How to Use the SEO Skyscraper Technique for Better Results 

Reading Time: 5 minutes

Want your content to rank higher and earn more backlinks? Discover how the SEO skyscraper technique can help your brand stand taller in search results.

Every day, the online space continues to get more saturated, and simply publishing great content is not enough. With every niche getting more crowded, businesses are looking for new ways to get noticed. An effective tactic that can cut through the noise is the SEO skyscraper technique. 

This strategy involves looking for content that’s performing well to enhance that piece of content with added depth and visuals, maybe some new insights and promote it tactically to help earn back links. The expected result? Higher rankings, more traffic, and improved brand authority. 

Ultimately, for brands that are looking to sustainably grow, the SEO skyscraper method will complement modern day SEO services. This is not a tactical – quick win approach, but rather a content strategy that can lead to long term visibility. Whether you’re a startup or an established brand, being able to apply this could help you change the course of your business to a greater online presence relative to competitors. 

What Is the SEO Skyscraper Technique?

The skyscraper technique in SEO is a content strategy designed to create the tallest “building” in the search results – meaning content that outshines everything else on the topic. The term comes from the idea that if your “building” is taller than the rest, it gets noticed first. 

In practice, skyscraper in SEO means finding top-ranking, link-worthy content in your niche, making it more valuable, and promoting it to attract quality backlinks. This could involve adding new research, updating outdated information, improving formatting, or adding visuals that make the content easier to digest. 

Originally popularized by Brian Dean, the method has evolved to match today’s algorithms and user expectations. When done right, it can deliver lasting rankings, higher organic traffic, and stronger authority for your brand. 

How the Skyscraper Technique in SEO Works?

The skyscraper technique in SEO revolves around three main steps: research, creation, and promotion. First, you identify high-performing content in your industry — something that already ranks well and attracts backlinks. Then, you make it better. Add new insights, fresh data, and engaging visuals. This is your “tallest” version of the content.

Once your content is ready, the next step is promotion. You reach out to sites that have linked to the original article and offer them your improved version, making a compelling case for why it’s worth linking to. This outreach is key to the skyscraper SEO link building process.

When executed well, this technique helps your content gain the traction needed to rise in search rankings, bringing in organic traffic that converts.

Benefits of Using the Skyscraper SEO Link Building Method 

The skyscraper SEO link building method offers several key advantages for your SEO strategy: 

• High-Quality Backlinks: Helps earn backlinks from authoritative sites, boosting your domain authority. 

• Increased Organic Traffic: Improved content is more likely to rank higher, driving more visitors to your site. 

• Evergreen Content: Skyscraper content tends to maintain its value over time, continuing to bring traffic and backlinks long after publication. 

• Better Search Rankings: By creating more valuable content, your site’s visibility improves, resulting in better search engine rankings. 

• Long-Term Results: Unlike quick wins, skyscraper content generates consistent, sustainable results. 

Step-by-Step Guide to Creating Skyscraper Content

Creating successful skyscraper content involves a straightforward process. Follow these steps to build your own high-performing content: 

1. Research Top Content: Use Google search, Ahrefs, or SEMrush to see what content in your niche ranks well and receives backlinks. This will be your competitors. 

2. Make It Better: Expand your content, update old data, add new data, improve the design or graphics. Just outdo the original content with a better type of read; even better insights, or new statistics.  

3. Optimize for User Intent: Understand what users are actually searching for and give them what they need. Hire an answer engine optimization service to help you ensure you are answering the most sought answer—questions, and searches, in your industry. 

4. Outreach and Promote: Contact the sites that linked the original content and let them know about your improved and updated version of the original content. Offer this new resource to their audience as an improved version and let them know why they should connect to yours. 

5. Track results and Update Regularly: Use your analytics methods to track your content. Years later, track your older content, and update when necessary, in order to remain relevant with a cohort of future readers, and take effects from new trends or search algorithm shifts.  

Common Mistakes to Avoid with Skyscraper in SEO

While the skyscraper technique in SEO can yield great results, there are some common mistakes to avoid: 

• Copying Content Without Adding Value: Simply replicating existing content won’t work. Always make sure your version is better, more comprehensive, and more useful. 

• Neglecting Outreach: Without proper outreach, even the best skyscraper content may go unnoticed. Make sure you promote your content to relevant sites and influencers. 

• Skipping Keyword Research: Your content should be optimized for search intent. Skipping this step can lead to missed opportunities for ranking and visibility. 

• Ignoring Updates: Content can quickly become outdated. Failing to refresh your skyscraper content can diminish its value and impact over time. 

How a Digital Marketing Services Company Can Boost Your Results

A digital marketing services company can give your skyscraper content a major boost by providing expertise in a few areas: 

• Research: They can determine the best performing content and provide insight into your competition. 

• Writing: Skilled writers can create high-quality, optimized writing that stands out, and appeals to both readers and search engines. 

• Outreach: Professionals know how to implement effective outreach campaigns so you can get some great backlinks that improve your ranking. 

• Monitoring: Experts will continue to monitor the performance of your content, making changes when needed, so relevancy and effectiveness remain top-of-mind. 

By using a trusted SEO services provider, you will get more out of your skyscraper strategy and ensure long-lasting success. 

Integrating the Skyscraper Method With Answer Engine Optimization Services 

The skyscraper technique in SEO becomes even more powerful when paired with answer engine optimization services. As search engines evolve, they’re moving toward answering user questions directly — this is where answer engine optimization shines. 

By optimizing skyscraper content to answer specific search queries, you increase your chances of appearing in featured snippets and other rich results. This is particularly valuable as voice search and AI-driven answers are becoming more prominent. 

Combining the skyscraper approach with an answer-focused strategy means your content not only ranks higher but also serves user intent more effectively, driving better engagement and visibility. 

Quick Skyscraper SEO Checklist for Success 

Use this checklist to ensure your skyscraper content is optimized and ready to perform: 

• Identify High-Performing Content: Find top-ranking content that attracts backlinks. 

• Add Value: Make your content more comprehensive, up-to-date, and user-friendly. 

• Optimize for Search Intent: Use answer engine optimization services to align content with what users are searching for. 

• Promote: Reach out to websites that have linked to similar content. 

• Track and Update: Regularly refresh your content to maintain its relevance. 

Taking Your SEO to the Next Level 

The SEO skyscraper technique is a reliable method for creating content that ranks well, earns quality backlinks, and generates organic traffic over time. As long as you keep on focusing on better content, writing with user intent, and promoting your content, you will surely see growth in your SEO performance over time.

At Savit Interactive, we fully understand the skyscraper method, and we can show you how to use it to achieve an exceptional result. As a trusted digital marketing services company, we not only create optimized content, we run outreach campaigns, and help you continually improve your performance. We have a team of digital marketing professionals that can help you take your brand to the next level in the digital space.

Are you ready to create something impactful? Contact Savit Interactive today, and let’s apply the skyscraper technique to grow your SEO strategy together!