The skyscraper technique is a powerful link building strategy that involves creating superior content and reaching out to sites that linked to the original, less comprehensive version. By identifying high-performing content, creating significantly better versions, and contacting sites that linked to the original, you can build high-quality backlinks efficiently. Whether you're establishing authority in a competitive niche or scaling your link building efforts, this comprehensive checklist covers every aspect of successful skyscraper technique implementation. From content research through superior content creation, link source identification, outreach, and relationship building, this guide ensures you maximize your success rate and build valuable backlinks consistently.
This detailed checklist walks you through content research and analysis, superior content creation, link source identification, outreach preparation, outreach execution, relationship building, and monitoring and optimization. Each phase builds upon the previous one, ensuring you identify the right opportunities, create genuinely superior content, find the right link sources, craft compelling outreach, and build relationships that lead to ongoing link opportunities. Follow this systematic approach to build a sustainable skyscraper technique strategy.
Effective skyscraper technique implementation begins with identifying high-performing content that has strong backlink profiles but room for improvement. Start by identifying high-performing content in your niche using SEO tools like Ahrefs, SEMrush, or Moz to find content with high backlink counts and strong search rankings. Find content with high backlink counts and strong rankings, as these indicate content that people want to link to.
Analyze top-ranking content to understand what makes it successful, including structure, depth, and value proposition. Review content structure, length, and depth of top performers to identify patterns and standards in your niche. Identify content gaps and areas for improvement in existing content, such as outdated information, missing examples, or lack of depth.
Check backlink profiles of top-performing content to identify where links are coming from, as these sites are your outreach targets. Analyze social shares and engagement metrics of successful content to understand what resonates with audiences. Review comments and user feedback on top-performing content to identify what readers want but aren't getting.
Identify outdated information or statistics in existing content, as updating these provides clear improvement opportunities. Prioritize content opportunities based on backlink potential and relevance to your niche, focusing on content where you can add significant value and where there are many link sources to contact.
Creating genuinely superior content is the foundation of successful skyscraper technique implementation. Start by creating a comprehensive content outline that improves upon the original in multiple ways. Expand content length and depth beyond the original piece, as longer, more comprehensive content often performs better and provides more value.
Update outdated information with current data and statistics, as this immediately improves content value. Add original research, data, or insights not in the original content to differentiate your piece and provide unique value. Include additional examples, case studies, or real-world applications that make the content more practical and actionable.
Improve content structure and organization for better readability, using clear headings, subheadings, and logical flow. Add high-quality visuals, infographics, or multimedia elements that enhance understanding and engagement. Create more actionable and practical content than the original, focusing on what readers can actually do with the information.
Include expert quotes or interviews to add authority and credibility to your content. Add interactive elements like calculators, tools, or checklists that provide additional value beyond text. Improve writing quality and clarity throughout content, ensuring every sentence adds value and is easy to understand.
Ensure content is more comprehensive and thorough than the original, covering topics in greater depth and addressing questions the original may have missed. Optimize content for search engines with relevant keywords while maintaining natural, reader-focused writing. Proofread and fact-check all content thoroughly to maintain credibility and professionalism. Publish superior content on your website before beginning outreach, as link sources need to review live content.
Identifying sites that linked to the original content provides your outreach targets for the skyscraper technique. Extract all backlinks from original content using SEO tools like Ahrefs, SEMrush, or Moz to get comprehensive lists of link sources. Filter link sources to identify high-quality, relevant sites that align with your niche and have good domain authority.
Check domain authority and relevance of link source sites to prioritize opportunities that will provide the most valuable backlinks. Review link source pages to understand the context of original links, as this helps you craft more targeted outreach. Identify link sources that would benefit from updated content, as these sites are more likely to appreciate your improved version.
Prioritize link sources based on authority and relevance, focusing on sites with good domain authority that are relevant to your niche. Create a comprehensive spreadsheet tracking link sources, contact information, outreach status, and responses to manage your pipeline efficiently.
Successful skyscraper technique outreach requires finding the right contacts and crafting personalized messages that highlight value. Find contact information for link source site owners through contact pages, about pages, or professional networks. Research link source site owner background and interests to understand how to personalize your outreach effectively.
Review link source site owner social media and recent activity to understand their current focus and interests. Prepare personalized outreach messages for each link source that demonstrate you've researched their site and understand why they linked to the original content. Craft compelling subject lines that get email opens, such as “Improved Version of [Content Topic]” or “Updated Resource You Linked To.”
Prepare comparisons showing how your content improves upon the original, as this helps link sources understand the value quickly. The goal is to make it clear why they should update their link to your superior content.
Effective skyscraper technique outreach focuses on value and improvement rather than asking for favors. Send personalized outreach emails mentioning their link to the original content, showing you've researched their site. Explain that you created an improved version of the content they linked to, positioning yourself as someone providing value.
Highlight specific improvements and value additions in your content, such as updated statistics, additional examples, or better organization. Provide direct link to your superior content for easy review, making it simple for link sources to evaluate your content. Suggest they might want to update their link to your improved content, but frame it as helpful rather than requesting a favor.
Keep outreach email helpful and focused on value you're providing, not on what you want from them. Follow up after 7-10 days if you don't receive a response, as link sources may have missed your email. Track all outreach emails and responses in your spreadsheet to manage your pipeline and learn what works best.
Building relationships with link sources creates ongoing opportunities and establishes you as a trusted content creator. Thank link source owners after they update links to your content to show appreciation and maintain positive relationships. Engage with link source site content on social media to build relationships beyond the initial outreach.
Share link source site content to show appreciation and support, demonstrating you're interested in their success. Maintain ongoing relationships for future link opportunities, as link sources who appreciate your content may link to future pieces. Offer to help with other content improvements when appropriate, as this builds goodwill and strengthens relationships.
Track your skyscraper technique results to measure success and identify optimization opportunities. Monitor backlinks in Google Search Console after link updates to ensure they're indexed and recognized. Track referral traffic from skyscraper technique backlinks to measure value beyond SEO benefits.
Verify backlinks are dofollow and properly indexed by search engines. Analyze which content improvements drive most link acquisitions to focus your future efforts on similar improvements. Refine content creation process based on link acquisition success, learning what types of improvements work best.
Update superior content to maintain relevance and value over time, ensuring it continues to justify backlinks. Scale skyscraper technique process for multiple content pieces as you learn what works, potentially creating multiple superior content pieces simultaneously.
The skyscraper technique requires quality content creation, strategic outreach, and relationship building. By following this comprehensive checklist, you'll identify the right opportunities, create genuinely superior content, find the right link sources, craft compelling outreach, and build relationships that lead to ongoing link opportunities. Remember that the skyscraper technique works because you're providing genuine value by creating better content. Focus on creating something objectively superior, and the backlinks will follow naturally.
For additional backlink building strategies, explore our guides on guest posting backlink strategy, resource page backlink techniques, broken link building methods, and competitor backlink analysis strategies to diversify your link building approach.