What is a Skyscraper Article: 40+ Tips to Execute it in 2023
Last Updated on 20th March 2023 by Ajmer Singh
Skyscraper articles are a powerful tool for driving traffic and building authority in your niche.
These articles go above and beyond the typical blog post, providing in-depth and comprehensive information on a specific topic.
However, creating a skyscraper article can be a daunting task, and it’s easy to get overwhelmed by the amount of research and writing required.
That’s why we’ve compiled a list of 40+ tips to help you create a skyscraper article that will stand out and drive results.
From researching and outlining to writing and promoting, these tips will guide you through every step of the process, ensuring that your article is informative, engaging, and optimized for success.
Whether you’re a seasoned blogger or just starting out, these tips will help you create a skyscraper article that will be a valuable asset to your website.
What is a Skyscraper Article?
A skyscraper article is an extremely long post (2500+ words) about a specific topic. The content must cover everything there is to know about it.
This might be an in-depth guide, a step-by-step tutorial, or the ultimate resource on the topic.
Skyscraper articles are also called “evergreen posts” because they are evergreen–they have staying power.
They will still be relevant years later, so the traffic (and views) will keep coming. The majority of search engine traffic is long tail.
Skyscraper articles are the best way to take advantage of this type of traffic because you’re targeting specific keywords that people search for years down the road.
For this type of content, you need to do the following:
1. Find high-volume, high-engagement keywords to write your articles around.
2. Make sure that once you’ve written this monster it’s impeccably edited and proofread.
3. Promote it like crazy, through guest blogging, paid campaigns, link building, social media, etc.
You might be asking yourself why this article is relevant to you if you are not a writer or looking for ways to promote your content.
When people search online they don’t go beyond the second page of the search results.
That means if your content is not on the first page, you’re losing out.
By using this article you’ll be able to get all of your articles on that first page because they will be high-volume and evergreen meaning they will have staying power.
This ensures that people are visiting your site for a longer amount of time which results in more page views and conversions.
40+ Tips to execute Skyscraper Content!
1. Target keywords with high commercial intent
Your articles need to have commercial intent because this is what attracts advertisers to your site, which means you will make money faster.
When trying to choose a keyword for your skyscraper article, think about its usefulness and popularity in the search results.
If it’s not being searched for a lot, it won’t be of much help to you.
People share articles on social media because they’re useful and interesting.
They also want to pass them off as their own work so that others will think they are cool and smart.
There’s nothing wrong with that–it just means your articles have to be more thorough and interesting.
3. Make each article its own self-contained resource
If someone lands on one of your articles from a search engine, they shouldn’t have to read the others as well just to get all of their questions answered.
Each article should be able to hold its own so that readers will find the information they are looking for and keep coming back.
4. Research your topic before you begin writing
This might sound like a whole lot of work, but it will be worth it in the end once you’ve written your skyscraper article.
You’ll know everything there is to know about the topic and then some, which means that no one can even come close to your high-quality content.
5. Create an outline before you begin writing
An outline will keep you on track so that you don’t wander off-topic or forget something important.
It needs to cover all of the things readers are looking for, but it also needs to go further by adding more information than they expect.
6. Entertain your readers
Skyscraper articles need to be fun for people to read, otherwise, they’ll move on to something more interesting.
You can accomplish this by sharing some of the common questions surrounding the topic and giving them humorous or witty answers instead of boring ones (unless you’re writing an informative article).
7. Make it visual
No matter what your topic is, including images and diagrams will help the reader better understand concepts or processes.
You can also use graphs or infographics to explain numerical data in a less complicated way.
8. Include lists of helpful tips for readers
People are always looking for ways they can improve their lives or learn new things.
Listing out the tips and tricks they need to know makes it incredibly easy for them to find exactly what they want without having to search through your whole article.
9. Support your claims
No matter how much research you do, there’s always a chance that you’ve overlooked something or haven’t revealed all of the information about your topic.
When you make a claim, you need to give examples or extra information so readers can be sure that you know what you’re talking about.
10. Make the article flow seamlessly
Don’t jump around from idea to idea within your article because this will confuse people and they’ll stop reading.
An organized structure with smooth transitions is crucial for high-quality content.
