How to Effectively Use the Skyscraper Technique for Real SEO Results

Ranking content today takes more than just stuffing in a high word count or collecting a few backlinks. You need to create something that truly deserves to be at the top.

When done right, the Skyscraper Technique remains one of the most effective and straightforward content strategies available.

But unlike earlier days, simply adding a few extra points to the tallest piece isn’t enough. Now, you must also align with Google’s standards for quality—this means matching user intent and delivering a strong user experience (UX).

In this guide, we’ll walk you through the steps to apply the skyscraper technique—from identifying the right content opportunities to promoting your improved version effectively. You’ll also find practical advice on how to reach the top of the SERPs—and more importantly, how to stay there.

What Is the SEO Skyscraper Technique?

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It’s not unusual for companies to take an existing idea, enhance it, and then market it successfully as their own.

Consider MP3 players as an example. While many in the West associate them with Apple’s iPod, the earliest versions were actually developed by South Korean firms.

Apple refined the concept by giving the iPod a sleek look, a user-friendly interface, and seamless integration with iTunes—creating a better overall experience. This helped the iPod dominate the market and played a major role in Apple’s comeback.

The skyscraper method in SEO and content marketing follows a similar concept. Introduced by Brian Dean of Backlinko in 2015, this technique involves locating top-performing content on a topic and then building a noticeably better version of it. It’s a strategic approach to both creating and promoting content.

Rather than brainstorming ideas from scratch or diving deep into endless research, you:

Spot content in your niche that’s already ranking well
Evaluate what it does well and where it falls short
Produce your own version that offers more depth, clarity, and usefulness
Promote it using outreach and other backlink strategies

The purpose of the skyscraper technique is to become the go-to resource for a topic—not by starting anew, but by improving what’s already successful.

The Evolved Skyscraper Technique: What’s Different Now?

The skyscraper strategy today has evolved significantly from its original form. When Brian Dean introduced the concept nearly a decade ago, SEO was much more straightforward. Back then, discovering a well-ranked article, making yours slightly longer or better structured, and executing some solid link outreach was often enough to outrank the original.

The older version of the SEO skyscraper method worked well due to:

Longer articles generally performing better than shorter ones.
Aggressive outreach and link-building often translating into improved rankings.
Small enhancements—like additional sections or cleaner formatting—creating big gains in a less saturated content space.

Promotion played a major role, but the bar for content quality wasn’t as high. With a good skyscraper link-building strategy, you could achieve rankings even if your content didn’t significantly enhance the reader’s experience.

That’s no longer sufficient. Today, Google’s algorithms prioritize content that shows genuine value, authority, and strong engagement—beyond just links or length.

And the shift toward generative AI has also changed the playing field.

Why Skyscraper Content Still Works in 2025: The SEO Behind It

If Google no longer rewards content purely for being long or heavily linked, why does the skyscraper approach still matter?

Because the essence of the strategy has always been to build the best resource on a given subject—not just the longest or most linked.

“Beyond how many words a page has, real opportunities lie in delivering deeper, more original content that directly matches what users are searching for,” Viloria explained.

“Today, pages don’t fail due to length—they fail because they’re too generic or miss the point of what readers actually need.”

In 2025, skyscraper SEO content succeeds by aligning with Google’s current standards for quality, which include:

Accurately meeting search intent
Offering in-depth, relevant information
Establishing authority and credibility
Engaging users with clean structure and strong UX
Staying current with timely updates

Here’s why these factors are more important than ever:

Strong Alignment With Search Intent

Modern SEO prioritizes content that directly answers what users are looking for. When content aligns well with search intent, it leads to better engagement, lower bounce rates, and longer time on page—all signals that help improve rankings. Updating outdated or shallow content to match current user expectations can significantly boost its relevance.

Thorough Topical Depth

Google favors content that covers a topic comprehensively—not just at length. The skyscraper technique works well here because it builds upon existing articles but adds more substance and context. This boosts keyword relevance and naturally incorporates related terms, helping both SEO performance and user satisfaction.

Applying E-E-A-T Principles in Skyscraper SEO Content

When evaluating pages, Google gives priority to content that demonstrates Experience, Expertise, Authority, and Trustworthiness—known as E-E-A-T. Skyscraper content often outperforms lower-quality or outdated material because it naturally aligns with these values.

Well-optimized skyscraper SEO pages typically:

Reference reliable, up-to-date sources
Offer clear, thorough, and practical insights
Display author bios and publication dates prominently
Incorporate real-life experience, case studies, or examples when suitable

These components indicate to both users and search engines that the content is credible and written by someone with genuine knowledge of the topic.

