TL;DR

The Skyscraper Technique finds the most-linked content in your niche, creates something definitively better, then contacts the sites linking to the original. The pitch: 'You linked to X. We made something better.' Response rates are high because the value proposition is clear.

Key Points

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The technique works because sites that have already linked to content on a topic are proven willing to link — they're the most qualified outreach prospects

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Version 2 of the technique (Skyscraper 2.0) adds matching searcher intent to the mix — not just creating 'more,' but creating the right type of content

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'Better' can mean: more comprehensive, more up-to-date, better designed, more actionable, or higher production quality — not just longer

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The technique is most effective for evergreen, data-heavy, or 'best of' content types that naturally accumulate links over time

Step 1: Finding Linkable Content

The foundation of the Skyscraper Technique is identifying content that has earned many backlinks — proving both topical importance and linkworthiness^[1]. Use Ahrefs Content Explorer or Buzzsumo to search your niche and filter by most backlinks. Look for pages with 50+ referring domains, as these are proven link magnets. Alternatively, check competitors' top-linked pages using Ahrefs Site Explorer's 'Best by Links' report. The ideal target is a resource that is: getting many links (proving demand), genuinely improvable (outdated data, incomplete coverage, poor design), and relevant to content you could credibly create. A 2018 'Complete Guide to Keyword Research' with 200 backlinks that still ranks despite being outdated is the perfect Skyscraper target.

Step 2: Creating Something Better

The core of the technique is making content that is genuinely and obviously superior — not just slightly updated^[1]^[2]. 'Better' depends on the content type and why the original succeeded. For data studies: include more recent data, a larger sample size, or more granular breakdowns. For guides: more comprehensive coverage, better structure, interactive elements, or expert quotes the original lacked. For tools: more functionality or better UX. For lists: more items, more thorough descriptions, or more current examples. Design quality matters significantly — a beautifully formatted, easy-to-scan page is more likely to be linked than a wall of text, even if the text content is identical. The improvement must be substantive enough that a webmaster linking to the original would genuinely prefer to link to yours.

Step 3: The Outreach Campaign

The outreach is what converts content quality into backlinks^[1]^[2]. Export the full list of sites linking to the original content from Ahrefs. Filter out: your own domain, social media profiles, low-quality sites (low DA, foreign language if you're targeting English), and competitors who won't link to you regardless. For the remaining prospects, find the specific person who published or manages the page with the link (not just a general contact form). Personalize each email: mention the specific page, reference the original content they linked to, note something specific about their site, and introduce your resource with clear explanation of how it improves on the original. Keep the email short — one screen. Follow up once after 3-4 days if no response. Expect 5-15% conversion rates on well-personalized outreach to qualified prospects.

SOURCES

Backlinko — The Skyscraper Technique: How to Build High-Quality Backlinks

Ahrefs — The Skyscraper Technique: Is It Still Worth Using?

Last updated: June 9, 2026

Related Terms

Backlink

A hyperlink from one website pointing to a page on another website, used by search engines as a signal of authority and trust.

Link Equity

The SEO value and ranking power passed from one page to another through hyperlinks — sometimes called 'link juice' — determining how much of a linking page's authority is transferred to the pages it links to.

Digital PR

A link building and brand awareness strategy that earns high-quality editorial backlinks from news outlets, industry publications, and authoritative websites by creating and distributing genuinely newsworthy content — such as original research, data studies, or compelling stories.

Guest Posting

The practice of writing and publishing content on another website or blog, typically in exchange for a backlink to your own site — one of the most common white-hat link building tactics.

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