11. Do thorough research on the competition
You can’t expect to outrank big websites or blogs without doing your homework first.
Take some time to read through their articles and see what you’re up against.
This way, you’ll know how to improve upon their strategies in order to create something better.
12. Promote it
No one is going to notice your article if you don’t let them know that it exists.
You need to promote and market your articles in order for them to be read by more people and get ranked on search engines like Google.
13. Out of all the articles available online, yours had better be one of the best
When people are searching for something in particular, they want to find it in its most accurate and informative form.
They’ll use your article as a reference in the future, which means that it had better be up-to-date and extremely thorough.
14. No more spinning articles
We all know what those look like. It’s not difficult to figure out when you’re reading one, which means that Google is catching on as well.
With the new update, your article will get penalized for not being original.
15. More keywords do not equal more views
It’s easy to focus on SEO (search engine optimization) and how many times your keyword appears within your article.
But there are other things like readability, length, structure, title tags, meta descriptions and headers that influence how well you rank.
If people can’t understand what you’re trying to say, they’re not going to read it.
16. Be a complete resource
People love finding one place where they can get all of the information about a certain topic.
Create a reference guide or list of resources for your readers so that they can learn more if they want to and come back to your article whenever they need more information on this topic.
17. It needs to be long
You’ve got to go big or go home, right? 500 words just aren’t going to cut it these days.
That being said, quality is more important than quantity so don’t try to pad your word count by adding fluff.
No one wants to read filler copy that doesn’t provide any real value.
18. Your article is not an ad
One of the most common mistakes people make when they write their articles is that they turn them into something resembling an advertisement.
Your job is to inform your readers, so go in-depth, but don’t force them to buy anything or sign up for something you’re selling.
If they think your point is valid, they’ll come back later to buy from you.
19. Be wary of the information you’re using
Some of the content that’s floating around out there on the Internet is incorrect.
Always do your research to make sure that you’re not spouting off bad advice or giving people misleading facts.
If someone else has already written about your topic, read what they have to say and keep it in mind when you’re adding your two cents.
20. It has to be worth the reader’s time
If you didn’t come up with anything new or interesting, why would anyone want to read it?
Take responsibility for educating your readers and giving them something that they can use in their everyday life.
Make an impact with your content!
21. There needs to be a call to action
There’s no point in writing an article if your readers aren’t going to do anything with the information.
Try giving them something they can implement right away or tell them why this topic is important and how it will benefit their lives somehow.
22. Find an angle that hasn’t been taken yet
Everyone has written about the same topics, so how can you make your approach stand out?
If you’ve ever noticed all of the questions that are asked online, there are plenty of opportunities to give your thoughts.
Instead of just rambling on about what everyone else says, try giving a different perspective or adding new insight.
23. It needs to be engaging
People are busy so you’ve got to give them a reason to open your article.
If it’s not interesting or well-written, they won’t read it and it will get buried underneath all of the other articles that people can actually use.
Use keywords strategically, always proofread for errors and make sure your content is easy to understand and flows well.
24. Don’t be afraid to edit
It’s not easy coming up with a fresh take on something that you’re passionate about, but it has to be done if you want your article to get any views.
Start by brainstorming some ideas and then organize them into an outline before writing the first draft of your article.
Don’t be afraid to edit because putting in the extra effort can really pay off when it comes to your content.
25. It needs a great headline
You have five seconds to capture someone’s attention, so what are you going to use?
Try coming up with a clever title that will make them curious about what you have to say or make them remember your article when they’re in the middle of reading another one.
Your headline is what will get you the clicks, so make it count!
26. Use simple language
This is especially true if you’re writing something that’s geared towards a younger audience.
You might be sick of hearing it, but kids are the future of this world, so give them something they can understand!
It doesn’t have to be dumbed down too much, just present your ideas in a way that won’t be too complicated and end up overwhelming your readers.
27. Be consistent
People will come back to read your articles, but they won’t do it if you don’t post anything for a while.
Try to post at least once a week and make sure that you’re fulfilling the topic expectations of whatever site you’re posting on (i.e. your blog).
If you’re creating an article for a different platform, be sure to understand the rules and guidelines of that site before you start brainstorming ideas.
28. Perfect your SEO
Many people overlook this part because they don’t think it’s important, but search engine optimization is very important if you want people to find your content.
