- The skyscraper technique starts from content that has already earned links, removing the guesswork.
- You find a heavily-linked page, build a clearly better version, then pitch the sites that linked to the original.
- Better has to be real: more current data, more depth, clearer structure, or stronger sources.
- Outreach is targeted to existing linkers, so relevance is built in.
- It is well known now, so a marginal improvement or generic pitch will not work.
The skyscraper technique is a content-driven way to earn links: find a piece of content that has already attracted a lot of links, create something clearly better, then ask the people who linked to the original to link to yours instead. The name, coined by Brian Dean of Backlinko, captures the idea: when you see the tallest building, you want to build one a few storeys higher. It is one of the more reliable tactics in link building, because you start from proven demand rather than a guess.
What the skyscraper technique is
Most link building gambles on whether content will earn links. The skyscraper technique removes that gamble by starting with content that already has. You identify a popular, heavily-linked page on your topic, build a genuinely better version, and then do targeted outreach to the sites that linked to the original. Because those sites have already shown they will link to this kind of content, the pitch lands on a warmer audience than cold outreach ever could.
Step one: find proven content
Look for pages in your niche with a high number of referring domains, the clearest sign a page has earned links at scale. List posts, definitive guides, and original data tend to attract the most. The goal is a page that is link-worthy but beatable: strong enough to prove demand, weak enough in some respect that you can clearly improve on it.
Step two: make it genuinely better
This is where most attempts fail. “Better” has to be real and obvious, not a near-copy with a new headline.
Pick the improvements that actually matter for the topic: more current data when the original is dated, more depth when it is shallow, a clearer structure when it is hard to use, better visuals, or stronger primary sources. The standard is simple: someone who linked to the original should look at yours and feel it is the better page to point their readers to, which is the heart of what makes a link worth earning.
Step three: reach out to the right people
The outreach is targeted, not broad. Pull the list of sites that linked to the original page, then reach out to explain that you have published something more current or more complete, and let them decide if it is worth a link. Because they have already linked to this topic, relevance is built in. The mechanics are the same as broken link building: you are making a specific, useful suggestion to a relevant person, not blasting a template.
Where it falls short
The technique is well known now, so editors have seen the pitch many times. That raises the bar: a marginal improvement will not move anyone, and an irrelevant pitch gets ignored. It works when the improvement is real, the topic is genuinely relevant to the person you are emailing, and the outreach is personal. Treat it as one strong tactic among the many ways to earn backlinks, not a guaranteed formula.
Common mistakes
- Copying, not improving. A lightly reworded version gives nobody a reason to switch their link.
- Ignoring relevance. Emailing sites that have no real connection to your angle wastes the warm-audience advantage.
- Generic outreach. The pitch only works when it is personal and specific to what they linked to.
- Chasing length alone. A longer page is not automatically better; the improvement has to be one readers care about.
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Frequently asked questions
What is the skyscraper technique?
It is a link building method where you find content that has already earned many links, create a clearly better version, and reach out to the sites that linked to the original. The name was coined by Brian Dean of Backlinko.
Does the skyscraper technique still work?
Yes, but the bar is higher than it was. Editors have seen the pitch often, so it works only when your improvement is real, the topic is genuinely relevant to the person you contact, and the outreach is personal.
How do I find content to target?
Look for pages in your niche with a high number of referring domains, which signals proven link demand. List posts, definitive guides, and original data studies tend to attract the most links.
How is it different from broken link building?
Broken link building replaces a dead link with your content. The skyscraper technique pitches a better version of a live, popular page to the people who linked to the original. Both rely on relevance and a useful, specific ask.
