Skyscraper Technique for Link Building: Updated for 2025

The Skyscraper Technique is a three-step SEO strategy: identify link-worthy content, create superior content, and reach out to the right people for backlinks. 

It’s a method that has proven effective in building high-quality backlinks and boosting organic traffic.

What is the Skyscraper Technique

The Skyscraper Technique was introduced by Brian Dean of Backlinko in 2013.

The concept is straightforward: find content in your niche that has garnered a significant number of backlinks, create a better version of that content, and then reach out to the right people to link to your improved version. 

This method capitalizes on the human tendency to be attracted to the best, just like how people are drawn to the tallest skyscraper in a city.

In the B2B and SaaS sectors, this technique has been adapted to focus on creating content that not only surpasses existing resources in quality but also aligns with the specific needs and pain points of business clients. 

For instance, companies like Backlinko, have reported a 652% increase in organic search traffic by implementing the Skyscraper Technique. 

Why It Still Works in 2025

Despite the evolution of SEO strategies, the Skyscraper Technique remains effective because it emphasizes quality and relevance. 

By focusing on creating content that is more comprehensive, up-to-date, and valuable than existing resources, businesses can naturally attract backlinks. 

This approach is particularly beneficial in the B2B and SaaS industries, where decision-makers are looking for in-depth, reliable information to inform their purchasing decisions.

Examples of Skyscraper Wins in SaaS

How Does the Skyscraper Technique Work for SaaS and B2B?

The Skyscraper Technique works for SaaS and B2B when you stop thinking like a blogger and start thinking like a buyer. Build content people actually need, then weaponize outreach like a growth marketer.

Let’s break it down.

Step-by-Step Breakdown (SaaS-Specific Framework)

Here’s the brutal truth: your average Skyscraper guide is written for affiliate marketers, not decision-makers in software or B2B. So here’s the real playbook – BlueTree style.

Step	Action	B2B/SaaS-Specific Twist
1	Identify Link-Worthy Content	Look for high-ranking comparison pages, stat roundups, or “ultimate guides” in your niche
2	Build a Better Version	Make it 10x better, not just 10% prettier. Think charts, original insights, case data
3	Map Outreach Targets	Find everyone linking to the original-and anyone who should be talking about your brand
4	Personalize Your Pitch	Use job titles, pain points, and value-first outreach-ditch the spray-and-pray
5	Follow Up Relentlessly	Persistence = links. Use automation tools without losing the human touch

Example: One of our SaaS clients in the cybersecurity space rebuilt a 2022 “data breach stats” article with 2024 stats, added expert commentary, and embedded a data explorer tool. Result? A 216% traffic spike and 60+ backlinks in 90 days.

Tools We Use at BlueTree

We don’t just rely on Ahrefs and call it a day. Here’s the actual toolkit we use across SaaS campaigns:

Pro Tip: We embed custom charts using Datawrapper based on scraped industry data. Why? Because editors LOVE citing proprietary visuals. That’s how you stack organic links while you sleep.

Why B2B Link Building Needs a Different Playbook

Let’s get one thing clear: B2B link building is NOT just about links – it’s about credibility, trust, and closing deals.

Here’s how Skyscraper content functions differently for SaaS brands:

• Longer Sales Cycles: Your content supports multiple touchpoints-from awareness to conversion.
  
• More Educated Buyers: They know fluff. Your skyscraper piece better hit with real insights, metrics, and industry nuance.
  
• Stakeholder Validation: One good link on a trusted publication can convince internal teams to greenlight your tool.
  

Example comparison:

Strategy	B2C/Affiliate	SaaS/B2B
Goal	Rankings & traffic	Authority & MQLs
Outreach	Volume-based	Precision-based
Content	Entertaining, viral	Technical, insight-heavy

So if you’re still publishing “Top 5 CRM Tools for Startups” with no unique POV or data, it’s not just lazy – it’s leaking opportunity.

Do Skyscraper Campaigns Actually Drive Rankings and Revenue?

