How to Build Backlinks With Skyscraper Technique
How to Build Backlinks With the Skyscraper Technique: Complete Step-by-Step Guide (2026)
The Skyscraper Technique has earned its place as a cornerstone link building strategy because it is based on a simple truth: people prefer to link to the best resource on a topic. When you create content that is demonstrably superior to what currently exists, you give linkers a clear reason to update their references and point to your content instead.
Since Brian Dean first published the technique, it has been adapted and refined by thousands of SEO professionals worldwide. Ahrefs' analysis of Skyscraper campaigns found that the technique produces an average of 35 referring domains per campaign when executed properly, with top-performing campaigns earning 100+ unique linking domains. Semrush's 2026 link building report ranks the Skyscraper Technique as the third most effective link building strategy overall, behind only digital PR and original research.
However, the technique has also become more competitive. Simply making content longer or adding a few extra bullet points no longer earns links in 2026. Successful campaigns require genuine innovation, original data, superior design, and expert-level insights. This guide walks you through the complete updated process, from identifying the right content to skyscraper through executing outreach that converts, including the evolved 2.0 approach that dramatically improves success rates.
Understanding the Skyscraper Technique: Core Principles
The technique works because it leverages a psychological principle: content creators want to reference the best available resource on a topic. By identifying what is already earning links and creating something measurably better, you tap into existing demand rather than trying to create demand from scratch.
The Three Pillars of the Skyscraper Technique
| Step | Action | Goal | Key Tools |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. Find Link-Worthy Content | Identify content with many backlinks in your niche | Discover proven topics with linking demand | Ahrefs Content Explorer, BuzzSumo |
| 2. Create Something Better | Produce content significantly superior to the original | Build the definitive resource on the topic | Design tools, research, expert outreach |
| 3. Reach Out to Linkers | Contact sites linking to the original content | Earn backlinks from targeted outreach | Email, Hunter.io, Pitchbox |
Step 1: Finding the Right Content to Skyscraper
The success of your entire campaign depends on choosing the right content to improve. Not every highly-linked article makes a good skyscraper target. The ideal target is content that has earned significant links but has clear room for improvement — outdated data, missing subtopics, poor design, or lack of original insights.
Using Ahrefs Content Explorer
- Enter your topic keyword in Ahrefs Content Explorer.
- Filter results by "Referring Domains" (minimum 50) to find content with proven linking demand.
- Filter by "Published" date to find older content (12+ months) with more improvement potential.
- Filter by domain authority to focus on content from sites similar to or slightly above your authority level.
- Export the top 10-20 results for deeper analysis.
Using BuzzSumo for Social + Link Analysis
- Search your topic in BuzzSumo and sort by "Total Backlinks."
- Cross-reference social sharing data with backlink counts — content with both high shares AND high links has the strongest linking demand.
- Analyze the content format: listicles, how-to guides, data studies, and ultimate guides typically respond best to the Skyscraper approach.
Evaluating Skyscraper Targets: The Scoring Matrix
| Evaluation Criteria | What to Assess | Ideal Score (1-5) |
|---|---|---|
| Link Volume | Number of referring domains (50+ ideal) | 4-5 |
| Content Age | Older content = more improvement potential | 4-5 (18+ months old) |
| Improvement Opportunity | Outdated data, missing info, poor design | 4-5 |
| Topic Relevance | How well the topic aligns with your expertise | 5 |
| Linker Quality | Authority of sites currently linking | 4-5 |
| Competition Level | Have others already skyscrapered this content? | 1-2 (lower = better) |
Combine your skyscraper research with thorough keyword research to ensure your improved content targets high-value search terms with significant traffic potential.
Step 2: The Skyscraper 2.0 — Understanding Why People Linked
This is the critical evolution that separates successful 2026 Skyscraper campaigns from failures. Before creating your improved content, analyze the specific reasons sites linked to the original. Not all linkers referenced the same element. Some linked because of a specific statistic, others because of a framework, and others because it was the only comprehensive resource available.