In highly competitive industries—such as health, finance, or legal (often classified as Your Money or Your Life, or YMYL topics)—demonstrating E-E-A-T is essential for ranking and maintaining visibility.

Enhanced User Engagement Metrics

Metrics like time spent on page, bounce rate, and dwell time reflect how well users interact with content. A strong user experience combined with in-depth, valuable information leads to better engagement. Search engines take note of these signals and reward content that clearly meets user expectations.

Building a Strong Link Profile

Skyscraper content is intentionally crafted to earn backlinks by being the most valuable resource on a topic. Since authoritative and relevant backlinks remain one of Google’s key ranking factors, content that attracts links organically—or through thoughtful outreach—gains credibility and ranking strength more quickly.

Content Freshness and Updates

One major strength of skyscraper content is its ability to modernize outdated information that competitors haven’t touched. Google prefers current, accurate content—especially for competitive keywords.

By updating and improving upon existing content with fresh data, recent quotes, and updated examples, you increase your chances of ranking. Regularly refreshing your skyscraper pages helps maintain those rankings and protects against being overtaken by newer content.

The Role of Backlinks in Today’s Rankings

In the early days of the skyscraper technique, a high word count combined with link-building and some outreach could be enough to rank well.

Today, while backlinks are still a crucial factor, they’re no longer the only metric that matters. Google now uses them as a signal of credibility—not as the sole measure of quality.

✅ If your skyscraper content truly delivers value, meets user intent, and keeps visitors engaged, backlinks will help reinforce its authority.

❌ If it falls short of expectations, backlinks alone won’t secure lasting rankings.

Think of backlinks as a vote of confidence—they amplify quality, but they can’t replace it.

Why People Naturally Gravitate Toward Skyscraper Content

The skyscraper strategy isn’t just beneficial for brands looking to improve rankings—it also delivers real value to users by helping them find content that meets their needs.

When users browse search results, they’re more likely to click on pages that appear detailed, trustworthy, and highly relevant. This behavior is influenced by Authority Bias—a psychological tendency to trust sources that present themselves as reliable and well-organized.

Social proof also plays a key role. Content that’s frequently cited, shared, or linked to by respected sources appears more credible to users than content that lacks those endorsements.

When your skyscraper content is current, comprehensive, easy to explore, and supported by trustworthy references, users are more inclined to:

Spend more time engaging with the page
Share it within their network
Reference or link to it in their own content

Well-crafted skyscraper content does a better job of meeting user expectations compared to thin or outdated material. As a result, it generates higher engagement—which ultimately contributes to improved search rankings.

Step-by-Step Breakdown of the Skyscraper Method

Looking to build content that stands taller and performs better? Follow this guide to identify content that can be enhanced, create a superior version, and set it up to gain visibility, backlinks, and lasting search engine rankings.

Step 1: Identify Content Worth Outperforming

The first and most crucial step in the skyscraper strategy is selecting the right piece of content to improve. Not every top-ranking article is ideal for this method. Choosing the wrong one could waste time and effort without results.

Here’s what you should consider:

Topical Relevance: The subject must closely relate to your business, service, or industry.
Strong Backlink Profile: Look for content already earning links from multiple domains—this shows it’s viewed as valuable by others.
Potential for Enhancement: Even well-ranked content can fall short—watch for outdated facts, light content, poor visuals, or disorganized structure.
Evergreen Topic: Focus on content with long-term relevance. Avoid topics tied to news, fads, or trends that fade quickly.
Consistent Search Volume: Opt for keywords that show steady search interest year-round, rather than seasonal spikes.

When a page has solid rankings, attracts backlinks, and shows room for improvement, it’s a prime skyscraper candidate.

Tools and Methods to Discover Skyscraper Opportunities

You can uncover great content to skyscrape using SEO tools or manual methods. While premium tools can speed things up, traditional research still gets the job done.

Use Ahrefs’ Content Explorer

Ahrefs offers a helpful feature—Content Explorer—for discovering well-performing content:

Enter a keyword or topic of interest
Apply filters:
- Referring domains to find linked content
- Organic traffic to identify top-performing pages

This reveals articles that attract backlinks and traffic—ideal for skyscraping. Review each shortlisted piece carefully to assess its quality and gaps.

Use Semrush to Review Competitor Content

Semrush is another effective platform for spotting skyscraper prospects:

Input your competitor’s domain into the Backlink Analytics tool
Navigate to the Indexed Pages section to view backlink data on specific URLs

Seek out content that:

Continues to rank high
Has at least 50 trustworthy referring domains
Covers a topic aligned with your audience
Lacks depth or doesn’t fully satisfy the search intent

If you can provide deeper insights, up-to-date information, and better design or visuals, you’re in a strong position to outrank it.

