The skyscraper technique’s surprising transformation in the AI era

 Boost backlinks and rankings with the Skyscraper Technique. Learn how to find top content, make it better, and earn links that drive SEO success.

The skyscraper technique is a fairly straightforward content marketing and link-building strategy where a marketer identifies popular content with lots of backlinks, creates something significantly better, then reaches out to sites that linked to the original piece to earn links to their own content.

When Brian Dean introduced this strategy at Backlinko back in 2013, the metaphor was beautifully simple. Just like architects competing to build the tallest Skyscraper in a city’s skyline, you’d create content so towering and impressive that everyone would naturally want to point to it instead of the less impressive buildings around it.

The simplicity of that original idea still holds up. Find something good, make it better, tell people about it.

Here’s the thing: Despite having better AI tools, more data, and smarter automation than ever before, this “simple” technique has somehow gotten more complex. According to reporting by SerpReach, 61% of SEOs still believe the technique works, yet actual success rates have plummeted from the original 10-20% benchmarks down to a dismal 1-3% for most practitioners.

Sound familiar?

You’ve probably heard wildly conflicting advice about the skyscraper technique. Some swear it’s dead. Others claim it’s the secret sauce behind their traffic explosions. The truth is both camps are right—and that’s exactly why you’re confused.
Skyscraper Technique

But here’s where things get more difficult. What used to be a straightforward content marketing strategy has morphed into something requiring sophisticated personalization, genuine relationship building, and an almost psychic understanding of what “better” actually means in an era where AI can spin up 10,000-word guides in minutes.

Let’s take a look at how to identify topics and create original content that align with modern Skyscraper tactics, how to outreach effectively in the AI-age, how to create content cost-efficiently, and how to measure long-term ROIs for Skyscraper campaigns.
Why traditional skyscraper techniques are failing in 2025

The classic “skyscraper technique”—find popular content, make it bigger and better, then reach out for links—worked brilliantly eleven years ago. But here’s the thing: Everyone’s doing it now, and the internet is drowning in “comprehensive guides” that are more “comprehensive” than they are “useful.”

Think about it from a webmaster’s perspective. When you get pitched the same “ultimate guide to email marketing” for the hundredth time this year, even if it’s 20% better than existing content, why would you link to it? Your readers have already seen dozens of similar pieces.

The fundamental problem isn’t with the concept of creating superior content—it’s that most practitioners focus on superficial improvements rather than genuine value creation. Adding more words, better graphics, and shinier formatting doesn’t move the needle when your competition is doing exactly the same thing.

So what actually works? The content that earns links in 2025 offers something genuinely unavailable elsewhere: original research, exclusive access, proprietary tools, or insights that can only come from your unique position in the market.

So yeah, the skyscraper technique is both powerful and controversial. It works brilliantly when done right, fails spectacularly when done wrong, and most practitioners have no idea which side of that line they’re on.

Let’s fix that.
Superficial vs. substantial: What actually earns links 

Here’s the thing about the skyscraper technique: What worked like magic a decade ago is now hitting wall after wall in 2025. According to HubSpot’s 2024 State of Marketing Report, email open rates have declined significantly over the past five years, dropping from an average of 21.33% in 2019 to 18.88% in 2024. 

And it’s not because marketers got lazy or the technique was a fluke.

The digital landscape has also fundamentally shifted. Content saturation has reached critical mass, Google’s algorithms have evolved to prioritize different signals, and audiences have become incredibly sophisticated about detecting “look-at-me” content. 

Think about it: when everyone’s building Skyscrapers, the skyline gets pretty crowded.

So why are traditional Skyscraper approaches crumbling under modern pressures? The answer reveals some uncomfortable truths about how content marketing has evolved—and what it takes to actually break through in today’s hyper-competitive environment.
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The content saturation problem nobody talks about 

Remember when finding content gaps felt like striking gold? Those days are gone. We’re living in an era of “content gentrification“—a phenomenon where premium, professionally-produced content gradually displaces organic, community-generated material in search results and social feeds. 

Basically, it describes how everyone’s producing nearly identical “ultimate guides” that all look suspiciously similar.