Yes – if they’re built with strategic content and ruthless outreach. When done right, they boost rankings, drive qualified B2B traffic, and land links that make Google pay attention.

Now let’s kill the fluff and get into the proof.

Metrics That Matter (Not Just Vanity Stats)

SaaS CMOs don’t care about traffic spikes – they want qualified leads and authority that scales.

Here’s what we measure at BlueTree when running Skyscraper campaigns for SaaS brands:

Metric	Why It Matters
Domain Rating (DR) of Referring Sites	High DR = more SEO value. We aim for 60+ DR sites for compounding authority.
Number of Linking Root Domains	More unique domains = higher ranking correlation than just total backlinks.
Organic Keyword Movement	Are your top targets climbing the SERPs post-campaign? We track weekly.
Conversion Events	Form submissions, demo bookings, trials-real buyer intent signals.
Share-of-Voice vs. Competitors	How your content visibility stacks up in your vertical post-campaign.

Case in Point:

A SaaS cybersecurity client built a Skyscraper page around “cloud data breach statistics” using our playbook.

• +78 backlinks from 65 referring domains
  
• +187% increase in MQLs from organic traffic over 4 months
  
• Featured in Forbes, Dark Reading, and TechRepublic (hello, brand authority)
  

Real Case Studies from Clients

Let’s talk numbers – not hypotheticals.

B2B SaaS: Infrastructure Management Tool

• Skyscraper Focus: Competitor feature comparisons (updated + interactive)
  
• Results:
  
  • 52 high-DR backlinks
    
  • +142% organic traffic in 3 months
    
  • +64% demo conversion rate from new traffic
    

Fintech SaaS: Risk & Compliance

• Skyscraper Focus: “Ultimate Guide” to third-party risk
  
• Results:
  
  • Earned links from Investopedia, TechTarget
    
  • Doubled their keyword portfolio for “vendor risk” terms
    
  • +33% pipeline from organic traffic in 90 days
    

These campaigns didn’t happen because we sent 10k emails. They worked because we created actual value people wanted to reference.

ROI of Skyscraper Links vs. Other Link Types

Let’s talk dollars. Here’s how Skyscraper links compare with other link acquisition tactics for SaaS brands:

Link Type	Avg. Cost per Link	Avg. DR	Quality
Skyscraper	$100–$300 (mostly outreach + content)	60+	Best
Paid Directories	$250+	40–50	Low impact
Guest Posts	$200–$500	40–65	Depends on site
Press Releases	$300–$1000	20–40	Short-lived benefit

Our internal data shows that Skyscraper links generate 3x more ranking lift per link than guest posts or directory links – because they’re contextually relevant, editorially placed, and earned.

Bottom Line:

If you want backlinks that don’t just sit on a spreadsheet, but actually move your rankings and bottom line – this is your game plan.

Why Most SaaS Brands Fail at the Skyscraper Technique

Most SaaS companies fail because they treat the Skyscraper Technique like a checklist, not a strategy. They copy content instead of upgrading it, spray generic emails, and expect backlinks to magically appear.

Let’s rip this apart and rebuild it.

Common Mistakes (And How to Dodge Them)

We’ve audited hundreds of SaaS content strategies at BlueTree. Here are the top reasons your Skyscraper campaign flops – and how to fix each one with precision.

Mistake	Why It Fails	BlueTree Fix
Copying existing content	Adds zero value-Google and humans know it	Inject unique data, tools, and insights
Fluff writing	“Top 10 CRM Tools” with no opinion or data	Create expert-level, research-backed content
No visual edge	Walls of text = link repellent	Add comparison tables, charts, calculators
Spray-and-pray outreach	Mass emails with no value = ignored	Personalized value-first outreach at scale
Weak headlines	Boring title = no clicks, no links	Use curiosity, clarity, and authority triggers

Real-World Red Flags

You’re probably doing Skyscraper content wrong if…

• Your content is longer, but not more valuable
  
• You’re targeting keywords with 0 transactional intent
  
• You rely on AI tools for 90% of the writing (we see you)
  
• You haven’t included a single first-party data point
  
• Your outreach sounds like this:
  “Hey, just saw your article and thought you’d love ours. Mind adding a link?” 🤦
  

Fix it by asking: Would an industry pro actually share this at a team meeting or Slack channel?

