The Skyscraper Strategy: How to Earn High-Quality Links

In the world of SEO, there’s no shortage of tactics and techniques to drive traffic and boost rankings. But when it comes to earning those all-important high-quality backlinks, one strategy has consistently stood out as a cut above the rest: the Skyscraper Technique.

Crafted by the brilliant mind of Brian Dean, the Skyscraper Technique is a link building approach that’s simple in concept yet devastatingly effective in practice. The basic idea is to find popular content in your niche, create something even better, and then reach out to the people who’ve already linked to the original piece, encouraging them to link to your superior version instead.

It’s a bit like building the tallest skyscraper in your city – once it’s up, everyone’s going to be talking about it and wanting to be associated with it. And that’s exactly the kind of attention you want for your content.

I first stumbled across the Skyscraper Technique a few years back, and I have to admit, I was a bit skeptical at first. “There’s no way this could be as easy as it sounds,” I thought to myself. But then I tried it out for one of my clients, and the results were nothing short of incredible.

Within just 14 days of implementing the Skyscraper Technique, the organic traffic to the client’s website had doubled. And the kicker? A significant chunk of that traffic was coming from high-authority backlinks that we’d earned through our outreach efforts.

Brian Dean himself had a similar experience when he used the Skyscraper Technique to promote his famous “Google’s 200 Ranking Factors” post. The number of backlinks to that page skyrocketed, and his overall site traffic saw a massive boost as well.

So what is it about the Skyscraper Technique that makes it so darn effective? Well, let me break it down for you.

Step 1: Find Link-Worthy Content

The first step in the Skyscraper Technique is to identify content in your niche that’s already performing well in terms of backlinks. This is where tools like Semrush’s Backlink Analytics come in handy. You can use these tools to uncover the most linked-to pages in your industry, giving you a solid starting point for your skyscraper content.

As you’re researching, keep an eye out for content types that tend to attract lots of backlinks, like:

• Ultimate guides
• Detailed how-to articles
• Data-driven statistical roundups
• Comprehensive industry reports

These types of content are often seen as the “go-to” resources in a given topic area, making them prime candidates for the Skyscraper Technique.

Step 2: Create Something Even Better

Once you’ve identified a piece of content that’s racking up the backlinks, it’s time to step up your game. Your goal is to create something that’s not just a little bit better, but significantly more valuable, comprehensive, and shareable than the original.

There are a few different ways you can approach this:

Make it longer: If the existing content is a simple list post, consider expanding it into a more in-depth, 2,000+ word guide. The longer your content, the more likely it is to be seen as the ultimate resource on the topic.

Make it more up-to-date: If the original content is a few years old, update it with the latest statistics, trends, and best practices. Freshness is key when it comes to earning backlinks.

Make it visually stunning: Sometimes, a beautifully designed piece of content can outshine its competitors, even if the core information is similar. Think infographics, data visualizations, and other eye-catching elements.

Make it more thorough: Dig deeper into the topic and cover aspects that the original content may have missed. Add more examples, case studies, and actionable tips to make your version the most comprehensive resource available.

The key is to really think about how you can elevate the content to a whole new level. Don’t just tweak a few things and call it a day – go all out and create something that’s truly remarkable.

Step 3: Reach Out to the Right People

With your skyscraper content now in place, it’s time for the outreach phase of the strategy. This is where you reach out to the people who have already linked to the original piece of content, and encourage them to link to your superior version instead.

Semrush’s Link Building Tool can be a huge help here, as it makes it easy to find and contact these linking domains. You can simply export the list of sites linking to the original content, then reach out to them with a friendly email.

The key is to strike the right tone in your outreach. You don’t want to come across as demanding or entitled – instead, position yourself as a helpful resource that can enhance their content. Highlight the specific ways in which your skyscraper content is better, and make it clear why their readers would benefit from the link.

And don’t be afraid to get creative with your outreach. Brian Dean had great success by mentioning the outdated information in the original content, and offering to provide them with a more up-to-date resource.

The beauty of the Skyscraper Technique is that it’s a win-win for everyone involved. The site owners get to improve their content, your brand gets a valuable backlink, and your readers get access to the best possible information on the topic. It’s a strategy that’s built to succeed.

Of course, the Skyscraper Technique isn’t a magic bullet – it still takes time, effort, and creativity to execute effectively. But if you’re willing to put in the work, the payoff can be massive. I’ve seen it transform the fortunes of businesses in a wide range of industries, and I have no doubt it can do the same for your Manchester SEO agency as well.

So what are you waiting for? Start scouring the web for that perfect piece of content to outshine, and get ready to build the tallest skyscraper in your niche. Your backlink portfolio (and your clients) will thank you for it.