Think about the last time you searched for something like “email marketing tips.” You probably found 20 articles with the same 15 points, just shuffled around like a deck of cards.

This isn’t just annoying for users—it’s killing your link-building efforts. Why would anyone link to your marginally different version of the same content they’ve seen a dozen times before? 

Of course, the proliferation of AI tools for content creation has only accelerated this problem, making it easier than ever to produce lengthy, technically optimized content that says absolutely nothing new.

The real kicker? Even if you spend weeks crafting something genuinely better, you’re still competing with hundreds of other “improved” versions flooding the web daily. Simply making your content longer won’t solve this fundamental problem—in fact, it might make things worse.
Why your “improved” content still isn’t getting links 

Let’s talk about the elephant in the room: That 40-hour Skyscraper project that took a week of your life and earned exactly zero backlinks.

Sound familiar?

The problem isn’t that you didn’t work hard enough. It’s that most “improvements” are cosmetic at best. Adding 2,000 words to an existing guide, throwing in some stock photos, and updating the publish date isn’t genuine improvement—it’s content padding.

Real improvement requires something most Skyscraper attempts miss entirely: original insight. When everyone’s racing to create the “ultimate” 10,000-word guide, they’re missing what actually earns links. 

People don’t link to length. They link to ideas, data, and perspectives they can’t find elsewhere.
Push Content

Consider this sobering reality from a comprehensive study of content marketing efforts: According to research by Orbit Media Studios, 32% of bloggers report that their content marketing efforts produce “strong results,” yet the majority still struggle with link acquisition. 

Think about it—even when content creators invest significant resources in comprehensive pieces with custom graphics and multimedia elements, the gap between content quality and actual backlink generation remains substantial for most publishers.

Meanwhile, a competitor published a 1,500-word piece with one original data point from surveying 50 industry professionals. This competitor’s article earned 37 backlinks in the first month, demonstrating exactly that pieces with original research earn more backlins. 

The lesson here is clear: meaningful improvement isn’t about doing more of the same things. It’s about bringing something fundamentally different to the table. And that’s exactly what traditional Skyscraper thinking fails to recognize.
The outreach fatigue epidemic 

Webmasters can now spot a Skyscraper pitch from their email preview pane. If you’ve managed a website or created your own content, you likely know the template: “Hi [Name], I noticed you linked to [outdated resource]. I’ve created something 10x better…”

Delete.

Inbox saturation has reached critical mass. NicoDigital correctly points out that webmasters receive dozens of these pitches weekly, often for the exact same keywords. They’ve become so generic that some recipients have created filters specifically to catch and delete them.
Email Outreach

The templates that worked in 2013 have been copied, pasted, and beaten to death. Even “personalized” outreach has become formulaic—mentioning someone’s recent tweet or blog post before pivoting to your pitch isn’t fooling anyone anymore.

What’s worse, the rise of automated outreach tools means your carefully crafted email is now competing with hundreds of bot-generated messages using the same basic structure. 

Webmasters have developed a sixth sense for these patterns, and they’re not impressed.

The traditional Skyscraper approach assumed a level of naivety that simply doesn’t exist anymore. Today’s content creators and webmasters understand the game, recognize the tactics, and have zero patience for another “I made this better” pitch landing in their inbox.

We need completely different approaches if we want to cut through this noise. The old playbook isn’t just ineffective—it could be tarnishing your reputation and burning bridges with the very people you’re trying to connect with. 
The anatomy of Skyscraper content that actually works 

Successful Skyscraper content in 2025 requires a specific formula combining: 

    Genuine value creation 
    Technical excellence 
    Strategic positioning

These are ideas that go far beyond simply making something longer than competitors’ content. Let’s take a look at what works today.
What Stan Ventures did to achieve 17X growth

Here’s the paradox. The same companies struggling with Skyscraper campaigns are often sitting on goldmines of untapped opportunities. They just don’t recognize what modern success looks like. Take, for example, what Stan Ventures, an SEO and link building agency, did to achieve 17X growth on a popular post comparing search engines.

