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The Madison Avenue Field GuideA field guide to marketing & advertising, by Brandon Mina

GlossarySEO & ContentSkyscraper Technique

SEO & Content

Skyscraper Technique

A link-building tactic of creating a better version of popular content and pitching it to sites linking to the original.

By Brandon MinaCEO, BrandPilot AIUpdated November 2026

Short answer

The Skyscraper Technique is a link-building tactic of creating a better version of popular content and pitching it to sites linking to the original. The improved piece might be more current, thorough or better designed. The approach was popularized by Brian Dean of Backlinko, though outreach response rates depend heavily on genuine quality.