Manual SERP Analysis (No Paid Tools Needed)

No premium tools? No problem. Manual SERP research is still effective. Here’s how to do it:

Search your desired keyword on Google
Open the top 10 organic listings (avoid paid ads)
Evaluate each page for issues like:
- Old publish dates (2+ years ago)
- Outdated data or statistics
- Broken or irrelevant links
- Shallow content or overly brief lists
- Poor formatting (no headings, large text blocks, lack of visuals)
- Intrusive pop-ups or messy design
- Not optimized for mobile devices

Even if a page ranks well, it may have significant weaknesses—especially if it hasn’t been updated, lacks relevance, or misses the user’s intent.

In such cases, Google may rank it simply because there’s no better alternative—making it the perfect target for a more robust piece of skyscraper content.

Leverage “Related Searches” and “People Also Ask”

Google’s “Related Searches” and “People Also Ask” sections are valuable tools for strengthening your skyscraper content. By exploring these features, you can:

Uncover additional subtopics to include in your content
Identify common follow-up questions users are asking
Spot gaps in competing content that your piece can fill

Incorporating insights from these areas allows you to broaden your content’s coverage. Not only does this help address more than just the user’s original query, but it also provides excellent inspiration for creating informative H2s and a comprehensive FAQ section.

Step 2: Build Content That Surpasses the Competition

Once you’ve identified content worth improving, the next step is to create something that genuinely outperforms it—not just in length, but in value. In the earlier days of skyscraper content, marketers often assumed that simply adding more words or sections was enough to make it superior.

But in 2025, that approach doesn’t hold up. Today’s users want in-depth, relevant content that directly addresses their needs while delivering a smooth, engaging experience. Search engines, too, have evolved. They now evaluate content using more sophisticated criteria.

Beyond E-E-A-T, search engines now weigh:

Engagement signals like time spent on page and bounce rate
The depth and quality of information
Clarity and readability
Overall site usability
Trust indicators such as sources, author credibility, and external mentions

Padding content with unnecessary fluff or stretching simple concepts into paragraphs won’t help. Instead, focus on offering real value through:

Fresh, up-to-date information
Original insights and perspectives
Better examples or relevant case studies
Enhanced visuals like infographics or interactive media

Fun Fact: Some in the SEO world refer to this kind of upgraded content as “10X” content—material that’s 10 times better than what’s already out there.

Start With a Detailed Content Audit

Before diving into writing, analyze the original piece closely.

Ask yourself:

What’s missing? Are there important subtopics or user questions left unaddressed?
Is the information still relevant? Are stats, references, or tips outdated?
How is the layout and flow? Could it be more structured or easier to read?
Are visuals helpful or distracting? Would custom graphics or clearer images improve comprehension?
Is the content skimmable, or is it just large blocks of text?

This audit becomes your roadmap for rebuilding the piece with clarity and depth. As you create your skyscraper version, aim to:

Thoughtfully Expand the Topic: Cover related angles and go deeper into sections the original only briefly mentioned
Refresh Outdated Info: Add the latest facts, remove broken links, and cite current industry trends
Upgrade Visuals: Include new charts, embedded videos, updated screenshots, or unique infographics
Improve Structure: Use clearly defined H2s and H3s to guide the reader through the content
Incorporate Relevant FAQs: Pull user questions from “People Also Ask” to enrich the page and address search intent
Offer Practical Value: Include checklists, templates, or real-world examples that readers can use right away

Make UX a Priority

Picture an article that covers everything about building outstanding content. It’s insightful, timely, and packed with helpful details.

Now imagine that it’s hosted on a slow-loading page, cluttered with pop-ups, difficult to navigate, and written in Comic Sans. No matter how good the writing is, poor user experience can ruin it.

For skyscraper content to truly succeed, user experience must be seamless across all devices—fast-loading, easy to read, and visually appealing.

That may sound like an exaggerated scenario, but it illustrates a fundamental point: No matter how well your content is written, it won’t benefit users or boost rankings if it’s difficult to use.

If your content resembles something from the early blogging era in both design and functionality, your audience is unlikely to take it seriously.

When developing your skyscraper piece, user experience (UX) must be a top priority. Make sure the page is:

Simple to navigate, ideally with a clear and clickable table of contents
Easy to read, using legible fonts, short paragraphs, and proper spacing
Quick to load and fully optimized for mobile devices

If visitors find your content hard to consume or trust, they’ll leave—and your rankings will drop.