With the skyscraper technique involving focused content refresh and optimization and strategic link building, our organic traffic rate for the blog skyrocketed from just 600 in July 2024 to 10,000+ in January 2025.

Stan Ventures tackled this challenge through a three-pronged content strategy. First, they conducted comprehensive keyword research to identify high-intent search terms their target audience was actually using. Then they optimized existing pages for better search visibility while simultaneously launching a consistent blog publishing schedule focused on solving real customer problems. But here’s what made the difference: they didn’t just create content—they created content clusters around core topics, building topical authority that search engines rewarded with higher rankings and increased organic visibility.

Their secret? They started by targeting a topic where they could genuinely add value through proprietary data: search engines. They’re an SEO company, after all. 

Instead of rehashing existing content, they analyzed 50,000 SERP results to identify patterns nobody else was discussing. That original research became the backbone of content that naturally attracted links.

They also flipped the traditional outreach model. Rather than cold-emailing webmasters after publishing, they engaged with industry communities months before launching their content. By the time their research went live, they had relationships with 200+ potential linkers who already knew and trusted their work.

Think about it: would you rather link to a stranger’s “ultimate guide” or to research from someone you’ve been exchanging insights with for three months?

The technical execution matters too. Stan Ventures optimized every piece for Core Web Vitals, or the metrics Google uses to measure your users’ user experience (UX), from day one, ensuring sub-2-second load times even with heavy data visualizations. They knew Google wouldn’t reward “better” content that delivered a worse user experience.

This wasn’t luck or perfect timing. It was the result of understanding that modern Skyscraper success requires depth over breadth, relationships over reach-outs, and technical excellence in order to be successful. 
The genuine value framework that beats word count

According to HubSpot’s 2023 State of Marketing Report, companies that prioritize content quality over quantity see 13x more ROI than those focused on volume metrics.

Think about it: instead of chasing arbitrary word counts, successful content marketers are shifting toward what we might call “information density per minute”—how much unique value can you deliver in the time someone spends consuming your content?
Traditional Value

Stan Venture’s framework prioritized three elements that actually move the needle:

    Original insights nobody else can replicate. They conducted user surveys, analyzed customer support tickets, and interviewed industry experts to uncover perspectives competitors couldn’t access. One piece featuring exclusive data from 1,200 SaaS buyers generated more backlinks in two weeks than their previous ten “ultimate guides” combined. 
    Actionable specificity over generic advice. Rather than saying “improve your onboarding,” they’d show exact email sequences, A/B test results, and implementation timelines from real campaigns. Readers could literally copy their playbooks. 
    Visual excellence that enhances understanding. They invested in custom diagrams, interactive calculators, and data visualizations that made complex concepts instantly graspable. These visuals weren’t decoration—they were teaching tools that happened to be highly shareable.

The result? Content averaging 2,400 words consistently outperformed competitors’ 5,000-word pieces. Why? Because every paragraph delivered something readers couldn’t find elsewhere.

Let’s be real: anyone can use AI to generate 10,000 words about any given topic. But creating something genuinely valuable? That still requires: 

    Human expertise 
    Original research 
    Deep understanding of what your audience actually needs 

Modern visual and technical requirements 

Google’s evolved far beyond counting words and links. Today’s Skyscraper content needs to excel across dimensions that didn’t exist when Brian Dean first introduced the technique. Let’s take a look at the four must-haves for successful Skyscraper content.

Core Web Vitals 

Core Web Vitals now directly impact rankings, and bloated “ultimate guides” often fail these benchmarks spectacularly. Successful practitioners optimize for Largest Contentful Paint (LCP), or how quickly users see your site after clicking on the link to it, of under 2.5 seconds, even with rich media. They’re using next-gen image formats, lazy loading for below-fold content, and CDNs to ensure global performance.

