Skyscraper Technique

Ever feel like your content is lost in a sea of online noise? Enter the skyscraper technique, a clever strategy to help your content tower above the competition. This approach is all about creating content that's not just good, but the best in its field – like a skyscraper dominating a city skyline.

The skyscraper technique is a three-step process: find popular content, make something even better, and then tell people about it. It's a simple idea, but it packs a punch. By focusing on quality and outreach, this method can boost your website's visibility and attract valuable backlinks.

For businesses looking to improve their search engine rankings, the skyscraper technique offers a solid foundation. It's not about churning out endless content, but rather creating standout pieces that people naturally want to share and link to. This approach aligns perfectly with search engines' preference for high-quality, authoritative content.

While it does require significant effort, the potential payoff makes the skyscraper technique worth considering. It's not just about getting links – it's about establishing your brand as a go-to source in your industry. By consistently producing top-notch content, you'll build a reputation that keeps people coming back for more.

Why this works

The skyscraper technique works because it leverages existing demand and improves upon what's already proven successful. Here's why it's effective:

• Quality attracts attention. By creating content that's significantly better than what's already out there, you're more likely to capture and hold your audience's interest. This is especially crucial for SaaS companies and digital product creators who need to stand out in crowded markets.

• Search engines favor comprehensive content. Search algorithms prioritize in-depth, authoritative content. A well-executed skyscraper piece is more likely to rank higher in search results, driving organic traffic to your site.

• Backlinks become easier to acquire. When you've created something truly valuable, other websites are more inclined to link to it. This is particularly beneficial for startups and software companies looking to boost their domain authority.

• It aligns with user intent. By improving upon popular content, you're addressing topics that users are already searching for. This can lead to higher engagement rates and lower bounce rates for your website.

• Establishes thought leadership. Consistently producing top-tier content positions your brand as an authority in your niche. This is crucial for SaaS companies and digital product creators looking to build trust with potential customers.

• Provides long-term value. Unlike short-lived marketing tactics, high-quality evergreen content continues to attract traffic and links over time, providing ongoing benefits to your SEO efforts.

• Encourages content audits. The process of finding popular content to improve upon helps you stay aware of industry trends and competitor strategies, which is valuable for any internet business.

• Scalable and repeatable. Once you've mastered the technique, you can apply it across various topics relevant to your business, creating a robust content strategy.

• Supports other marketing efforts. The high-quality content produced can be repurposed for social media, email marketing, and other channels, maximizing your marketing efficiency.

• Attracts partnerships and collaborations. As your content gains traction, you may find opportunities to collaborate with other businesses or influencers in your space, further expanding your reach.

By focusing on creating exceptional content that builds upon existing successes, the skyscraper technique offers a strategic approach to content marketing that can yield significant long-term benefits for online businesses.

How you can steal this

Here's how you can implement the skyscraper technique for your internet business:

1. Identify high-performing content. Use tools like Ahrefs, SEMrush, or BuzzSumo to find popular articles in your niche. Look for pieces with lots of backlinks and social shares. For example, a SaaS company might search for "best project management software" to find top-ranking content.

2. Analyze the competition. Study the top-performing pieces to understand what makes them successful. Note their structure, depth, and any unique elements they offer. A digital product creator might examine popular online course landing pages to see what features they highlight.

3. Create something better. Improve upon the existing content in multiple ways:

   • Add more depth. If the original covers 10 points, aim for 15-20.
   • Update outdated information. Ensure all facts and figures are current.
   • Improve visuals. Create custom graphics, infographics, or videos to illustrate key points.
   • Enhance readability. Use clear headings, bullet points, and short paragraphs for easy scanning.
   • Provide unique insights. Add your own expert analysis or original research.

4. Optimize for search engines. Use relevant keywords naturally throughout your content. Include meta descriptions, alt text for images, and internal links to other relevant pages on your site.

5. Promote your content. Share your new piece across all your social media channels. Consider running paid promotions to boost initial visibility.

6. Reach out to relevant sites. Use tools like Hunter.io to find email addresses of webmasters who have linked to the original content. Craft a personalized outreach email explaining why your content is a valuable update or addition to their existing link.

7. Follow up strategically. If you don't hear back after your initial outreach, send a polite follow-up email after a week. Don't be pushy – remember, you're offering value, not demanding a favor.

8. Track your results. Monitor your backlinks, organic traffic, and search rankings using tools like Google Analytics and Google Search Console. This will help you measure the success of your skyscraper content.

9. Repurpose your content. Turn your skyscraper piece into other formats like infographics, videos, or podcasts to reach a wider audience and create additional linking opportunities.

10. Rinse and repeat. The skyscraper technique isn't a one-time tactic. Make it a regular part of your content strategy, always looking for opportunities to create the best content in your niche.

Remember, the key to success with the skyscraper technique is patience and persistence. It may take time to see results, but consistently producing high-quality, valuable content will pay off in the long run for your internet business.

Examples of the skyscraper technique

Let's dive into some real-world examples of the skyscraper technique in action, showcasing how internet businesses have used this strategy to elevate their content and boost their online presence:

• SaaS company. A project management software startup created an ultimate guide to remote team collaboration. They expanded on existing popular articles by including case studies from successful remote teams, step-by-step workflows for different collaboration scenarios, and a comprehensive list of tools categorized by function. The guide also featured original research on remote work productivity, giving it a unique edge over competitors.

• E-commerce platform. An online marketplace for handmade goods developed an in-depth resource on "How to Start a Successful Etsy Shop." They improved upon existing content by adding video tutorials, printable checklists, and interviews with top-selling Etsy entrepreneurs. The guide also included a section on leveraging social media for product promotion, complete with platform-specific strategies.

• Digital course creator. A professional in the personal finance niche created a mammoth guide on "101 Ways to Save Money on a Tight Budget." This piece expanded on popular "50 ways" articles by not only doubling the number of tips but also including interactive calculators, downloadable budget templates, and expert commentary from financial advisors.

• Fintech startup. A cryptocurrency trading platform published a comprehensive "Beginner's Guide to Cryptocurrency Investment." They improved upon existing guides by including interactive simulations of trading scenarios, real-time market data visualizations, and a glossary of over 200 crypto-specific terms. The guide also featured a section on regulatory considerations across different countries.

• Marketing software company. A social media management tool created an extensive "Social Media Image Sizes Guide." They went beyond just listing dimensions by including customizable templates for each platform, a cheat sheet of optimal text-to-image ratios, and a tool that automatically resizes images for different social networks.

• Online learning platform. An EdTech startup developed a "Ultimate Guide to Learning Programming Online." They expanded on existing resources by including learning path flowcharts for different programming languages, video interviews with successful self-taught developers, and a curated list of free and paid resources for each major programming language.

• Productivity app. A task management application created a detailed "Work From Home Productivity Guide." They improved upon similar content by including data from their user base on the most effective productivity techniques, custom-designed workspace setups for different home environments, and a section on maintaining work-life balance with practical exercises.

• Content marketing tool. An SEO software company published an extensive "Content Marketing ROI Calculator and Guide." They enhanced existing ROI guides by including an interactive calculator, case studies from various industries, and a step-by-step process for setting up content tracking and attribution in Google Analytics.

These examples demonstrate how diverse internet businesses can apply the skyscraper technique to create standout content in their respective niches. The key is to identify what's missing in existing popular content and fill those gaps with in-depth, valuable information that truly serves your target audience.