If the answer’s “meh,” you’re not ready to hit publish.

What the Top 10% of SaaS Brands Do Differently

Real Example:

A SaaS company offering project management solutions created a “Project Risk Calculator” based on PMBOK methodology. They didn’t just write an article-they gave something users needed. 

That asset now pulls 35 links/month on autopilot.

How To Build Skyscraper Content That Earns SaaS Backlinks Like Crazy

Start by reverse-engineering the best content in your niche-then ruthlessly outdo it. Add depth, visuals, tools, and unique angles that make your piece the obvious link target.

Let’s show you exactly how we do it at BlueTree.

Step-by-Step: BlueTree’s Skyscraper Content Framework (SaaS Edition)

We don’t write content for fun. We write it to outrank, outlink, and outperform. Here’s the proven 7-step process we use to build skyscraper content that SaaS brands use to dominate their niche:

1. Find Proven Link Magnets in Your Industry

Use tools like Ahrefs or Semrush to dig up:

• Pages with 100+ referring domains
  
• Evergreen topics with traffic potential
  
• Outdated listicles, stat pages, or guides
  

Pro Tip: Filter by “One link per domain” + DR 50+ to get serious SEO targets.

2. Analyze the Top Performers Ruthlessly

Ask:

• What are they missing?
  
• Is their data old?
  
• Any broken tools, low-res visuals, or lazy intros?
  
• Are they actually solving a real B2B pain point?
  

Our internal checklist has 23 optimization points. Most SaaS competitors flunk half.

3. Build Something No One Else Has

That means:

• Include unique data (surveys, internal stats, 3rd-party analysis)
  
• Add tools/calculators users actually interact with
  
• Design custom charts or tables for instant linkability
  

Example Assets:

• Risk calculators
  
• Comparison charts (Feature X vs Y)
  
• Interactive decision trees
  
• Downloadable implementation templates
  

4. Nail the Content Format

Great Skyscraper content for SaaS follows this skeleton:

Section	What It Includes
Hook	Big claim or stat-driven intro that stops the scroll
Core Value	Step-by-step walkthrough or framework
Visuals	Tables, images, comparison blocks every 250 words
CTA	Soft product pitch or gated asset link
Distribution Triggers	Quotes from influencers, stats, embedded tweets

5. Optimize for NLP & Search Intent

You’re not writing poetry – you’re solving problems for specific queries.

BlueTree’s on-page playbook includes:

• NLP terms from Surfer/Frase
  
• Questions scraped from PAA boxes
  
• LSI keyword injection for natural flow
  
• Internal link schema to pass juice to converting pages

6. Prep for Outreach BEFORE You Hit Publish

You should already have a hit list of:

• People who linked to similar content
  
• Industry journalists
  
• SaaS influencers or content managers in your vertical
  

Don’t wait to “see how it does” – build outreach into your content creation process.

7. Distribute Like a Beast

Skyscraper content dies without distribution. Here’s how we spread it:

• Email campaigns using Snov.io with 3-touch sequences
  
• LinkedIn thought-leadership posts repurposing the core insight
  
• Slack group seeding (private industry communities are key)
  
• Reddit/Quora placements (ethically, not spammy)
  
• Guest post references on supporting domains
  

This is why our SaaS clients see 10–15 backlinks within 30 days of publishing.

Bonus: The BlueTree “Link-Bait Stack” for SaaS

The more you stack? The taller your skyscraper.

How To Pitch Your Skyscraper Content

Ditch the spray-and-pray. Effective SaaS outreach is personalized, value-forward, and relentless. You don’t just ask for links, you offer them a reason to care.