Mobile optimization

Mobile optimization isn’t optional anymore—it’s survival. With mobile SEO driving over 60% of searches, your Skyscraper content needs responsive design, thumb-friendly navigation, and readable typography without zooming. Smart practitioners test every piece on actual devices, not just browser dev tools.
Lighthouse

Modern tools

AI tools have revolutionized content creation, but not how most people think. The winners use AI for research synthesis, outline generation, and fact-checking—then layer human expertise for strategy, creativity, and genuine insight. They’re using tools like GPT-4 to analyze competitor content gaps in minutes, not to write generic paragraphs.

Visual Excellence

Visual hierarchy matters more than ever. Successful Skyscraper content uses progressive disclosure, expandable sections, and smart formatting to help readers navigate massive resources without feeling overwhelmed. They’re thinking like UX designers, not just writers.

Here’s what nobody talks about: great content sitting on a technically inferior page will lose to decent content with perfect technical execution. That’s the reality of modern SEO.

The bar keeps rising. But honestly? That’s good news if you’re willing to do the work. Because while everyone else chases word count, you can focus on building content experiences that actually deserve to rank. 
The relationship-building approach to Skyscraper outreach 

The relationship-building approach to Skyscraper outreach, by which we mean building actual relationships with people in the field where you’re hoping to build links, transforms traditional link-building tactics from cold pitching to strategic partnership development, focusing on genuine connections and mutual value rather than transactional requests.

So why has modern Skyscraper outreach become so ineffectual? Because we’ve all become jaded. 

Webmasters delete those “I noticed you linked to…” emails before finishing the first sentence. Success rates have plummeted not because the technique doesn’t work, but because everyone’s doing it wrong—treating outreach like a numbers game instead of a relationship game.

Even the most sophisticated personalization falls flat when it’s obvious you’re just working through a spreadsheet of prospects. The shift from transactional to relational outreach isn’t just nice to have anymore. It’s the only way to cut through the noise.
Why personalization isn’t enough anymore 

Personalization used to be the secret sauce. Mention their recent article, compliment their work, then slide in your ask. But webmasters have seen this playbook a thousand times. They can spot template personalization from a mile away—even when you’ve spent 20 minutes crafting what feels like a genuine message.

What webmasters actually want to see? Value before the ask.

Instead of leading with “I have better content,” start by solving a problem they actually have. Maybe their resource page has broken links you’ve fixed. Perhaps you’ve created a complementary tool that enhances their existing content. Or maybe you’ve conducted original research that validates a claim they made but couldn’t fully support.

The community-building approach works better because it flips the entire dynamic. 

You’re not asking for a favor from a stranger. You’re proposing a collaboration with someone who already knows your value. 

This isn’t about gaming the system with better templates—it’s about becoming genuinely valuable to your industry peers before you need something from them. 
Building industry connections before you need them 

The most successful link builders we know aren’t actually doing “outreach” at all. They’re community members first, content creators second. 

But how do you do this? Start by identifying the key players in your niche—not just the big sites you want links from, but the actual humans behind them. Follow them on social media. Join their communities. Subscribe to their newsletters. But here’s the crucial part: engage authentically without any agenda for at least 60-90 days.
Timeline

Share their content when it’s genuinely good (not everything will be). Add substantive comments that show you actually read and understood their work. When you see an opportunity to help—maybe they’re asking for input on Twitter or looking for data sources—jump in without mentioning your own content.

Here’s a specific tactic that’s been working: become a reliable source of industry intelligence. Set up Google Alerts for your industry connections’ brand names and their main competitors. When something relevant happens, shoot them a quick heads-up. “Hey, saw Company X just launched something similar to your tool. Thought you’d want to know.” No ask, no pitch, just value.

Another approach? Start an industry roundup or newsletter where you regularly feature others’ work. This gives you a legitimate reason to stay in touch and positions you as someone who amplifies others and is a thought leader, not just someone looking for amplification. 

The long-term payoff? When you do create that stellar Skyscraper content, you’re not cold pitching—you’re sharing it with colleagues who already value your perspective. They’ll link not because you asked, but because they want their audience to see quality work from someone they respect.

Even better, this approach generates opportunities beyond single campaigns. Those relationships lead to guest posts, podcast appearances, collaborative research projects, and yes—unsolicited links when they naturally reference your expertise.

