Resource pages and skyscraper outreach for links

Some of the most linked-to content on the internet is not in blog posts or guides. It's in curated lists—the "best tools for [topic]" or "ultimate resource guide for [industry]" pages that other websites cannot resist pointing to. These pages work because they solve a problem for both the publisher and everyone linking to them.

The skyscraper method works on the same principle: find what already attracts links, make something better, and ask the sites linking to the original to upgrade. This tactic has generated hundreds of thousands of backlinks for websites that execute it well. But like any tactic, it only works if you understand the strategy underneath it.

Resource pages and why they get linked

A resource page is a curated list of the best tools, guides, articles, or services related to a specific topic. "The best email marketing tools for small businesses." "Essential SEO resources every marketer needs." "Top accounting software for freelancers."

These pages get linked because they are useful references. A blog covering freelance accounting will naturally want to link to a comprehensive list of accounting tools. A guide about email marketing will reference an excellent roundup of email platforms. Editors link to resource pages because they add value for their readers without requiring them to create the list from scratch.

The resource page strategy is simple: create a comprehensive, well-organized list on a topic relevant to your business. Make it better than any other resource list out there. Then reach out to sites that might want to link to it.

How to create a linkable resource page

Not every list becomes a resource page that gets linked. You need to be intentional about what goes into it and how you present it.

Pick a topic with real search volume

Don't create a list of "tools for category managers in the healthcare industry." Create a list of "best project management software for small teams" or "top email marketing platforms." The topic should be specific enough to be useful, but broad enough that real people search for it and link to it.

Make the list comprehensive and genuinely helpful

Your list should be the most complete, best-organized resource on the topic. If you are listing email tools, include the ones people actually use. Add detail about what each tool costs, who it is best for, and unique features. A list with 20 tools that each have 2-3 sentences is more useful than a list with 50 tools and one sentence each.

Include tools and resources from other companies, not just your own products. A list that only recommends your own tools looks promotional and will not get linked. A list that includes your products alongside competitors' solutions looks credible.

Design it so it is easy to scan and navigate

Use short paragraphs, bold headers, and visual organization so readers can skim quickly. Use images or icons for each item if relevant. Break the list into categories if there are 10+ items. The easier it is to use, the more likely people will link to it and recommend it.

Keep it updated

A resource page from 2022 that lists tools that have shut down looks outdated. Update your resource page at least twice per year to reflect new tools, pricing changes, and market developments. When you update it, you have the chance to reach out to new sites and remind existing linkers that the resource is current.

The skyscraper method: making better content to earn links

The skyscraper method takes the resource page idea further. You're not just creating a good resource. You're creating a better version of something already getting links.

The method has three steps:

Step 1: Find content that is already getting linked

Search for the main topic you want to rank for. Look at the top 5-10 results. Which of these pages get the most backlinks? Use a tool like Ahrefs to check backlink count. Most likely, you'll find that one or two pages significantly outrank and out-link others. These are your skyscraper targets.

For example: if you run securityconsulting.com with WEMASY and search "website security best practices," maybe one article ranks first with 200 backlinks. That's your target. Everyone linking to that article found it valuable. Those links signal what Google considers the best resource on that topic.

Step 2: Create something demonstrably better

Read the highest-linked article thoroughly. Ask yourself: what's missing? What could be improved? What is outdated? Then create a version that is actually better.

Better does not always mean longer. Better means more useful. If the top article is 2,000 words but thin on specific advice, your 1,500-word article with 10 specific, actionable tactics is better. If the top article uses generic examples, your article with real case studies is better. If the top article is from 2021 and security best practices have evolved, your 2026-updated version is better.

The improvement should be obvious. It should not take readers five minutes to figure out why your version is worth reading. Make it clear.

Step 3: Reach out to sites linking to the original, with your better version

Find the websites linking to that high-linked article. You want the editorial links—links from blog posts and articles, not directory listings. Many of these sites linked because they wanted to reference the best resource on that topic. If you have a better resource, they might upgrade their link.

The outreach is important. Don't email: "Hey, we have a better guide. Link to it instead." No one responds to that.

Email: "I noticed you linked to [article] in your piece about [topic]. We recently published an updated guide that covers [specific improvement]. It might be a better fit for your readers. Let me know if you'd like to check it out."

That respects the linker's intelligence. You're offering value, not demanding a link. Many will check it out. Some will upgrade. You will not get everyone, but you'll get enough to make the effort worthwhile.

Why skyscraper outreach is still effective in 2026

The tactic has been around for over a decade. Many people have tried it. But it still works because the underlying principle is sound: editors want to link to the best resources available.

What is changed is the execution. Early skyscraper tactics relied on making content longer. "Our guide is 5,000 words instead of 2,000" was enough to win. That no longer works. Modern skyscraper tactics need something genuinely different: original data, expert interviews, updated information, or a unique angle the original missed.

If you are going to do skyscraper outreach, commit to making something legitimately better, not just longer. Otherwise, editors see through it and ignore the pitch.

The realistic timeline and results

Creating a resource page takes 10-20 hours. Writing an improved skyscraper article takes similar time. Outreach takes another 5-10 hours. So plan on 20-40 hours total for a full skyscraper campaign.

If you have a strong skyscraper target and good execution, you might get 5-15 new backlinks from outreach. If the resource page becomes popular, it might earn passive links over time as people discover and link to it.

This is not as fast as some other tactics, but the links tend to be higher quality because they are editorial—editors chose to link to your content because it was genuinely useful.

Combining resource pages and skyscraper tactics

The strongest approach combines both. Create a great resource page on a popular topic. As your resource page gets links and gains authority, use that as your skyscraper target for a deeper, more comprehensive guide on the same topic. Reach out to sites linking to the resource page offering them the more detailed guide.

You've now created two assets: a resource list for quick reference, and an in-depth guide for readers who want comprehensive information. Both get linked, and they complement each other.

WEMASY and skyscraper content strategy

Your WEMASY website is fast enough that your skyscraper content loads instantly for readers discovering it from linked traffic. Your analytics show you which resource pages and skyscraper articles are getting the most backlinks and generating the most traffic, so you know which topics are worth repeating.

Use your content editor to create well-formatted resource pages with images, clear headings, and organized lists. When you publish skyscraper content, promote it through your network and track how many backlinks it earns. You'll see directly which topics attract links and which do not—data that informs your next skyscraper campaign.

Frequently asked questions