements, and even suggestions for audience-specific changes so long as you immediate them effectively.

For instance, I used ChatGPT to research this text, revealing content material gaps that conventional Website positioning instruments missed.

Interactive content material

Engagement is all the pieces. To extend web page and person interplay time, incorporate interactive components like quizzes, calculators, or free instruments into your content material that customers may discover priceless.

This may additionally make your content material extra shareable, enhancing your link-building potential. In reality, free instruments are discovered to be driving extra visitors to web sites. 

Information-driven content material

With current algorithm updates and the rise of generative AI instruments, one factor is evident: Google prioritizes Expertise, Experience, Authoritativeness, and Trustworthiness (EEAT) greater than ever. On this scenario, unique analysis and unique information are key to standing out.

By conducting surveys, utilizing trade information, or creating proprietary reviews, you may provide insights that others can’t replicate. Information-driven content material boosts your authority and makes your content material extra priceless, credible, and shareable.

The consequence? Larger possibilities of attracting high-quality backlinks and bettering your rankings. Content material backed by stable information isn’t simply most popular—it’s important for Website positioning success.

Multimedia integration

Enhance engagement by including high-quality multimedia components like movies, podcasts, or explainer animations. These enhance the person expertise and assist your content material rank higher in search outcomes. If you’re not including multimedia to your content material, think about creating one when distributing it on social media channels. 

Skyrocket your visitors 

The potential of the Skyscraper Approach is evident. By reworking current high-performing content material with recent insights and selling it successfully, you may considerably increase natural visitors, appeal to high quality backlinks, and strengthen your model’s authority.

Nonetheless, reaching success with this technique calls for each creativity and persistence. So, persistently ship smarter, extra priceless content material than your rivals. You’ll create a robust basis for long-term progress and sustained visibility.

Wish to enhance extra? Examine confirmed on-page Website positioning methods from an Website positioning professional.  

This text was initially printed in 2020 and has been up to date with new data.