This shift from campaign-based thinking to relationship-based strategy changes how you measure success, too. Instead of tracking emails sent and links gained, you’re looking at:

    Engagement quality
    Repeat collaborations,
    The compound effect of genuine industry relationships

It takes longer, sure. But the links you earn this way stick around, multiply through word-of-mouth, and come with the kind of editorial context that search engines increasingly value. 
Measuring success beyond vanity metrics

Measuring success in Skyscraper campaigns means tracking metrics that actually move your business forward, not just numbers that look good in reports.

Here’s the thing about Skyscraper campaigns—most people expect instant gratification. They publish their “ultimate guide,” send out fifty emails, and then refresh Google Analytics every hour waiting for that traffic spike.

Sound familiar?
Metrics

That’s a sign of unrealistic expectations for Skyscraper content. Let’s get real about what success actually looks like and when you should start celebrating (or pivoting). 
Timeline reality check for Skyscraper campaigns 

Most Skyscraper campaigns need 2-6 months before you see meaningful results, and that’s if you’re doing everything right.

Yeah, that’s a long time. 

But here’s what’s actually happening during those months. Month one is typically your baseline and setup phase. You’re getting your content indexed, maybe seeing some initial crawl activity, watching for technical issues. 

Month two through three? That’s when you start seeing early ranking movement—maybe jumping from position 82 to 45 for your target keywords. Not exciting, but it’s progress.

By months four through six, you should start seeing meaningful results from your Skyscraper content. According to a 2024 case study by SEOpital, a properly executed Skyscraper campaign could generate as much as a 30-36% increase in organic traffic within four to six months after publication. 

If you’re not experiencing at least a 20-30% uptick in either referring domains or organic traffic within that window, something’s likely broken in your approach.

The early warning signs matter more than the wins. Watch for these indicators in the first 60 days: 

    Are people spending real time on your page (3+ minutes)? 
    Are you getting any natural backlinks without outreach? 
    Is your bounce rate below 70%? 

If you’re answering “no” to all three questions, you might need to reassess whether your content actually deserves to rank.

The brutal truth is this: if you’re seeing zero movement after three months—no ranking improvements, no organic links, no social shares from actual humans—it’s probably time to audit your approach rather than doubling down on more outreach. 
Connecting Skyscraper results to business goals 

Let’s be honest—your CEO doesn’t care about an authority score for you website inching up slightly from 45 to 47. What they care about are business results. 

Revenue. 

Market position. 

And here’s where most SEOs completely miss the mark with Skyscraper campaigns. They get so obsessed with link metrics that they forget why they’re building these assets in the first place.

Take lead generation. A properly executed Skyscraper piece should be generating qualified leads through multiple channels. Not just form fills on the page itself, but partnership inquiries, speaking opportunities, podcast invitations. 

Consider the SaaS company that executed a comprehensive Skyscraper strategy in early 2025, targeting high-competition keywords in their niche. Six months post-publication, the results were impressive: a 36% average monthly lift in organic traffic, more than 1,300 organic keywords captured, and 50+ new high-authority referring domains secured through strategic outreach. 

But here’s what really demonstrated long-term value: the content’s sustained visibility through industry newsletter features and podcast citations that continue driving qualified leads well beyond the initial traffic surge, proving that superior Skyscraper content creates a compounding business impact that extends far beyond traditional SEO metrics.

You should probably think about authority building differently too. 

Sure, links from sites are nice. But what about when your Skyscraper content becomes the go-to resource that sales teams send to prospects? Or when customer success uses it to onboard new clients? Those are real business impacts that never show up in search engine results.
Metrics Dashboard

Multi-dimensional wins often matter most in SaaS content marketing. Take MeazureUp’s experience: while their comprehensive operational audit guides generated moderate organic traffic, the real payoff came through cross-channel amplification. Those same pieces became their highest-converting gated assets, drove hundreds of qualified leads, and fueled webinar series with 500+ attendees per session. 

The content authority also positioned leadership team members as speakers at major hospitality tech conferences—ultimately contributing to doubled SQLs and 470% organic traffic growth. 

