The Skyscraper Technique for Website positioning: A Newbie’s Information

Are you discovering it robust to get your content material rating on search engines like google? Struggling to safe that one high-authority backlink regardless of your finest outreach efforts? Frightened that you simply’re lacking out on precious visitors?

You are not alone. It’s straightforward to really feel like your well-crafted articles are buried beneath a mountain of on-line noise. You possibly can be writing bestsellers worthy of a Pulitzer, however individuals may nonetheless not discover and hyperlink to your content material. It simply isn’t that straightforward anymore.

However what if you happen to might flip the script and make your content material stand head and shoulders above the remaining? What if the backlinks come on their very own on your content material? 

It is time to introduce you to the Skyscraper Method, a confirmed Website positioning technique. With a little bit assist from Website positioning instruments, you possibly can flip present content material into one thing larger, higher, and extra participating that can naturally entice many backlinks.

The method was created by Backlinko’s Brian Dean again in 2015 and gained immense reputation after the natural search visitors to his total website doubled in solely 14 days.

On this information, we’ll present you precisely methods to use it to spice up your rankings and construct high-quality backlinks with no large finances or a model. There’s even a little bit guidelines and a listing of instruments you need to use to make it straightforward. And simply so you already know, we refreshed this text by following the skyscraper method.

Let’s dive in.

Unique knowledge factors,  listicles, infographics, movies, user-generated content material, and any new and distinctive methods you may make the content material higher – significantly better.

The purpose right here is to ship the identical message as the unique weblog submit however with your personal twist. There are myriad methods to do that, which we’ll discover later.

However only a fast observe: the Skyscraper Method isn’t about copying or replicating present content material. As a substitute, it’s about enhancing it from each angle, making your model so complete and precious that readers gained’t have to look wherever else as soon as they discover your article. The purpose is to create the definitive useful resource on the subject.

When you’re carried out creating the improved content material, attain out to the appropriate individuals, aka the websites which have linked to the high-ranking content material.

Because the website’s already linked to related content material, they’re clearly within the matter and have already got a longtime viewers base for such blogs. This implies all it’s a must to do is get your weblog on their radar, and lo and behold, you’ve landed a promising hyperlink alternative. 

Extra probably than not, Google has already ranked the present useful resource effectively if it was so successful. It intuitively follows then that if you happen to create one thing even higher, you possibly can topple over the unique piece. You possibly can simply entice extra visitors and outrank the earlier weblog submit – particularly if you happen to win over these high-quality hyperlinks. You continue to come out on prime by placing in simply half the trouble. Feels like a reasonably candy deal.

Brian Dean, the creator of the Skyscraper Method, used this methodology to extend natural visitors to certainly one of his posts on Backlinko by 110% in simply 14 days.

• Content material: He created an in-depth information on “Google’s 200 Rating Components”
• Method: Recognized a preferred however outdated submit, created a extra complete model, and reached out to websites linking to the unique
• Outcome: 110% enhance in natural visitors, with the submit rating #1 for “Google rating components.”

This submit is refreshed frequently, the newest being in September 2024. It’s nonetheless the #1 outcome for the key phrase “Google rating issue,” together with 150+ key phrases within the prime 3 place, bringing in 8,000+ month-to-month visitors and 17,600+ backlinks. 

G2

G2’s content material and offsite Website positioning crew use the strategy to gas their fast visitors development within the B2B software program assessment area.

Content material: Refreshed and expanded weblog posts, complete software program class insights

Method: Recognized and up to date outdated weblog posts, turning them into extra complete, present sources focusing on top-ranking content material in extremely aggressive software program classes. Supplied extra in-depth insights than their opponents

Outcome: Contributed considerably to G2’s development from zero to over 1,000,000 month-to-month guests inside a 12 months.

The skyscraper methodology remains to be a part of G2’s link-building technique and helps it constantly receive a whole lot of high quality backlinks from extremely authoritative websites. 

Tips on how to execute the Skyscraper methodology

Are you able to strive the method out for your self? Right here’s a brief guidelines that can assist you alongside the best way! Let this be your holy grail for executing the Skyscraper Method. 

1. Analysis and discover alternatives

To start out with the Skyscraper Method, you first have to do your analysis. Don’t blindly select a weblog just because it’s doing effectively. That clearly gained’t add any worth to you or your organization. As a substitute, prohibit your analysis to related subjects that you simply need to cowl.

• Begin by defining the key phrases and subjects related to your area of interest and viewers. Take into consideration what subjects your target market is trying to find, primarily key phrase analysis.
• Use instruments like Google Key phrase Planner, Ahrefs, Moz, or Ubersuggest to determine high-traffic key phrases. These instruments will assist you to uncover what individuals are trying to find and what opponents are rating for.