Step 3: Strategically Promote Your Skyscraper Content

Publishing a well-crafted skyscraper article is a major win, but without effective promotion, it won’t naturally attract links or rank well. Promotion remains a key component of the skyscraper strategy. The silver lining? High-quality content is easier to promote than weak or generic articles.

How to Promote Skyscraper Content in 2025:

Start by Finding Link Opportunities
Before hitting publish, begin building a curated outreach list. Focus on individuals and websites that:

Linked to the original piece you’ve improved upon
Regularly share helpful resources in your niche
Run industry news roundups or curated lists
Are active in relevant professional networks

Use These Tools to Help You:

Ahrefs & Semrush: These platforms can show who linked to the original content. Use Site Explorer or Backlink Analytics to pull domain-level backlink data.
BuzzSumo: Great for finding journalists and influencers who’ve covered similar topics.
Google Search: Manually find updated articles on the same subject and locate sites that may find your content more valuable.

Write Personalized Outreach Emails

Now for outreach—but don’t blast out cookie-cutter messages. Editors and content creators receive endless backlink requests, so your message must be relevant and clearly valuable to them and their audience.

Tips to Craft a Winning Email:

Mention the recipient’s work to personalize the intro
Keep it brief—ideally under 5 sentences
Highlight how your content is a stronger or more current alternative
Be courteous and present the link as a helpful suggestion

Example Framework (Not a Template):

Hi [Name],
I noticed you referenced [Old Article] in your write-up about [Topic].

I’ve recently published a fresh, detailed version that includes updated stats and new insights. It might be a useful resource for your readers.

Here’s the link if you’d like to check it out: [URL]
Appreciate your time, and I enjoy the work you’re doing.

Best,
[Your Name]

Go Beyond Just Email Outreach

While outreach is crucial, it shouldn’t be your only promotional method. Leverage multiple platforms to boost visibility and increase the likelihood of earning backlinks.

Social Media: Share across LinkedIn groups, Twitter (X) threads, Facebook groups, and relevant forums
Content Repurposing: Turn highlights into carousels, short-form videos, social posts, or newsletter content
Retargeting Ads: Use paid campaigns on platforms like LinkedIn and Facebook to target users who have engaged with similar topics before

Track Performance and Refine Your Approach

Use UTM parameters to monitor where your traffic and backlinks are coming from. These help you pinpoint which outreach efforts or platforms are driving real results.

Track metrics such as:

New backlinks generated
Growth in organic search traffic
User engagement like time on page and bounce rate

Use this data to tweak and improve your promotion tactics over time.

Skyscraper Content in 2025: How to Rank and Stay Ranked

Now that you know how to build and promote skyscraper content, let’s look at how to ensure it ranks—and stays there—in today’s SEO climate.

1. Fully Align With Search Intent

Ranking in 2025 begins with understanding exactly what users want. If someone searches for how to fix a leaky faucet, they expect a step-by-step tutorial—not a history lesson on plumbing.

Before drafting your content, ask:

What format do users expect? A how-to? A guide? A comparison?
Are they beginners or experienced users?
Are they looking for quick answers or in-depth explanations?

If your content misses the intent behind the query, no amount of detail or optimization will save it.

2. Focus on Speed, Simplicity, and Mobile Experience

Google increasingly emphasizes user experience in its ranking systems. To stay competitive, your content must:

Load quickly, especially on mobile
Use clean, skimmable formatting with logical headers
Avoid disruptive elements like pop-ups or confusing menus
Include a clickable table of contents to make navigation seamless

A frustrating UX can cause users to exit quickly. High bounce rates and low time-on-page are strong signals to Google that your content doesn’t meet expectations—leading to lower rankings, even if your content is otherwise excellent.

In contrast, a smooth and enjoyable experience reassures search engines that your page is both helpful and relevant—boosting your chances of maintaining top positions.

3. Establish Credibility Within Your Content

Trust is a crucial factor in how content performs — not just with your audience, but with search engines as well. People seek reliable, up-to-date information, and algorithms favor content that displays authority, accuracy, and trust.

To enhance the credibility of your content and improve its SEO impact, be sure to:

Reference current, reliable sources
Include real-world examples or case studies
Feature expert insights and relevant quotations
Clearly display the date of publication or last update
Add author bios, particularly for sensitive subjects like finance, health, or legal advice

4. Answer More Questions and Cover Related Topics

Ever started reading about one subject and suddenly found yourself diving into connected ideas, like when browsing Wikipedia?