The campaigns that generate the most business value often have modest SEO metrics. Because they’re focused on attracting the right people, not the most people. [web designer: please format as a tip]

This doesn’t mean abandoning SEO metrics entirely. It means aligning your content with real search intent and business objectives from day one. 

    Track organic conversions, not just traffic. 
    Monitor brand search increases after your campaign launches. 
    Watch for upticks in direct traffic—often a sign that people are bookmarking and returning to your resource.

The bottom line? Successful Skyscraper campaigns in 2025 require integration with your broader marketing machine. They’re not standalone SEO plays anymore. They’re strategic assets that should multitask. 

A strong Skyscraper campaign could also feed your email nurture sequences, enable your sales team, or position your brand as the obvious choice in your category. Anything less is just expensive content creation. 
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Strategic implementation guide for newer SEO professionals 

We know that executing the skyscraper technique feels overwhelming when you’re just starting out. You’ve got powerful tools at your fingertips, but knowing exactly how to use them (and in what order) makes all the difference between wasting weeks on dead-end content and actually earning those coveted backlinks.
Step 1: Finding link-worthy content Start by identifying topics that already attract backlinks like magnets.

Fire up Semrush’s Topic Research tool and search for broad topics in your niche. 
Topic Research Content Marketing Scaled

Sort by “referring domains” to see what’s earning the most links. Look for patterns—are they comprehensive guides? Original research? Interactive tools? For instance, if you’re in the B2B content marketing space, you might discover that detailed workflow templates consistently outperform generic how-to posts.

Semrush’s Backlink Analytics tool reveals another angle. Enter your competitors’ domains and navigate to their “Top Pages” report. You’ll spot their link magnets instantly—the pages earning 50+ referring domains while their average content gets maybe 2-3 links.

Don’t ignore BuzzSumo either. While it’s primarily a social sharing tool, content that gets shared heavily often attracts links too. Search for topics with 1,000+ shares, then cross-reference those URLs in Semrush to verify their backlink profiles.

What are we looking for? Content with 30-100 referring domains from quality sites. Anything below 30 might not be worth the effort. Above 100? You’re competing against established authority pieces that’ll be tough to outrank without serious resources. 
Step 2: Creating something better “Better” doesn’t mean adding another 2,000 words just to hit some arbitrary word count.

Think about what frustrated you the last time you researched something online. Was the data outdated? Were the examples too generic? Did you have to visit three different sites to get the complete picture? Those pain points are your opportunities. Let’s look at some examples of how to do this.

Update for freshness

Let’s say you found a popular guide on SEO competitor analysis from 2022. Your improved version might include fresh data from 2025, screenshots from current tool interfaces (not outdated ones), and actual case studies with real metrics instead of hypothetical examples. Or maybe you add an interactive calculator or downloadable template that the original lacks.
Before After

Visual upgrades

Visual upgrades are also a way to add real value to Skyscraper content. You can transform walls of text into easy-to-navigate infographics. 

Or replace generic stock photos with custom diagrams that actually explain concepts. 

Or create comparison tables where the original just listed items in paragraphs. Try looking at your existing content with an eye for what will add both visual appeal and improve your reader’s experience.

Call in the experts

Fresh expert perspectives elevate content beyond what anyone can produce with AI. To do this, try finding and interviewing practitioners who’ve actually implemented these strategies. Include their specific results, not just their opinions. 

For example, Outreach Monks shared how they were able to take their Raven360’s content from zero to 50 backlinks using a modified approach of the skyscraper technique. And the data backs this up—companies using expert-driven content strategies see measurable results, like the 350% organic traffic growth achieved by Raven360’s CEO. 

Real case studies with concrete outcomes consistently outperform templated, AI-written advice because they offer authentic, tested strategies that readers can actually implement and that they can trust because it comes from the mouth of a human.

Optimize for speed

Speed optimization delivers multiple competitive advantages when executing the skyscraper technique. If your improved content loads instantly on mobile while the original version is sluggish, you’ll see lower bounce rates and increased time on site—both quality signals that search engines reward. 