Search engines like Google and Bing are looking for keywords, backlinks and social media shares, so make sure that your content has all of those things!
Check out some infographics on SEO to get a better idea about how it works.
29. Don’t tread on familiar ground
You might be tempted to write what everyone else is writing about, but that’s not going to get you anywhere.
Try focusing on a specific topic and then look into what other people have written about it and try coming up with something new!
It can be hard, but don’t let yourself become overwhelmed by the number of things that are already out there.
30. Understand your audience
If you want to become successful, then you need to know who you’re talking to.
What are their interests? What do they like and what don’t they like? Who are the best people to write for this site?
You can answer all of these questions by really thinking about them or by using tools designed to help bloggers understand their readers.
31. Blog about what you know
It’s easier to write an article that people trust when it comes from personal experience, so try starting with something that you’re familiar with!
It can be difficult and time-consuming at first, but remember that the benefits of writing this way will outweigh any negative aspects later on.
32. Make sure your facts are facts
It might be tempting to make things up and lie about what you know, but don’t do it!
People hate getting tricked and they will recognize false information a mile away.
If you can’t prove that something is true, then don’t say it as fact (and always cite your sources).
33. Be creative
People want something that they haven’t seen a million times before, so don’t give them the same old thing!
Do some research for your article and then try to do something different with it.
You can take common topics like relationships or annoying habits and use the information you find to come up with something completely new.
(just try to make your ideas sound realistic).
34. Be passionate
You might be writing in order to make a living, but you also need to have fun with it!
Your articles won’t be worth reading if you aren’t putting anything of yourself into them, so try doing something that really interests you and then share it with the world.
You never know what’s going to happen when people read your article, so give it your best shot!
35. Connect with others
Social media is a great way to get people to read your content, so take advantage of that by trying to connect with people online.
Join Twitter chats or publicize Facebook events and then use the opportunity to let people know about your new article.
You can also do some guest blogging if you want the exposure without having to do all of the work yourself.
36. Get your articles out there
By now, we’ve established that writing and sharing articles is a great (and sometimes profitable) way to step into the world of blogging.
If you’re ready to jump in head-first, then it’s time to start writing!
You can create an account on a self-publishing site like Medium or you also have the option of creating your own blog.
Post any articles that you feel are ready for public eyes and then promote them as much as you can throughout your social media channels.
37. Don’t forget about the money
Blogging is a great way to make some extra cash, but it’s not easy (and you can’t depend on it if you need to pay your rent).
Try focusing on the content and getting more views before trying to monetize, because people will find your site less trustworthy if you start pushing ads or affiliate links too soon.
If you get high enough in the search engines, then you might be able to pull in some revenue through advertising.
We all have opinions about things, so try channelling that inner voice into something constructive by blogging about it!
You’ll find out what other people think when they leave comments on your articles and you might even gain a following of people who are interested in what you have to say.
Don’t get too carried away though, because the last thing you want is to offend someone or sound like a know-it-all!
39. Stay up-to-date
If there’s one thing that we can all count on as humans (and as bloggers), it’s that things are always changing.
It’s impossible to predict what will happen next, so always try to stay ahead of the game by keeping up with your industry.
Track trends and keep an eye on new innovations so that you can write about anything at any time (and hopefully do it well).
40. Get free stuff
There are a lot of ways that you can get free stuff when blogging, but most of them will take time and/or money (and not everything is worth the investment).
Start by using freebies like Canva and Unsplash to create attractive images to share across your social media channels.
You should also be on the lookout for contests because lots of brands and companies will offer freebies as part of a promotional event.
In the end, the most important thing that you can do is just start writing and try to get your name out there.
If you’re passionate about something and work hard, then you should be able to build up a following of readers who will love every one of your articles!
Note: Having a great user experience is equal to more traffic and more views.
And what is needed for a great user experience (from a bloggers perspective),
- Website loading speed (Change your server from shared host to cloud host)
- A perfect layout (Themify ultra is the theme that I am using)
- Unique contents
- Landing page
- Well structured website
FAQS about Skyscraper articles!
Q: What is a Skyscraper article?
A: The skyscraper technique involves creating highly valuable pieces of content that target very popular, “curated” keywords.