For instance, G2 desires to succeed in out to Website positioning professionals and encourage them to discover Website positioning instruments out there of their market. Concentrating on Website positioning-related key phrases, corresponding to “Skyscraper Method” or “Website positioning instruments,” is smart to draw this viewers and supply worth associated to their work.

To verify, focusing on the KW is helpful, you need to use key phrase analysis instruments like Ahrefs and Semrush.

2. Analyze present top-ranking content material

Uncover top-ranking progressive content material primarily based in your goal key phrases. You possibly can simply search straight on Google to see what ranks on the primary web page for these key phrases. 

Consider the strengths and weaknesses of the top-ranking content material. Evaluate what makes the present content material profitable: robust knowledge, construction, or engagement. Search for gaps within the data, outdated statistics, or lacking multimedia components.

Ask your self: How are you going to make your content material extra complete, participating, or precious than what’s already on the market?

Listed below are some methods to do it.

• Use the Aggressive Evaluation function in Ahrefs to do a competitor evaluation on a scale. Add your present content material URL and the URLs of the top-ranking pages. You will get a listing of key phrases for which the top-ranking content material ranks, however you do not. 

• Use the Web site Explorer function on Ahrefs to research every of the competitor’s content material. Right here, you possibly can see the key phrases the competing article is rating for. Use these queries to know the search intent and look to fulfill them in your article. 

• Analyze the backlinks and their anchors to see what knowledge factors or data they’re linking again to. This provides you an concept of what you possibly can add to your content material to draw these hyperlinks. 

2. Create higher content material

You’ve got the unique content material in entrance of you. How are you going to enhance it? You possibly can’t simply copy-paste it, throw some fancy jargon in there, and assume your work is completed. As a substitute, ample methods exist to enhance the content material into a bit that genuinely excites the viewers.

Listed below are a couple of of them:

Use the content material evaluation you probably did within the earlier step to enhance your content material. Concentrate on including worth in these key areas:

• Tackle gaps: Fill in any gaps the unique content material left. Did it overlook new developments or methods? In that case, incorporate them into your model to make your content material extra precious.
• Add visuals: Improve your content material with visible storytelling. Add infographics, charts, or movies that make the knowledge simpler to digest. Guarantee your visuals are related and add readability to your factors.
• Add knowledge factors: Strengthen your arguments by incorporating unique knowledge factors, up to date statistics, and research-backed insights. This provides credibility and makes the content material extra participating for readers.
• Increase on depth: Flip the content material right into a holistic information, making it longer and extra complete. Add recent, up to date statistics, real-life examples, and actionable insights. 

You should use instruments like Clearscope to seek out gaps, grade your content material, assess how effectively it covers related key phrases, and grade its total Website positioning efficiency. 

For instance, whereas engaged on this text, I observed that present content material on the Skyscraper Method lacked data on superior instruments and methods, corresponding to utilizing AI instruments for content material evaluation or influencer outreach for link-building. I added a bit on superior Skyscraper Methods to handle this hole, highlighting new approaches no different article consists of.

3. Listing down potential distribution companions

Despite the fact that you’re writing a weblog that’s positive to be successful, that doesn’t assure that every one the individuals you contact will publish it. You want a listing of potential blogs, manufacturers, and influencers occupied with your content material to succeed in out to.

Brian Dean had an outreach success fee of 11%. This may not sound like lots, however it made an excellent influence. How so? Do not forget that it isn’t the amount that issues; it’s the standard. An 11% success fee can deliver wonderful outcomes in case your total checklist consists of high-quality hyperlinks. A great way to start out the checklist is to write down down the blogs you already know of. Then, soar on-line to seek for related blogs with an overlapping viewers. This is the way you do it. 

• Use the Hyperlink Intersect function beneath Competitor Evaluation on Ahrefs to seek out the checklist of referring domains linking to the top-ranking content material that you do not have. These are your potential targets.

• It’s also possible to have a look at the competitor content material’s backlink profile and export the checklist of websites linking to it utilizing Web site Explorer on Ahrefs.

  

The checklist often consists of spam and irrelevant websites. Clear it as much as embody solely high-authority websites with increased area rankings and related content material.

Discover the related particular person to succeed in out to for these domains. They could be the author, editor, web site proprietor, or somebody from the Website positioning or web site administration groups. You should use instruments like Hunter.io to seek out their electronic mail addresses or join with them on LinkedIn. Hold this checklist prepared. 

