Skyscraper Technique
The Skyscraper Technique is a link building and content strategy that involves finding high-performing content in your niche, creating something significantly better, and then reaching out to the people who linked to the original to offer your improved version instead.
§ 1 Definition
The Skyscraper Technique, coined by Brian Dean of Backlinko, is a three-step content and link building method. Step one: find content in your niche that already has a lot of backlinks. Step two: create a significantly better version of that content, either by making it longer, more current, more visually compelling, or more actionable. Step three: reach out to everyone who linked to the original piece and let them know your superior resource exists. The technique gets its name from the analogy of finding the tallest building on the skyline (the best existing content on a topic) and building an even taller one. When executed well, it generates high-quality backlinks that boost search rankings.
§ 2 Step 1: Finding Link-Worthy Content
Use SEO tools like Ahrefs, Semrush, or Moz to identify content in your niche that has accumulated significant backlinks. Look for pages ranking in the top 10 for your target keywords. Sort by backlinks to find the most linked-to resources. The best candidates are content pieces with 50 or more unique referring domains that are 1 to 3 years old. These are ripe for improvement because they may be outdated, incomplete, or visually stale.
§ 3 Step 2: Creating Something Significantly Better
Better does not mean longer. Better means more useful. Improve the original piece by adding more recent data, original research, better examples, clearer explanations, superior visuals (charts, infographics, screenshots), interactive elements, or practical templates. The goal is to create something so clearly superior that a reasonable person would prefer to link to your version. Aim for at least a 2x improvement in usefulness, not word count.
§ 4 Step 3: Outreach
Identify the sites that linked to the original content. Prioritize high-authority sites with real traffic. Reach out with a personalized email that acknowledges their existing link, explains what your version improves, and politely suggests they consider updating their link. Do not spam. Do not use templates. Personalize each email. Expect a 5 to 15 percent conversion rate on well-crafted outreach, meaning 5 to 15 link placements per 100 contacts.
§ 5 Why It Still Works (and When It Doesn't)
The Skyscraper Technique still works because it is based on a fundamental principle: people want to link to the best resource on a topic. It fails when the improvement is marginal, the outreach is generic, or the niche is saturated. It works best for topics where content gets stale quickly (technology, marketing, software) and where visual improvements (better charts, infographics) make the difference obvious.
§ 6 Note
§ 7 Common questions
- Q. Does the Skyscraper Technique still work in 2025?
- A. Yes, but it is harder than when Brian Dean popularized it. More marketers are using it, so the competition for attention is higher. Success now requires genuinely superior content, not just longer content, and highly personalized outreach.
- Q. How long should Skyscraper content be?
- A. Length varies by topic. The key is comprehensiveness. If the original is 1500 words, your version might be 3000 to 4000 words. But if the original is already comprehensive at 3000 words, focus on quality improvements like original data, better visuals, or more actionable advice instead of adding fluff.
- Q. Can you use the Skyscraper Technique for your own old content?
- A. Absolutely. You can use the technique to improve your own existing content that has lost rankings or is underperforming. Update it, improve it, and re-promote it to sites that already linked to related content.
- Find existing content with many backlinks, create a clearly superior version, then reach out to those linkers.
- Better means more useful, not just longer. Original data and superior visuals make the biggest difference.
- Outreach must be personalized and value-driven, not templated spam.
- Expect 5 to 15 percent conversion on outreach to targeted sites.
- The technique works best in niches where content gets stale or visual quality varies widely.
Atomic Glue executes Skyscraper-style content and link building campaigns for B2B tech companies. We identify link-worthy opportunities, produce genuinely superior content, and run the outreach that earns high-authority backlinks. Check our SEO & GEO services or get in touch.
Get in touchThe Skyscraper Technique is a link building and content strategy that involves finding high-performing content in your niche, creating something significantly better, and then reaching out to the people who linked to the original to offer your improved version instead.
Category: Content Strategy (also: SEO)
Author: Atomic Glue Editorial Team
## Definition
The Skyscraper Technique, coined by Brian Dean of Backlinko, is a three-step content and link building method. Step one: find content in your niche that already has a lot of backlinks. Step two: create a significantly better version of that content, either by making it longer, more current, more visually compelling, or more actionable. Step three: reach out to everyone who linked to the original piece and let them know your superior resource exists. The technique gets its name from the analogy of finding the tallest building on the skyline (the best existing content on a topic) and building an even taller one. When executed well, it generates high-quality backlinks that boost search rankings.
## Step 1: Finding Link-Worthy Content
Use SEO tools like Ahrefs, Semrush, or Moz to identify content in your niche that has accumulated significant backlinks. Look for pages ranking in the top 10 for your target keywords. Sort by backlinks to find the most linked-to resources. The best candidates are content pieces with 50 or more unique referring domains that are 1 to 3 years old. These are ripe for improvement because they may be outdated, incomplete, or visually stale.
## Step 2: Creating Something Significantly Better
Better does not mean longer. Better means more useful. Improve the original piece by adding more recent data, original research, better examples, clearer explanations, superior visuals (charts, infographics, screenshots), interactive elements, or practical templates. The goal is to create something so clearly superior that a reasonable person would prefer to link to your version. Aim for at least a 2x improvement in usefulness, not word count.
## Step 3: Outreach
Identify the sites that linked to the original content. Prioritize high-authority sites with real traffic. Reach out with a personalized email that acknowledges their existing link, explains what your version improves, and politely suggests they consider updating their link. Do not spam. Do not use templates. Personalize each email. Expect a 5 to 15 percent conversion rate on well-crafted outreach, meaning 5 to 15 link placements per 100 contacts.
## Why It Still Works (and When It Doesn't)
The Skyscraper Technique still works because it is based on a fundamental principle: people want to link to the best resource on a topic. It fails when the improvement is marginal, the outreach is generic, or the niche is saturated. It works best for topics where content gets stale quickly (technology, marketing, software) and where visual improvements (better charts, infographics) make the difference obvious.
## Note
The Skyscraper Technique is not a shortcut. Creating genuinely superior content requires significant effort. The outreach phase is labor-intensive. You need to be prepared to produce meaningfully better work, not just longer work.
## Common questions
Q: Does the Skyscraper Technique still work in 2025?
A: Yes, but it is harder than when Brian Dean popularized it. More marketers are using it, so the competition for attention is higher. Success now requires genuinely superior content, not just longer content, and highly personalized outreach.
Q: How long should Skyscraper content be?
A: Length varies by topic. The key is comprehensiveness. If the original is 1500 words, your version might be 3000 to 4000 words. But if the original is already comprehensive at 3000 words, focus on quality improvements like original data, better visuals, or more actionable advice instead of adding fluff.
Q: Can you use the Skyscraper Technique for your own old content?
A: Absolutely. You can use the technique to improve your own existing content that has lost rankings or is underperforming. Update it, improve it, and re-promote it to sites that already linked to related content.
## Key takeaways
- Find existing content with many backlinks, create a clearly superior version, then reach out to those linkers.
- Better means more useful, not just longer. Original data and superior visuals make the biggest difference.
- Outreach must be personalized and value-driven, not templated spam.
- Expect 5 to 15 percent conversion on outreach to targeted sites.
- The technique works best in niches where content gets stale or visual quality varies widely.
## Related entries
- [Content Marketing](atomicglue.co/glossary/content-marketing)
- [Pillar Page / Topic Cluster](atomicglue.co/glossary/pillar-page-topic-cluster)
- [SEO](atomicglue.co/glossary/seo)
- [Content Strategy](atomicglue.co/glossary/content-strategy)
Last updated July 2026. Permalink: atomicglue.co/glossary/skyscraper-technique