Optimizing content with the Skyscraper Technique

The process of optimizing content typically involves analyzing what your competitors have said. Many content marketers use the skyscraper technique to create high-ranking content. The skyscraper method means gathering information from all the existing articles covering a topic you’re going to write about. The end goal is to make your guide or article even more detailed and helpful than the current top-rankers.

A post published in the Ahref blog back in 2017 demystified the impacts of the skyscraper technique, stating:

“If bloggers could post successful case study after case study, they would. The reason they post case studies rarely is that there aren’t many.”

That said, case studies published by Backlinko and HubSpot explain successful experiences:

Backlinko:

“This approach helped my brand new post hit the #1 spot in Google… within weeks.”

“After Google reindexed a few posts that I updated recently, all my posts (even ones I did not update) experienced an immediate drop in traffic of about 30-40%.”

Hubspot

“In creating something that’s even better, you have the potential to topple that older piece of content, outrank them, and drive in more traffic — especially if you win those high-quality backlinks by reaching out.”

“If you stumble upon a blog post from a competitor on a topic that you’d love to cover, perhaps you could make an infographic, video, or even a more in-depth guide that could deliver more value.”