Tower over your competition in search engine rankings with the power of the skyscraper method to transform your SEO strategy.

There are a number of ways in which you can produce engaging content for your audiences. These may include product guides, informative articles, videos, infographics, and others. An SEO industry term for some articles are referred to as ‘skyscrapers,’ in which the produced content can outperform competitor articles that cover the same topic, but better. But what is the skyscraper method, and does it still work? In this article, we will explain what the skyscraper method is, and how it can help to improve existing content on your website as well as and surpass its value so that you can secure a top spot in search engine results pages (SERPs). 

What Is The Skyscraper Method?

The skyscraper technique in SEO is a unique method for surpassing your competitors online. This approach involves identifying high-performing content within your industry and creating something even more valuable. 

By doing so, you not only aim to match the content but also exceed the quality of existing content as well, thus earning the backlinks that once boosted your competitors, and propelling your content to the top of SERPs.

How To Ace The Skyscraper Method: 3 Simple Steps

Follow the process below on how you can choose the best content on your website that would benefit from the skyscraper method:

Step 1: Identification

The first step in the skyscraper method is to scout for content that already performs well in your niche. Look for articles, blogs, and other media that rank high on Google and gain significant attention in the form of backlinks and social shares. These pieces serve as your benchmark towards improving the content.

Step 2: Reshape the Existing Content

Once you have your targets, it’s time to outdo them. 

This doesn’t mean just adding more content; it involves improving the quality, updating any outdated information, incorporating new data, and including rich media such as infographics or videos. This step is crucial as it’s not about replication—it’s about offering something better. 

The more comprehensive and engaging your content is, the more it will appeal to the audience and the people that are linking to the original content. By following and matching the guidelines for the factors below, you are sure to make the redesigned content more engaging for audiences:

• Perfecting Length: For the skyscraper technique, it’s not merely about increasing the word count; it’s about adding value that was missing in the original content. Content changes over time, and so do Google’s guidelines and updates. This approach ensures that every piece of information provided holds significance and engages the reader effectively. Introducing multimedia elements such as videos, interactive graphics, and informative sidebars can significantly improve engagement, encouraging visitors to spend more time on your page. Moreover, offering practical takeaways like downloadable templates or insightful checklists can provide ongoing value, making your content not just a one-time read but a continuous resource.
• Content Value: The key to the skyscraper method is to make your content more actionable than your competitors’. Quickly identifying what work could be improved on the content is the first step towards making the best work possible for your brand. For instance, adding detailed, step-by-step processes or visual examples can improve the user’s ability to implement your advice. 
• Keeping Content Fresh: Keeping your content fresh, engaging, and accessibility is essential for your brand to rank on top of search engines. The skyscraper technique not only focuses on surpassing the content depth but also on ensuring it is the most current and relevant resource available. This may include updating statistics, referencing the latest studies, or incorporating recent examples that resonate with current trends. 
• Adding Multimedia Features: Effective use of multimedia in your content plays a crucial role in distinguishing it and your brand from that of your competitors. You should evaluate the types of media used in existing content and consider how you can improve upon it. Whether it’s through high-quality videos, engaging infographics, or interactive elements, the goal is to complement and elevate the textual content. This does not mean overloading the page with media but rather strategically placing high-value media that will improve the reader’s understanding and engagement.

Step 3: Outreach for Backlinks

Once the superior version of your content has been published, the next move is to reach out to those who linked to the original high-ranking content. 

Your goal is to convince them that updating their old links to your newer, superior resource will provide more value to their readers. This phase requires careful, personalised communication that emphasises the improvements that have been made, and therefore, the added value your content offers.

3 Common Mistakes With The Skyscraper Technique

Whilst the skyscraper method is a good way to engage readers in a different way, its not always a straightforward process, and sometimes people can underestimate how easy it is to mess up using this technique in their research. 

1. Maintain Realistic Outreach Expectations

A crucial aspect of successfully deploying the skyscraper technique involves understanding the limitations of your reach, particularly when it comes to domain authority (DA). 

For instance, if your site has a DA of 49, it’s ambitious to expect a link from a high DA site like Search Engine Journal, which may have a DA of 89. Quality and authority are key metrics for sites when deciding on their link partners. 

Start by targeting domains within your reach and gradually build your site’s DA through consistent link acquisition, which will, in turn, expand your outreach potential in future campaigns.

2. Expanding Your Outreach

Link building is fundamentally a numbers game. A common mistake is not reaching out to enough potential link partners. 

To maximise the effectiveness of your skyscraper method, you should go beyond the backlinks of just one high-ranking article. Expand your target list to include multiple top-performing pages within the same topic. This diversified approach not only increases your chances of securing backlinks but also improves your content’s exposure and relevance.

3. The Importance of Brand Perception

The value of content isn’t just about quality within digital marketing —it’s also about the creator’s reputation. 

Often, links are not just a nod to great content but a vote of confidence in the brand behind it. If your brand is lesser-known, it may be harder to earn backlinks regardless of content quality. For instance, if you are a healthcare website, you should include authors that are relevant to the industry itself, so that the audience are more likely to trust the content as well.

It’s vital to invest in building a strong, reputable brand that consistently delivers valuable content, thereby developing a loyal audience and increasing the likelihood of gaining backlinks based on brand trust.

Long-Term Commitment to Quality

Building a successful SEO skyscraper technique strategy is not an overnight achievement. It requires time, patience, and perseverance. If initial efforts do not bring back expected backlinks, it is important not to be discouraged. 

The digital landscape rewards sustained effort and a commitment to producing high-quality content. Keep laying the foundation with excellent articles, and over time, your digital presence will grow. Each piece of content is a brick in your skyscraper, contributing to a larger, more impressive structure that dominates the skyline of your competitors.

Remember, Rome wasn’t built in a day, but continuous effort over time will ensure steady growth and success. Stick with the skyscraper technique, refine your strategies, and over time, your SEO efforts will lead to tangible results.

FAQs

Sources

Fontane, G., (2018) What Domain Authority Is (and Isn’t), and How to Increase It. Hubspot Academy. [online] Available at: https://blog.hubspot.com/marketing/domain-authority [accessed 25/03/2025]