Link Motivation Analysis Process
- Export the linking pages. Download the list of pages linking to your target content from Ahrefs.
- Sample 20-30 linking pages. Visit each page and find the context where the link appears. Note what the author says about the linked content.
- Categorize link motivations. Group the reasons into categories: specific data cited, framework/model referenced, "recommended resource" mentions, best-of-list inclusions, and visual/infographic embeds.
- Identify the dominant motivation. Determine which link motivation appears most frequently. Your improved content MUST excel at that specific element.
- Plan additional hooks. Beyond improving the dominant motivation, add 2-3 new linkable elements that the original lacked.
Step 3: Creating Content That Is 10x Better
In 2026, "better" requires more than just more words or additional sections. The bar for successful Skyscraper content has risen significantly. You need to create something that makes the original look incomplete or outdated by comparison. Think 10x improvement, not 10% improvement.
The 8 Dimensions of Superior Content
| Dimension | How to Improve | Impact on Links |
|---|---|---|
| Data Freshness | Include 2026 statistics, original survey data | Very High — stale data is the #1 reason for link switching |
| Visual Design | Custom graphics, infographics, data visualizations | High — visual content earns 2.3x more links |
| Comprehensiveness | Cover subtopics the original missed entirely | High — thoroughness signals authority |
| Expert Insights | Include quoted insights from recognized experts | Medium-High — experts share and link |
| Interactivity | Add calculators, quizzes, or interactive elements | High — interactive content earns 4x more links |
| Actionability | Provide templates, checklists, downloadable tools | Medium-High — practical resources get bookmarked and shared |
| Unique Angle | Offer a perspective or framework not found elsewhere | Very High — uniqueness is the strongest link magnet |
| User Experience | Superior layout, navigation, mobile experience | Medium — supports other dimensions |
Content Creation Checklist
- Include original data or updated statistics not available in the original content
- Add at least 3-5 custom visuals (charts, infographics, diagrams) using image optimization best practices
- Feature 2-3 expert quotes from recognized authorities in the field
- Include a downloadable template, checklist, or tool
- Structure with clear navigation using a clickable table of contents
- Apply proper heading tag hierarchy for SEO and readability
- Implement schema markup for rich result eligibility
- Ensure mobile-friendliness and fast loading via Core Web Vitals optimization
- Write comprehensive meta descriptions and title tags
Step 4: Building Your Outreach List
Your outreach list is the pipeline that determines how many backlinks your campaign can earn. The quality of your list directly impacts response rates and conversion. Focus on building a targeted list of prospects who have a clear reason to link to your improved content.
Three Tiers of Outreach Prospects
| Tier | Who They Are | Expected Response Rate | Outreach Approach |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tier 1 (Hot) | Sites currently linking to the original content | 10-20% | Direct replacement pitch |
| Tier 2 (Warm) | Sites that shared but did not link to the original | 8-15% | Value-add pitch |
| Tier 3 (Cool) | Sites covering the same topic without linking to anyone | 5-10% | Resource suggestion pitch |
Finding Contact Information
- Hunter.io — Find email addresses associated with any domain
- LinkedIn — Identify content managers and editors at target sites
- Author bio pages — Check the article author's profile for contact details
- "Contact" or "Write for Us" pages — Often contain editorial team email addresses
- Twitter/X profiles — Many content creators include their email in their bio
Step 5: Executing High-Converting Outreach
Outreach is where most Skyscraper campaigns succeed or fail. Even with exceptional content, generic or poorly executed outreach will produce minimal results. The key is personalization, clear value communication, and respect for the recipient's time.
Tier 1 Outreach Template: Sites Currently Linking to Original
Subject: Updated resource for your [Article Title] piece
Hi [Name],
I was reading your excellent article on [topic] and noticed you reference [original content title] as a resource for your readers.