That’s because one query often leads to another. High-performing content doesn’t just answer the initial question — it anticipates what the reader might ask next. Users shouldn’t have to search for another article to complete their understanding.

By covering associated subtopics, offering solutions to related challenges, and guiding users on what to do next, you increase the chances they’ll stay engaged. This not only boosts time on page and engagement but also encourages sharing and backlinking.

Here’s a checklist to ensure your content is comprehensive:

☐ Does it address natural follow-up questions?
☐ Are actionable recommendations included?
☐ Does it clarify common mistakes or myths?
☐ Are there clear next steps, templates, or helpful tools?

If all these boxes are checked, you’re ready for the next important task — internal linking.

5. Strengthen Internal Linking Across Your Website

Once your skyscraper content is published, it’s essential to connect it with other relevant pages on your site. Internal linking goes beyond user navigation — it plays a major role in how search engines understand your site’s hierarchy and context.

Here’s what effective internal linking helps you achieve:

Boosts discoverability: Search bots can find and index new content more efficiently
Passes authority: Pages with strong SEO value can distribute link equity to newer or updated content
Builds topical relationships: Linking related content reinforces your site’s expertise on broader subject areas
Improves usability: Visitors can explore related topics more easily, reducing bounce rates and increasing session duration

A quick note on anchor text: avoid repetitive exact-match keyword links. These can appear spammy. Instead, use natural, contextual phrasing that fits seamlessly into the content.

Less natural (exact-match):
“Check out our guide on best CRM software for small businesses.”

Using the entire keyword phrase as the link may seem over-optimized.

Better (contextual):
“Explore your options by reading our full guide.”

Linking “reading our full guide” sounds more natural and still informs the user about what to expect.

Use Advanced Strategies to Stay Ahead

Once your skyscraper content is published, using smart techniques can help you maintain rankings, grow your visibility, and keep delivering long-term value.

1. Repurpose Your Skyscraper Content

Maximize the value of your skyscraper content by transforming it into different formats and bite-sized pieces, such as:

Video recaps for YouTube
Slide-style LinkedIn posts
X (formerly Twitter) threads
Email drip campaigns or newsletter features
Downloadable PDFs or mini-lesson series

Repurposing helps you connect with audiences across platforms. It also extends the content’s shelf life, increases discoverability, and brings in more backlinks and traffic over time through multiple access points.

2. Keep Your Skyscraper Content Updated

Don’t let your content become outdated and vulnerable to being outdone by competitors. Set reminders to review and refresh your skyscraper pages every 6 to 12 months.

Check and revise:

Outdated statistics
Screenshots, tools, and examples
Internal or outbound links
Changes in trends or best practices

Consistent updates ensure your content remains relevant and competitive in search results.

3. Optimize Through Ongoing Testing

After your page goes live, refining smaller elements can drive measurable gains. Continuously test and tweak different components to enhance performance.

Key elements to experiment with:

Headlines & meta descriptions: Modify wording for better clarity, tone, or keyword focus to boost click-throughs
Intro sections: A more compelling opening can keep visitors from bouncing
CTAs and prompts: Improve placement or clarity to increase engagement
Images and visuals: Swap for lighter or more relevant graphics to speed up load time and boost understanding

Small optimizations lead to better user engagement, which in turn improves search engine signals and ranking stability.

Skyscraper SEO Checklist

Research Stage
☐ Identified a strong but improvable competitor page
☐ Confirmed steady search volume, backlink profile, and evergreen potential

Content Creation Stage
☐ Audited existing content for gaps and outdated info
☐ Added depth, insights, and current data
☐ Improved formatting, structure, and mobile usability

Promotion Stage
☐ Created a list of outreach contacts
☐ Sent personalized pitches and shared content socially

Post-Publish Stage
☐ Tracked backlinks, traffic, and on-page metrics
☐ Scheduled biannual updates
☐ Repurposed into other formats to extend reach

Elevate Your Brand with the Skyscraper SEO Strategy

The Skyscraper SEO strategy delivers the best results when integrated into a comprehensive digital marketing plan. By combining this method with SEO link building, search engine marketing, and other essential services, your business can boost its online presence, draw in quality traffic, and establish lasting authority in your niche.

At WEB BELIEVERS, we’re committed to driving measurable growth for your brand. Our team leverages time-tested techniques—from compelling content development and advanced SEO to strategic outreach—to ensure your brand stays relevant and visible to your target audience.

Whether your goal is to enhance organic search rankings, improve your backlink structure, or build a reliable content marketing roadmap, we’re here to support you at every stage.

Connect with us today to schedule a consultation and discover how WEB BELIEVERS can help your business rise above the digital noise.