SEO Case Study: How I Increased My Organic Traffic 652%

The Skyscraper Technique 2.0: How to Skyrocket Your Organic Traffic by 652% in 7 Days

Are you looking for a powerful SEO strategy that can dramatically boost your organic traffic? Look no further than the Skyscraper Technique 2.0. This updated approach to the classic link building tactic can help you increase your search visibility and drive more targeted traffic to your website.

At IncRev, we recently used this technique to increase organic traffic to one of our pages by an incredible 652% in just 7 days. Not only that, but we were able to rank a brand new post in the #1 spot on Google within weeks.

In this in-depth guide, we’ll walk you through exactly how to implement the Skyscraper Technique 2.0 step-by-step. You’ll learn how to:

Identify user intent for your target keywords
Create content that perfectly matches search intent
Optimize for critical UX signals that impact rankings

What is the Skyscraper Technique 2.0?

The original Skyscraper Technique, introduced by Brian Dean in 2013, focused on creating content that was bigger and better than anything else out there on a given topic. While this approach is still effective for building links, it doesn’t always lead to sustainable rankings.

The 2.0 version builds on the original by emphasizing user intent and on-page optimization. The key steps are:

Figure out user intent for your target keyword
Create content that satisfies that intent better than anyone else
Optimize for UX signals like dwell time, CTR, and bounce rate

By aligning your content with what users are actually looking for, you can dramatically improve your rankings and organic traffic.

Step 1: Determine User Intent

The first step is to analyze the search intent behind your target keyword. There are a few key ways to do this:

Analyze the Top-Ranking Results

Look at the pages currently ranking on page one for your keyword. What type of content are they? Are they mostly informational blog posts, product pages, videos, etc? This gives you insight into what Google believes users want to see for that query.

Examine the Keyword Itself

The keyword itself often reveals user intent. For example, “buy running shoes” clearly has transactional intent, while “how to run a marathon” is informational.

Use Google’s PAA Box

The “People Also Ask” box shows related queries users are searching for. This can uncover additional intents you may want to address.

Step 2: Create Content to Satisfy User Intent

Now that you understand what users are looking for, it’s time to create content that meets their needs better than anything else out there. Some key tips:

Cover the Basics and Advanced Topics

Make sure you cover both foundational information for beginners as well as in-depth strategies for more advanced users. This ensures your content is useful for a wide range of searchers.

Use the Right Format

Match the format to user expectations. If most top results are step-by-step guides, create a comprehensive how-to article. If they’re product roundups, make a detailed comparison post.

Address Related Subtopics

Look for related topics and questions users may have and incorporate them into your content. The more comprehensive your article, the better it will satisfy search intent.

Step 3: Optimize for UX Signals

User experience signals like dwell time, CTR, and bounce rate play a big role in rankings. Here’s how to optimize for these key metrics:

Write Compelling Titles and Meta Descriptions

Your title and description in the search results are your first chance to grab a user’s attention. Make them irresistible to click.

Use Short Paragraphs and Plenty of White Space

Break up your content into easily scannable chunks. Use short 1-3 sentence paragraphs, bullet points, and subheadings liberally.

Include Relevant Images and Videos

Visual content keeps users engaged longer. Include screenshots, infographics, and embedded videos where appropriate.

Optimize Page Speed

A slow-loading page will cause many users to bounce. Compress images, minify code, and leverage browser caching to speed up load times.

Case Study: How IncRev Increased Organic Traffic by 652%

To show the power of the Skyscraper Technique 2.0 in action, let’s look at how we used it to boost traffic to our SEO checklist page:

The Problem: Declining Rankings

Our original SEO checklist post was initially successful, but over time organic traffic began to decline. Despite having lots of backlinks and social shares, it fell to page 2 of the search results.

The Solution: Skyscraper 2.0 Optimization

We realized our content wasn’t fully satisfying user intent. Here’s what we did to fix it:

Expanded the post to cover both basic and advanced SEO tactics
Changed the format to an actual step-by-step checklist
Added sections on technical SEO, link building, and keyword research
Included more visual elements like screenshots and videos
Optimized the introduction and added a table of contents

The Results: 652% Traffic Increase

Within 7 days of implementing these changes, organic traffic to the page increased by 652%. Rankings jumped from page 2 to the top 5 results. Four months later, the improved rankings have held steady.

Key Takeaways

The Skyscraper Technique 2.0 shows that creating great content is only half the battle. To achieve sustainable rankings, you need to:

Deeply understand the search intent behind your target keywords
Create comprehensive content that addresses user needs better than competitors
Optimize the user experience to keep visitors engaged

By combining these elements, you can create content that both users and search engines will love.

How IncRev Can Help

Implementing the Skyscraper Technique 2.0 requires deep SEO expertise and significant time investment. As a leading SEO agency, IncRev has helped hundreds of clients boost their organic traffic using this and other cutting-edge strategies.

Our team of SEO specialists can help you:

Conduct in-depth keyword and competitor research
Create high-quality, intent-optimized content
Implement technical SEO best practices
Build high-authority backlinks
Track rankings and continuously optimize performance

Frequently Asked Questions

What’s the difference between the original Skyscraper Technique and 2.0?

The original focused primarily on creating longer, more comprehensive content. The 2.0 version emphasizes matching user intent and optimizing for engagement metrics.

How long does it take to see results with this technique?

Results can vary, but we often see significant ranking improvements within 2-4 weeks of implementing Skyscraper 2.0 optimizations.

Does this work for all types of keywords?

The technique can be applied to most keywords, but it’s especially effective for informational queries where content quality makes a big difference.

Do I need to completely rewrite my content or can I just update it?

In many cases, strategic updates and additions are sufficient. However, sometimes a complete rewrite is necessary to properly address user intent.

How often should I update my content using this technique?

We recommend reviewing and updating your most important content at least every 6-12 months to ensure it stays relevant and competitive.