I wanted to let you know that I just published an updated, more comprehensive version of that resource: [Your Title]
My version includes several improvements:
- [Specific improvement #1 — e.g., "2026 data replacing the 2023 statistics"]
- [Specific improvement #2 — e.g., "An interactive calculator readers can use"]
- [Specific improvement #3 — e.g., "Expert insights from [Notable Expert]"]
Here is the link: [Your URL]
You might find it a more current resource for your readers. Either way, great article — I especially liked your point about [specific detail from their article].
Best,
[Your Name]
Outreach Best Practices
- Personalize every email. Reference specific content from the recipient's article. Generic emails get deleted immediately.
- Lead with their benefit. Frame your content as helping their readers, not as a favor for you.
- Be specific about improvements. Do not say "my version is better." Say exactly what is different and better with concrete examples.
- Keep it short. Under 150 words is ideal. Busy editors will not read long pitches.
- Follow up once. Send one follow-up after 5-7 days if you do not receive a response. More than one follow-up is counterproductive.
- Time your sends. Tuesday through Thursday, 9-11 AM in the recipient's time zone produces the best open and response rates.
- Never ask directly for a link. Instead, position your content as a "more current resource" or "updated version" that might be useful.
Typical Skyscraper Campaign Timeline
Research
Create
Outreach
Links Earned
Long-Tail Links
Backlinks continue accumulating 3-6 months after initial outreach
Measuring Skyscraper Campaign Success
Key Performance Metrics
| Metric | Target Benchmark | Tool |
|---|---|---|
| Referring Domains Earned | 30-100+ within 90 days | Ahrefs, Moz |
| Outreach Response Rate | 10-20% | Email tracking |
| Outreach Conversion Rate | 5-15% | Manual tracking |
| Organic Traffic Growth | 50-200% increase for target page | Google Analytics 4 |
| Keyword Ranking Improvement | Page 1 ranking within 3-6 months | GSC, Semrush |
Track your campaign metrics alongside your overall SEO performance framework and use backlink checker tools for ongoing monitoring.
Common Skyscraper Mistakes to Avoid
- Choosing content with too few links. Targeting content with under 30 referring domains limits your outreach pool. Aim for targets with 50+ referring domains.
- Making marginal improvements. Adding 500 extra words or a few bullet points is not a skyscraper. The improvement must be immediately obvious and substantial.
- Skipping the link motivation analysis. Without understanding WHY people linked to the original, you might improve the wrong elements.
- Using generic outreach templates. Mass emails with only the name changed produce near-zero conversion rates. Every email must reference specific content on the recipient's site.
- Targeting irrelevant linkers. Not everyone who linked to the original will be interested in your version. Filter your list for topical relevance before outreaching.
- Ignoring content promotion. Skyscraper content benefits from active content promotion beyond outreach — share it on social media, communities, and with your email list.
- Giving up after initial outreach. Many links come in weeks or months after outreach. Continue promoting the content and the backlinks will continue accumulating.
Advanced Skyscraper Strategies for 2026
AI-Powered Research and Analysis
AI tools can dramatically accelerate the research phase by analyzing hundreds of linking pages simultaneously, identifying common link motivations, and generating initial content outlines. Use AI for research efficiency but ensure your final content contains original human insights and expertise that AI cannot replicate.
Combining Skyscraper with Digital PR
Amplify your Skyscraper content through digital PR channels. When your improved content includes original data or research, pitch it to journalists and industry publications as a newsworthy resource. This generates additional high-authority backlinks beyond the traditional Skyscraper outreach pool.
Serial Skyscraper Campaigns
Run multiple Skyscraper campaigns simultaneously targeting different topics within your niche. This builds a portfolio of link-earning assets that collectively strengthen your entire domain authority. Aim for 3-4 campaigns per quarter, with each one targeting a different high-value topic. Align campaigns with your broader SEO strategy.