What is The Skyscraper Method? | Definition & Guide
The skyscraper method is a content marketing and link building technique coined by Brian Dean of Backlinko — it involves finding content that has already earned significant backlinks, creating a demonstrably superior version, and then conducting targeted outreach to earn links from sites that linked to the original.
Definition
The skyscraper method is a content marketing and link building technique coined by Brian Dean of Backlinko — it involves finding content that has already earned significant backlinks, creating a demonstrably superior version, and then conducting targeted outreach to earn links from sites that linked to the original. The name derives from the idea that no one builds the world's second-tallest skyscraper — there is an inherent human tendency to notice and reference what is best. Applied to content marketing, this means that the most comprehensive, current, and well-produced piece of content on a given topic tends to attract the most links.
Why It Matters
Link building is consistently cited as one of the most challenging aspects of SEO, particularly for B2B SaaS companies that lack brand recognition or large content teams. The skyscraper method provides a structured, repeatable process that removes much of the guesswork from link acquisition.
The technique's core insight is that content which has already proven its ability to attract links signals a topic with inherent link-building potential. Rather than guessing which topics might earn backlinks, practitioners reverse-engineer success by studying what has already worked. This data-driven foundation makes the approach more predictable than publishing content and hoping it earns links organically.
For B2B SaaS companies, the skyscraper method is particularly effective for a few reasons. First, B2B audiences value depth and accuracy — the "substantially better" content that the technique requires naturally aligns with B2B content expectations. Second, B2B niches often have established content that has accumulated links over years but has grown outdated, creating clear opportunities for improvement. Third, the outreach component leverages the fact that B2B content linkers (editors, bloggers, journalists) are accustomed to evaluating resources on their merits.
How It Works
The skyscraper method is executed in three distinct phases:
Phase 1: Identify link-worthy content
The process begins with research to find content that has already attracted a significant number of backlinks. Tools like Ahrefs Content Explorer, Semrush, or BuzzSumo allow practitioners to search for topics and sort results by number of referring domains. The ideal skyscraper target has:
- A substantial number of backlinks from unique referring domains
- Clear opportunities for improvement (outdated data, missing sections, poor formatting)
- Topical alignment with the practitioner's website and audience
- Backlinks from the types of sites that would realistically link to the practitioner's domain
Phase 2: Create something demonstrably better
The second phase requires producing content that is objectively superior to the target piece. "Better" is measured across several dimensions:
- Comprehensiveness — Covering subtopics, edge cases, or perspectives that the original missed
- Currency — Updating statistics, examples, and recommendations with current data
- Depth — Adding original research, expert commentary, or proprietary data
- Design and usability — Improving visual presentation with custom graphics, interactive elements, and better formatting
- Accuracy — Correcting errors or outdated claims in the original
The improvement must be significant enough that an objective third party would agree the new content is a better resource for their audience. Marginal improvements do not justify the outreach effort.
Phase 3: Conduct targeted outreach
The final phase involves contacting websites that link to the original content and presenting the new resource as a superior alternative. Effective outreach follows several principles:
- Personalize each email to reference the specific page where the old link appears
- Clearly articulate what makes the new content better, with specific examples
- Keep the message concise — busy editors will not read a 500-word pitch
- Follow up once, but do not spam; respect a non-response as a decline
- Target the right person at each organization (the author, editor, or webmaster)
Typical conversion rates range from 5% to 15% of outreach attempts, meaning a target piece with 200 referring domains could yield 10 to 30 new backlinks from a well-executed campaign.
The Skyscraper Method and SEO/AEO
The skyscraper method remains one of the most reliable white hat link building frameworks for B2B SaaS companies seeking to build domain authority through content excellence. At xeo.works, we use skyscraper-style competitive content analysis to identify the highest-ROI link building opportunities for our clients. Learn how content-led link acquisition fits into a broader organic growth program on the SEO for B2B SaaS hub.