4. Promote the brand new and improved content material

Exhibiting social proof is a necessity now earlier than you possibly can attain out to any websites or manufacturers. You will need to first create a buzz along with your viewers to determine such proof. So get in your social media channels and promote your piece.

• Create social copies: Put together about 20 snippets from the content material to share on social media, together with variations of your headline, key quotes, statistics, or compelling takeaways. Tailor these snippets to completely different platforms (Twitter, LinkedIn, and so on.) for max attain. 
• Use visuals: Incorporate your content material’s eye-catching pictures, infographics, or brief movies to make the posts extra participating and encourage shares.
• Tag influencers: Point out or tag related influencers or business consultants in your posts to extend visibility and encourage engagement.
• Activate Your Community: Ask your crew {and professional} community to assist amplify the content material. Their shares and engagement can assist construct preliminary momentum and enhance the attain of your submit.

As soon as your content material begins gaining traction, it turns into extra engaging to exterior web sites and companions, who’re likelier to hyperlink to it.

5. Share with the appropriate individuals

At this level, your enhanced content material may have gained some momentum, so it’s lastly time to share it. Right here, you need to use the checklist of potential distribution companions from step two of the guidelines.

Right here’s methods to do an efficient outreach marketing campaign:

• Personalize your outreach: Whereas you might have a template, at all times personalize every electronic mail to display real curiosity. Point out particular factors about their website, and clarify why your content material will resonate with their viewers.
• Spotlight mutual advantages: Clearly talk what you are asking for and the way sharing your content material will profit them and their followers. Make it compelling, whether or not it’s filling gaps in present data or offering extra depth.
• Place your content material: Allow them to the distinctive promoting level of your content material over the piece they already hyperlink to.
• Make it straightforward: Connect a direct hyperlink or copy of the content material to allow them to simply assessment it with out leaping via hoops.

6. Work laborious to remain related

Any content material is barely helpful if individuals are occupied with studying it. Over time, nevertheless, the usefulness of even probably the most excellent content material begins to say no. Others do the identical as you and publish even higher content material. Newer business developments emerge. So, your as soon as “new and improved” content material will finally grow to be stale.

The one option to defeat this curse and make sure that your content material stays evergreen is to maintain updating it. It’s laborious work, however it continues to repay since you proceed to create worth and, consequently, rank effectively.

Love ’em or hate ’em, generative AI instruments are extraordinarily useful. Use AI-powered instruments like ChatGPT, Claude, and Gemini to generate recent content material concepts, analyze gaps in present content material, and optimize for key phrases.

AI goes past key phrase density and search quantity, providing distinctive insights corresponding to tone evaluation, content material construction enhancements, and even suggestions for audience-specific changes so long as you immediate them effectively.

For instance, I used ChatGPT to research this text, revealing content material gaps that conventional Website positioning instruments missed.

Interactive content material

Engagement is every thing. To extend web page and consumer interplay time, incorporate interactive components like quizzes, calculators, or free instruments into your content material that customers may discover precious.

This could additionally make your content material extra shareable, enhancing your link-building potential. The truth is, free instruments are discovered to be driving extra visitors to web sites. 

Information-driven content material

With current algorithm updates and the rise of generative AI instruments, one factor is obvious: Google prioritizes Expertise, Experience, Authoritativeness, and Trustworthiness (EEAT) greater than ever. On this state of affairs, unique analysis and unique knowledge are key to standing out.

By conducting surveys, utilizing business knowledge, or creating proprietary studies, you possibly can provide insights that others can’t replicate. Information-driven content material boosts your authority and makes your content material extra precious, credible, and shareable.

The outcome? Larger probabilities of attracting high-quality backlinks and enhancing your rankings. Content material backed by stable knowledge isn’t simply most popular—it’s important for Website positioning success.

Multimedia integration

Increase engagement by including high-quality multimedia components like movies, podcasts, or explainer animations. These enhance the consumer expertise and assist your content material rank higher in search outcomes. In case you are not including multimedia to your content material, think about creating one when distributing it on social media channels. 

Skyrocket your visitors 

The potential of the Skyscraper Method is obvious. By remodeling present high-performing content material with recent insights and selling it successfully, you possibly can considerably enhance natural visitors, entice high quality backlinks, and strengthen your model’s authority.

Nevertheless, reaching success with this technique calls for each creativity and persistence. So, constantly ship smarter, extra precious content material than your opponents. You’ll create a robust basis for long-term development and sustained visibility.

Wish to enhance extra? Examine confirmed on-page Website positioning methods from an Website positioning professional.  

This text was initially revealed in 2020 and has been up to date with new data.