Struggling to consistently produce blog posts that drive significant traffic? The key often lies not just in originality, but in identifying and improving upon what already works. This is where the ‘Skyscraper’ Technique comes into play – a proven strategy for leveraging existing high-performing content to create even better resources. But what if you could put the initial research and optimization on autopilot? This article dives deep into how to systematically find popular content, improve upon it, identify winning blog post formats in your niche, and, crucially, automate key steps to scale your content creation efforts.

Understanding the Skyscraper Technique: Build Bigger, Reach Higher

Coined by Brian Dean of Backlinko, the Skyscraper Technique is based on a simple premise: find popular content in your niche (the “building”), create something even better (the “skyscraper”), and then promote it strategically.

The Core Steps of the Skyscraper Technique

1. Find Proven Content: Identify articles, videos, or infographics that are already ranking well and generating traffic in your niche.
2. Analyze and Identify Gaps: Determine what’s missing from the existing content. Is it outdated? Lacking detail? Missing specific examples or case studies?
3. Create a Superior Resource: Produce content that is more comprehensive, up-to-date, visually appealing, and provides greater value than the original.
4. Promote Your Content: Reach out to people who have linked to or shared the original content, letting them know about your improved version.

Why Automate the Skyscraper Technique?

While the Skyscraper Technique is effective, it can be time-consuming. Manually searching for popular content, analyzing it, and reaching out to influencers takes considerable effort. Automation can significantly streamline the process, freeing up your time to focus on creating high-quality content.

Automating Research: Finding Winning Content Formats

The initial research phase is crucial. Automation can help you quickly identify high-performing content and the formats they utilize.

Tools for Identifying Popular Content

• BuzzSumo: Enter a keyword or topic, and BuzzSumo will show you the most shared articles on social media. This gives you a quick overview of what resonates with your audience. Pay attention to the type of content that performs well (e.g., listicles, how-to guides, case studies).
• Ahrefs/SEMrush: These SEO tools allow you to analyze your competitors’ top-performing content based on organic traffic and backlinks. Identify which keywords and topics are driving the most traffic to their sites, and again, note the format.
• Google Trends: Discover trending topics and keywords in your niche. This can help you identify timely opportunities to create skyscraper content.
• AnswerThePublic: Provides insights into questions people are asking about a specific topic. Use this to understand the pain points and information gaps your audience is facing, and craft content that addresses those needs.

Identifying Winning Blog Post Formats

As you analyze the popular content, pay close attention to the formats being used. Are listicles dominating the search results? Are long-form, in-depth guides performing well? Do interactive quizzes generate a lot of engagement? Identifying these trends allows you to focus your content creation efforts on proven formats.

Common high-traffic blog post formats include:

• Listicles (e.g., “10 Ways to Improve Your SEO”): Easy to scan and digest.
• How-To Guides (e.g., “How to Build a Website from Scratch”): Provide step-by-step instructions.
• Case Studies (e.g., “How [Company] Increased Sales by 30%”): Offer real-world examples and proof.
• Ultimate Guides (e.g., “The Ultimate Guide to Content Marketing”): Comprehensive and authoritative.
• Infographics: Visually appealing and shareable.
• Reviews/Comparisons (e.g., “[Product A] vs. [Product B]”): Help people make informed decisions.

Automating Content Optimization: Making It a Skyscraper

Once you’ve identified a promising piece of content to “skyscraper,” the next step is to create something even better. This is where automation can help with content optimization and ensuring your version truly stands out.

Tools for Content Optimization

• Grammarly/ProWritingAid: Ensure your writing is clear, concise, and error-free.
• Surfer SEO/Clearscope: These tools analyze top-ranking content for specific keywords and provide recommendations for optimizing your content’s on-page SEO (e.g., keyword density, heading usage).
• Canva/Visme: Create visually appealing graphics, charts, and infographics to enhance your content.
• Hemingway Editor: Helps you simplify your writing and eliminate unnecessary words.

Focusing on Value and Differentiation

Automation can assist with the technical aspects of optimization, but ultimately, the success of your skyscraper content hinges on the value you provide. Consider these strategies:

• Update Outdated Information: Ensure your content reflects the latest trends and best practices.
• Add More Depth and Detail: Expand on the original content by providing more in-depth explanations, examples, and data.
• Include Original Research: Conduct surveys, interviews, or experiments to add unique insights.
• Improve the User Experience: Make your content easy to read, navigate, and share. Use clear headings, bullet points, and visuals.

Automating Promotion: Reaching the Right Audience

Creating great content is only half the battle. You need to promote it effectively to reach your target audience. While completely automating outreach is risky (it can come across as spammy), you can use tools to streamline the process.

Tools for Content Promotion

• Hunter.io: Find email addresses for websites and individuals.
• Mailshake/Lemlist: Personalize and automate email outreach campaigns. Focus on providing value and building relationships, not just blasting out generic emails.
• Social Media Scheduling Tools (e.g., Buffer, Hootsuite): Schedule your social media posts to reach a wider audience.

Conclusion: Building Your Content Empire, One Skyscraper at a Time

The Skyscraper Technique, when combined with strategic automation, offers a powerful approach to content creation. By focusing on proven formats, leveraging tools to streamline research and optimization, and prioritizing high-quality content, you can systematically build a content library that drives consistent traffic and establishes you as an authority in your niche. Remember, automation should augment your efforts, not replace them entirely. Focus on providing genuine value to your audience, and your “skyscraper” content will soar.