But here’s another key benefit: fast-loading, mobile-optimized content attracts more natural backlinks and social shares since users are far more likely to distribute resources that provide a smooth, frustration-free experience. 

And with Google’s Core Web Vitals becoming increasingly central to rankings, ensuring your Skyscraper content meets these performance standards gives you an immediate edge over slower competitors. 
Step 3: Promoting your content for backlinks 

Once you’ve got the content, how do you get it out into the world? Let’s look at some important aspects of getting your content those ever-important backlinks. 

Build relationships before you need them. 

Comment thoughtfully on their posts. Share their content (and let them know). When you finally reach out about your Skyscraper content, you’re not a stranger asking for favors. 

Find high-value websites

Generic outreach emails get deleted faster than you can say “link exchange.”

Instead, start by using a backlink analysis tool like Semrush to make a list of every site linking to the inferior content you’re trying to beat. Export this data, but don’t fire up your typing fingers to send off outreach emails just yet! 

You’ll need to segment your prospects first. Prioritize sites that: linked recently (within the last 6 months), have updated their content in the past year, and actually send traffic (check their estimated organic traffic in an SEO tool like Semrush or Moz). 

Skip any sites that look abandoned or haven’t published anything new recently.

Next, remember that your outreach needs a genuine value proposition. Instead of “Hey, I noticed you linked to X, here’s my better version,” try something like:

“I saw you referenced the 2022 guide on [topic] in your recent post about [their specific angle]. Since you’re helping readers with [their goal], thought you’d appreciate knowing that data is now outdated—[specific example of what changed]. I’ve compiled the 2025 numbers here: [your URL].”

Also, remember that personalization goes beyond using their first name. Do research and reference their specific article, explain why your resource specifically helps their readers, and make it ridiculously easy to update their link. Sometimes you might even provide the exact HTML they can swap in.
Email
Choose winnable battles in competitive niches 

Not every Skyscraper opportunity is worth pursuing, especially when you’re competing against sites with massive brand authority. In highly competitive niches, cold outreach success rates for backlinks drop to just 1–3% according to recent industry data, making your efforts far less efficient than they once were.
Look for content gaps within popular topics

Maybe the top-ranking guide on programmatic SEO covers enterprise solutions extensively but barely mentions tools for small businesses. That’s your angle—create the definitive resource for a specific subset of searchers.
Evaluate improvement potential realistically 

Can you genuinely offer something 10x better, not just 10% different? If the current top resource is a comprehensive guide from a major authority site updated monthly with fresh data, you’ll need more than enthusiasm to compete.
Decision Matrix

Target medium-competition keywords where the top results have obvious weaknesses. Missing Schema markup. Poor mobile experience. Outdated statistics. No visual elements. These technical and content gaps give you multiple angles for creating superior content even without massive resources.
Consider local or industry-specific angles that bigger sites ignore 

A general guide might rank well nationally, but creating the Skyscraper version specifically for a niche topic, say Canadian regulations for SaaS companies or changes to user privacy regulations in 2025, could dominate those narrower—but still valuable—searches. 

Here’s the thing: local and industry-specific angles offer multiple advantages beyond just easier rankings. You’ll face less competition from major publishers who typically focus on broad, generic content. Your conversion rates often improve dramatically because you’re speaking directly to your audience’s specific pain points—Canadian tax laws or GDPR compliance for EU businesses. 

And these targeted visitors are usually further along in the buying journey, making them more valuable than generic traffic. 

Plus, you can build genuine authority and trust within specific communities, leading to more backlinks, social shares, and word-of-mouth referrals from people who actually need your expertise. 

And, as a bonus, you’ll face less competition from major publishers who typically focus on broad, generic content. Your conversion rates often improve dramatically because you’re speaking directly to your audience’s specific needs. 

And these targeted visitors? They are usually further along in the buying journey, making them more valuable than generic traffic. 
Resource allocation and efficiency strategies 

According to a 2025 industry survey by Unicorn Growth, marketers dramatically underestimate the time required for high-quality Skyscraper content—by nearly 300% or more. 