They are usually long-form posts (over 2,500 words), and they take lots of time to produce.
But the end result is worth it because this kind of content usually performs well in search engines.
Q: How do I make a skyscraper article?
A: The steps for making a skyscraper article are as follows:
1. Find out what your audience wants by using tools such as Google Trends and Buzzsumo to see what’s popular.
2. Do not take this step lightly – spend hours digging through the Google search results and making a big list of potential topics and keywords.
(You want to find low-hanging fruit; keywords that are easy to rank for).
3. Write an outline for your article, mapping out how it will be structured, what points you’ll make, etc.
4. Do write the full text of your article. This is the meat of your skyscraper article.
It should be at least 2,500 words long, and it will take several hours to write.
5. Use headings, lists and other formatting tools to make your content scannable (easily accessible).
6. Reference any other articles or sources that you’ve used in the text of your posts. Always credit anyone whose work you’ve borrowed!
7. Use a few images throughout the article, and include a link to a high-resolution version of your featured image in your resource box at the end.
8. Get feedback from others before publishing your post, but don’t make changes based on their suggestions alone.
9. Head over to a site like Medium or LinkedIn and publish your article (including an author byline, bio and headshot).
10. Add the link to your article in your resource box at the end of each post, and use social media channels such as Facebook and Twitter to promote it.
Q: How long should my skyscraper article be?
A: It will depend on your industry, the topic you are writing about, etc., but in general skyscraper articles are usually around 2,500 words long.
By comparison, a regular blog post is usually between 500 and 1,000 words long.
Q: Who should write my skyscraper article?
A: The choice is yours! You could write it yourself, or you could hire someone to do it for you.
If you don’t have time or experience to write skyscraper articles, then the best way to get started is by choosing a topic that your audience will love and paying someone else to write it for you.
Q: Where should I promote my new skyscraper article?
A: You can’t promote your article on all of your social media channels; you’ll look spammy! Promote it on one channel at a time.
Start by promoting it on Pinterest, then Facebook, then Twitter; see what happens and adjust your strategy accordingly.
(for example, if someone comments on the Tweet, reply to them and ask them to share it with their followers).
Q: Can I use a skyscraper article as a guest post?
A: No, you should never publish the same content on multiple sites.
However, you can create several different pieces of content from one “master” article.
You should write a single piece of content and then break it down into different formats for additional distribution.
(for example, turn one article into an infographic and a SlideShare presentation).
Q: How many articles should I publish on a weekly basis?
A: That’s up to you! You will need to experiment with publishing frequency.
Start by writing one article per week, then increase it to two, etc.
If readers love your content and are sharing it all over the internet, then there’s no harm in pumping out more of it!
Q: What’s the difference between “guest posting” and “skyscraper content?”
A: Guest posts are links to other people’s blogs (which usually don’t offer any value to your readers).
Skyscraper content is chock-full of awesome information that will help your readers solve their problems.
Content marketing, like guest posts, relies on other people’s audiences to gain exposure, but skyscraper content differs from guest posts in that it is evergreen.
Q: How many links should I include in my skyscraper article?
A: The more, the better! Google loves relevant links and, as long as they are of high quality (inbound or outbound), including them will only help your search engine rankings.
It’s best to link to sources that you’ve used in the text of your posts. Always credit anyone you’re referencing.
Q: Do I need to use any particular type of anchor text?
A: No, but don’t choose it randomly. Anchor text that includes your brand name is best
For e.g., “Click here to see the top 5 skyscraper articles” – will help you rank for long-tailed keywords in the future.
If you have no brand, then go for keywords in your anchor text (“the best skyscraper articles ever written”).
A: Sure! Footer links are extremely effective when used properly.
They allow you to build thousands of backlinks without being penalized by search engines.
A great way to use footer links is by mentioning (and linking) authoritative sources such as Wikipedia and government or university websites at the end of each article you write.
Conclusion
So there you have it – a comprehensive guide to skyscraper articles.
We hope you found this article helpful, and that it has inspired you to try writing your own skyscraper piece.
Remember, the key is to provide as much value as possible for your readers, while also making sure that your content is original and interesting.
And most importantly, don’t be afraid to experiment with different formats and strategies until you find what works best for you and your audience.
Thanks for reading!