Here’s how we pitch like pros and secure backlinks from Forbes, HubSpot, and niche SaaS blogs alike.

The 5 Principles of High-Conversion Link Outreach

Before we touch templates or tools, understand the principles of outreach and how to utilize them using this handy table:

Principle	What It Means
Relevance	Only pitch to sites that cover your topic’s niche
Personalization	Include something only a human would notice
Value-first	Make it about them, not your shiny new article
Credibility	Leverage brand authority, social proof, or data
Persistence	3–5 follow-ups minimum. Respectful, not robotic.

Want replies? Stop emailing like this:

“Hey there! I loved your post. Can you add our link?”

Instead, make them think:

“Damn, this is actually helpful.”

Templates That Work (For SaaS, B2B, and Real Humans)

Below we have devised some templates that combined with good data prove to be very successful in getting partnerships rolling.

1. The Broken Link Replacement Pitch

Best for: Replacing outdated stats, broken links, or old content

Why it works: You’re solving a problem for their readers and their SEO

2. The Ego Bait + Value Combo

Best for: Quoting influencers or linking to their content in your post

Why it works: Flattery + value + low friction = win

3. The Reciprocal “Open a Door” Email

Best for: Long-term link partnerships, guest posts, SaaS collaborations

Why it works: You’re not just asking-you’re offering distribution or co-promotion

Follow-Up Strategy That Doesn’t Annoy People

Outreach is a campaign, not a cold shot in the dark. Here’s how we follow up without sounding desperate:

Day	Action
Day 0	First email
Day 3	Short nudge: “Just checking if this is relevant for your readers…”
Day 7	Add value: “Also found a resource your audience might like…”
Day 12	Light exit: “If it’s not a fit, no worries-thanks for considering.”

Most of our backlinks land on the second or third touch. No follow-up = no links.

BlueTree’s Secret Outreach Stack (We Use This Daily)

If you’re serious about scaling SaaS outreach, build your tech stack. Ours includes:

• Hunter.io / Snov.io for finding verified emails
  
• Respona / Pitchbox for automated sequences with personalization tags
  
• Notion CRM to track replies, link wins, and follow-up stages
  
• BuzzSumo to surface new “linkable assets” in your vertical
  
• SparkToro to find SaaS influencers by topic/keyword
  

And don’t sleep on LinkedIn. A single DM to a content manager with the right message can earn a DR70 backlink. We’ve done it. Repeatedly.

Conclusion

Let’s be real. The Skyscraper Technique isn’t magic. It’s hard, unsexy work-especially for B2B and SaaS brands.

But when done right?

It builds brand authority, drives organic traffic, and lands you links from domains your competitors dream about.

Here’s the hard truth:

Most companies treat the Skyscraper Technique like it’s still 2015.

They write a “better” blog post, fire off 200 emails, and pray to the Google gods.

Meanwhile, BlueTree clients are stacking high-authority backlinks every month from targeted, value-driven, research-backed skyscraper content that actually helps people.

FAQs: Skyscraper Technique

What is the Skyscraper Technique in SEO?

It’s a content strategy where you find link-worthy content, make something significantly better, and promote it to earn backlinks.

How is it different for SaaS companies?

SaaS buyers need depth, trust, and problem-solving-not fluff. Your skyscraper needs to educate, not just rank.

Does it still work in 2025?

Yes-but only if done right. Old tactics like generic listicles are dead. Data, UX, and relevance win now.

How long should Skyscraper content be?

Length isn’t the metric-value it is. That said, most successful pieces run 2,500–3,500+ words with embedded visuals.

What’s the best tool to find skyscraper link targets?

Ahrefs. Use the “Best by Links” and “Content Explorer” features to find proven assets worth outdoing.

How many backlinks should I expect?

If executed correctly, you can earn 20–50+ backlinks within 90 days, depending on your outreach efforts and niche quality.

What’s the biggest mistake people make?

They create longer content-not better content. Quality > word count. Every time.