Most anticipate a few days of work, yet successful campaigns actually require weeks of sustained effort to create truly authoritative, link-worthy pieces.

Creating superior content typically takes 40-60 hours when you factor in research, writing, design, and technical optimization. Add another 20-30 hours for outreach and relationship building. That’s two full work weeks for a single piece of content—before you see any results. 

Let’s look at ways to streamline this process as much as possible.
Perform similar tasks together

Smart resource allocation starts with batching similar tasks. Research five Skyscraper opportunities at once, then choose the most promising one. Create templates for outreach emails that you can customize quickly. Build relationships with site owners continuously, not just when you need links.
Campaign Timeline
Use AI tools intelligently

You can also leverage AI tools for content marketing to speed up initial drafts and research, but make sure the review of the final product is done by human eyes. The actual content needs human expertise and genuine insights that AI can’t provide.

Instead, you can use AI tools to do things like analyze competitor content, generate outline ideas, or create first drafts of meta descriptions. Copy.ai leverages natural language processing to produce SEO-friendly meta descriptions in seconds, while Team-GPT offers collaborative brainstorming with custom prompts and multiple AI models like GPT-4. 

For international marketing, a tool like RightBlogger can help you leverage tone control across 100+ language options so that you can match your brand voice across languages. Or a tool like Rytr could be great for scaling content operations since it handles bulk generation across 35+ languages. 

If you can dream it, there’s probably an AI tool that can help you speed up your Skyscraper content pipeline.
Make your content evergreen

Focus on evergreen topics like comprehensive how-to guides, step-by-step tutorials, or detailed explainer articles (“What is SEO?”) that’ll generate links for years, not trending topics that’ll be irrelevant in three months. 

Think about it: a mortgage calculator or an in-depth guide on changing your car’s oil consistently attracts backlinks because it serves ongoing audience needs, while trending stories rarely drive links beyond their initial buzz. 

The time investment only makes sense if your content—whether it’s industry glossaries, case studies on algorithm recovery, or downloadable templates—can attract links continuously and strengthen your site’s authority over time. 

Dig deeper: Learn all about evergreen content
Keep track of your actual time investment versus your results

If you’re spending 80 hours per piece and getting 2-3 links, it’s time to diagnose what’s broken. Start by auditing your content—is it truly offering unique value beyond just being longer? Add original data, exclusive insights, or downloadable assets that competitors lack. 

Next, try ditching generic outreach emails. And go back to the earlier steps. Did you do them effectively? Did you craft personalized messages explaining precisely why your content improves their readers’ experience? Did you target sites already linking to top pages in your space? 

But don’t stop at direct outreach—repurpose key findings into social content, pitch data stories to journalists, and promote across your existing channels. 

Finally, ensure you’re actually tackling evergreen topics with sustained search interest rather than fleeting trends. The key is shifting from quantity-focused content creation to building genuine value and human connections.
Budget for design and development help if needed 

Sometimes spending $500 on professional infographics or interactive elements transforms good content into link-worthy content. That investment pays off when it helps you earn 20+ quality backlinks you wouldn’t have gotten otherwise.

How do you know when’s the right time to hire a pro? Take a deeper dive into the pros and cons for hiring a content or graphic creator. 
Building sustainable Skyscraper success 

Remember, sustainable Skyscraper campaigns require treating each piece as a long-term asset, not a one-time project. You should:

    Update it quarterly. 
    Promote it regularly. 
    Build on its success with related content that interlinks naturally. 

You have to keep your content tree watered and fertilized, metaphorically, if you really want to see it grow.

So what is the special sauce that separates the Stan Ventures of the world (jumping from 600 to 10,000+ monthly visitors) from the folks spending 40 hours on content that earns zero backlinks?

Strategic thinking. It beats tactical execution every single time. The campaigns that work today aren’t just longer or prettier versions of existing content—they’re fundamentally different resources that solve problems competitors haven’t even identified yet. 

When you’re creating something genuinely valuable rather than marginally better, outreach becomes a natural conversation instead of a cold pitch.

Feel like you have a firm grasp on how to successfully run a skyscraper technique campaign?