Looking to take your SaaS link building to new heights? The skyscraper technique is a proven link-building tactic that can help you generate high-quality backlinks, boost organic search traffic, and outrank competitors.
At VH-info, we’re experts in skyscraper link building for SaaS brands. In this guide, we’ll break down exactly how the skyscraper method works and share actionable tips to execute this strategy effectively.
What is Skyscraper Link Building?
The skyscraper technique is a link-building process pioneered by Brian Dean of Backlinko. It involves three key steps:
- Finding popular content in your niche that has earned lots of backlinks
- Creating an even better piece of content on that topic
- Promoting your skyscraper content to the right people to earn quality backlinks
Why Skyscraper Link Building is Effective?
Skyscraper link building works because it:
- Targets keywords and topics with proven search demand
- Provides exceptional content that people naturally want to link to
- Leverages existing backlink opportunities from referring domains
Why Use the Skyscraper Technique For SEO?
Building authoritative backlinks is important for SaaS SEO success. The skyscraper technique helps you:
- Improve search engine rankings for target keywords
- Drive referral traffic from high-quality websites
- Establish topical authority and brand credibility
Why Does the Skyscraper Technique Work?
The skyscraper method is based on a simple concept – creating content that is head and shoulders above anything else out there. Just like the world’s tallest skyscraper stands out on the skyline, your standout content can earn recognition and links.
Key Differences Between Skyscrapers and Other Types of Content
Skyscraper content is:
- Authoritative – covers the topic in-depth with expert insights
- Actionable – provides clear next steps and takeaways
- High-quality – delivers an exceptional reader experience
Benefits of Skyscraper Link Building
Effective skyscraper SEO can provide major benefits:
- Improved keyword rankings and organic search traffic
- Highly relevant referral traffic from your backlinks
- Increased brand reach and authority in your niche
- Compounding SEO results as your content gains traction
How to Execute the Skyscraper Technique For SEO?
Now that you understand the power of the skyscraper technique, here’s how to put it into action:
- Step 1: Find Popular Content in Your Niche: Use keyword research tools to identify relevant informational keywords. Analyze the SERPs to find the top-ranking content. Plug the URLs into a backlink analysis tool to see which pages have attracted the most links.
- Step 2: Create Superior Content: Take what’s already ranking well and make it even better. Go more in-depth, make it more actionable, and improve the user experience and design. The goal is to create the single best resource on the topic.
- Step 3: Promote Your Content and Reach Out to Relevant Websites: Publish your skyscraper content and start email outreach to websites that link to the original pieces. Make a compelling case for why your resource is the new go-to and kindly suggest that they link to you. Track your outreach and follow up as needed.
How to Do Skyscraper Link Building?
Let’s dive deeper into the skyscraper link-building process:
1. Find Competitive Content
- Analyze Competitors’ Content: Identify your top organic search competitors and analyze their best-performing pages. Look for relevant, high-traffic content that has generated lots of backlinks.
- Review Backlink Opportunities: Drill down into competitors’ backlink profiles to find potential link prospects. Prioritize pages with many referring domains and high domain authority. Export the backlink data to inform your outreach later.
2. Create Skyscraper Content
- Outdo the Competition: Your skyscraper content must be substantially better than the pages you want to outrank. Add more depth, insights, examples, visuals, and practical advice. Put real effort into creating a superior resource.
- Optimize Content for Search: Don’t neglect on-page SEO. Include your primary keyword in the title, subheadings, meta description, and throughout the copy. Optimize your page speed, URL, and images. Make the content easy to read and share.
3. Conduct Email Outreach
- Find Link Building Prospects: Using your backlink analysis from step 1, build a list of relevant, high-authority websites to contact. Prioritize pages that have linked to multiple competing articles – they are likely receptive to linking.
- Identify Contacts: Track down the authors, editors, or site owners who are in the best position to add your link. Find their contact info through author pages, LinkedIn, or email lookup tools. Personalize your outreach by using their name.
- Write and Send Pitches: Create compelling outreach emails that lead with value. Mention their existing content and explain how your skyscraper content builds on it. Highlight your most impressive upgrades. Close with a clear, low-friction request for a link. Test different subject lines and templates to optimize your success rate.
Why the Skyscraper Technique Fails and How to Improve Your Chances of Success?
Many people fail with skyscraper link building by making these mistakes:
- Sending Only Brian’s Email Template: Simply copying Brian Dean’s outreach email won’t cut it. Personalize your pitch and lead with what’s in it for them. Provide a clear rationale for linking to your content.
