# Skyscraper Technique: Create Better Content, Earn More Links

Learn the Skyscraper Technique—finding popular content, creating something better, and reaching out to earn links. A proven link building strategy.

Canonical: https://backlinkgrid.com/glossary/skyscraper-technique


**The Skyscraper Technique** is a link building strategy coined by Brian Dean (Backlinko) that involves finding popular content with many backlinks, creating something significantly better, and reaching out to sites linking to the original to suggest they link to your improved version instead.

## How the Skyscraper Technique Works

### The Three Steps

**Step 1**: Find link-worthy content
- Identify content with many backlinks
- Look for improvement opportunities

**Step 2**: Create something better
- Make it longer, more comprehensive
- Update outdated information
- Improve design and usability
- Add new value

**Step 3**: Outreach to the right people
- Contact sites linking to original
- Suggest your better resource
- Earn the links

---

## Step 1: Finding Content

### What to Look For

**Ideal targets**:
- High number of referring domains
- Outdated information
- Poor design or UX
- Missing important points
- Room for improvement

### Discovery Methods

**Using Ahrefs**:
- Content Explorer for popular content
- Site Explorer for competitor content
- "Best by links" reports

**Using BuzzSumo**:
- Most shared content
- Content with engagement
- Topic research

**Manual research**:
- Search for target keywords
- Analyze top-ranking content
- Check backlink profiles

---

## Step 2: Creating Better Content

### Ways to Be "Better"

**More comprehensive**:
- Cover more subtopics
- Include more examples
- Add more data points
- Answer more questions

**More current**:
- Update statistics
- Include recent developments
- Remove outdated advice
- Add new tools/resources

**Better designed**:
- Improved visuals
- Better formatting
- Enhanced readability
- Modern design

**More actionable**:
- Step-by-step instructions
- Templates and checklists
- Downloadable resources
- Practical examples

### The "10x Content" Standard

**Aim to be**:
- Genuinely better, not just different
- Worth linking to over the original
- The best resource on the topic
- Something people actually want

---

## Step 3: Outreach

### Finding Prospects

**Export from tools**:
- All sites linking to original content
- Filter by quality/relevance
- Find contact information

### Crafting Outreach

**Email elements**:
1. Reference their link to original
2. Introduce your improved version
3. Explain why it's better
4. Suggest the swap

### Example Template

```
Subject: Better resource for your [topic] article

Hi [Name],

I noticed you linked to [original piece] in your
article about [their topic].

I recently created an updated guide on the same topic
that goes more in-depth and includes [specific
improvements - new data, more examples, etc.].

Here's the link: [Your URL]

It might be worth a look if you're updating that post.

Either way, loved your article!

Best,
[Your name]
```

---

## Success Factors

### What Makes It Work

**Higher success when**:
- Your content is genuinely better
- Original is outdated
- Outreach is personalized
- Timing is right (they care)
- Clear improvement shown

### Common Failure Points

**Why it sometimes fails**:
- Content isn't actually better
- Generic outreach
- Wrong prospects
- Saturated topics
- Poor execution

---

## Realistic Expectations

### Conversion Rates

**Typical results**:
- Response rate: 5-15%
- Link placement: 2-10%
- Many prefer to keep existing link
- Some add yours alongside

### Time Investment

**Significant effort**:
- Content creation: Days to weeks
- Outreach: Hours to days
- Results: Weeks to months
- Not a quick win

---

## Variations and Evolutions

### Shotgun Skyscraper

**Approach**:
- Broader outreach
- Not just sites linking to original
- Anyone interested in topic
- Higher volume, lower personalization

### Reverse Skyscraper

**Approach**:
- Find content you can create
- Create it first
- Then find who linked to similar
- More proactive approach

### Content-First Skyscraper

**Approach**:
- Create exceptional content first
- Find what it could replace
- Outreach to relevant linkers
- Reversed order

---

## Best Practices

### Content Creation

**Do**:
- Genuine 10x improvement
- Solve real problems
- Original research/data when possible
- Exceptional design
- Keep it updated

**Don't**:
- Make marginal improvements
- Just make it longer
- Copy without adding value
- Ignore design quality

### Outreach

**Do**:
- Personalize every email
- Explain specific improvements
- Be genuinely helpful
- Follow up once
- Accept rejection gracefully

**Don't**:
- Send mass generic emails
- Be pushy
- Exaggerate improvements
- Spam follow-ups

---

## Tools for Skyscraper

### Discovery

- Ahrefs Content Explorer
- BuzzSumo
- Semrush Content Analyzer
- Google Search

### Outreach

- Hunter.io (emails)
- Pitchbox (management)
- Buzzstream (CRM)
- Gmail + sheets (basic)

---

## Is Skyscraper Still Effective?

### Current Reality

**Challenges**:
- More competition
- People are used to these emails
- Harder to be genuinely better
- Saturated in some niches

**Still works when**:
- Content truly superior
- Outreach highly personalized
- Topic isn't oversaturated
- Execution is excellent

### Evolution

**Modern approach**:
- Higher quality bar
- More personalization
- Relationship building
- Combined with other tactics

---

## Summary

The Skyscraper Technique creates better content to earn competitor links:

**Process**:
1. Find popular, linkable content
2. Create something significantly better
3. Outreach to sites linking to original

**Success requires**:
- Genuinely superior content
- Personalized outreach
- Patience and persistence
- Realistic expectations

**Best for**:
- Topics with outdated leaders
- Areas where you can truly excel
- Long-form, comprehensive content
- Sites with existing authority

The technique works but requires genuine excellence, not just minor improvements.

---

## Related Terms

- [Broken Link Building](/glossary/broken-link-building)
- [Link Building Outreach](/glossary/link-building-outreach)
- [Linkable Asset](/glossary/linkable-asset)
- [Content Marketing](/link-building/)