- Not Segmenting Your Prospects: Sending the same generic email to every site won’t be effective. Segment your prospect list by type of site, linking page, authority, etc. Tailor your outreach approach for each group.
- Not Reaching Out to Enough People: Skyscraper outreach is a numbers game. The more high-quality, relevant prospects you contact, the more links you’ll get. Scale up your efforts with email automation tools.
- Thinking Bigger Equals Better: Skyscraper content doesn’t need to be a 10,000-word mega guide. Focus on quality insights, not just quantity. Create the best page for the searcher’s needs.
- Not Considering Brand: Off-brand content won’t perform as well. Build skyscraper content around topics that align with your brand’s unique value proposition and audience.
Measuring the Success of Skyscraper Link Building
Track these key performance indicators (KPIs) to gauge the success of your skyscraper campaigns:
Key Performance Indicators (KPIs)
- Number of backlinks and referring domains
- Organic search rankings for the keyword
- Organic traffic to the skyscraper page
- Leads/conversions attributed to the page
Tracking Backlinks and Referral Traffic
Monitor your backlink profile in Google Search Console and link tracking tools like Ahrefs or Moz. Set up Google Analytics to track referral traffic from your links.
Monitoring Search Engine Rankings
Use rank-tracking software to monitor your keyword positions over time. Measure the impact of your skyscraper links on organic visibility and traffic.
Skyscraper Technique Examples
The skyscraper technique has worked wonders for a lot of marketers, boosting their organic traffic and helping them climb up the search engine rankings. Let’s look at some real-life success stories where this strategy made a big difference:
- Brian Dean’s “Google’s 200 Ranking Factors: The Complete List”
- Backlinko’s “We Analyzed 912 Million Blog Posts. Here’s What We Learned About Content Marketing”
These instances clearly show how valuable creating great content through different ways is the first step to using the skyscraper technique. You can be when aiming for higher organic traffic numbers or wanting your spot among those first few results on search engines once you publish it.
Best Practices For Skyscraper Link Building
Follow these tips to get the most out of your skyscraper link building tactic:
- Choosing the Right Topics and Keywords: Prioritize keywords with high search volume, low keyword difficulty, and strong commercial intent. Look for topics that influencers and industry publications are likely to link to.
- Ensuring Content Quality and Depth: Your skyscraper content must deliver exceptional quality and depth. Cover the topic comprehensively, include original research and insights, and make it highly actionable for readers.
- Optimizing For On-Page SEO: Optimize your skyscraper page for search engines as well as readers. Follow SEO best practices for page titles, subheadings, meta descriptions, image alt text, and more. Improve page speed and mobile friendliness.
- Scaling Your Outreach Efforts: To generate meaningful results, you need to build skyscraper links at scale. Use email automation tools to streamline your outreach. Set up follow-up sequences to maximize your conversion rates.
FAQ’s:
How Long Does It Take to See Results With Skyscraper Technique?
With a strong skyscraper campaign, you may start seeing your first backlinks within a few weeks. Organic search rankings can take several months to improve, depending on the keyword difficulty and site authority.
Can Skyscraper Technique Work For Niche Markets?
Yes, skyscraper link building can be highly effective for niche topics. You may have a smaller prospect pool, but the relevance and conversion rates will likely be higher.
Can the Skyscraper Technique Be Used For Any Type of Content?
While skyscraper content is often informational blog posts or guides, you can apply the principles to other formats like infographics, videos, or interactive tools. The key is to create a linkable asset that is significantly better than other options.
What Are Some Common Mistakes to Avoid With Skyscraper Link Building?
Common pitfalls include targeting the wrong keywords, creating content that’s too broad or shallow, sending generic outreach emails, and not tracking your KPIs. Stay focused on quality over quantity.
Is the Skyscraper Technique Still Relevant Today?
While the skyscraper technique isn’t new, it remains a highly effective link-building strategy when executed well. Focus on providing exceptional value with your content and outreach to earn links that drive real SEO results.
Conclusion
Building good backlinks is crucial for SaaS SEO, but it’s challenging. The skyscraper method helps get authoritative links. Make top-notch content and do email outreach to enhance search traffic and rankings.
At VH-info (SaaS Link building Agency), we specialize in skyscraper link-building services for SaaS brands. Our expert team can help you ideate, create, and promote skyscraper content that drives results. To learn more and get started, contact us today.