Google Sandbox

[stymiee]

I did a search but didn't seem to find a thread about this (I may have done a poor search) but what is the general consensus about the Google Sandbox here? Do we believe it exists? If so, what is the DP definition of the sandbox?

For the record: I don't believe it exists.

[Stella]

Hi,

I am looking for sandbox tool, from where i can check my site is in sandbox or not?

Please suggest me if u know.

Thanks,
Stella

[Dirkjan]

Search without the Sandbox:
http://roberttaft.com/no_filter.htm

What is the Sandbox?
http://www.socengine.com/seo/guide/sandbox-march-filter.html

And my opinion:
From my own experience, I am sure it exists for new websites that gain links fast. I have had problems with it a few times, while coming back after about 120 days, skyrocketing the first page of Google. So it does exist.

[Sjorritsma]

From my own experience, I am sure it exists for new websites that gain links fast. I have had problems with it a few times, while coming back after about 120 days, skyrocketing the first page of Google. So it does exist.

I'm in it too. I made the mistake to gain to quickly new links.

In MSN/yahoo I rank 1-10 for my main keywords, in google i'm on page 20-30.

2 sites (1 dutch and 1 translated in english) started at the same time. The dutch site has >100 incoming links and is in the sandbox (page 20-30). The English site with almost no incoming links, ranks very good for my keywords (on page 1 or 2).

[sji2671]

I made the mistake to gain to quickly new links.

Bingo, it seems to be more of a filter of cause/effect than a magical penalty given to all new sites, you just have to be careful that the site grows naturally as regards it backlinks without triggering any flags that make it look like the site is gaining links too fast.

[Dirkjan]

I'm in it too. I made the mistake to gain to quickly new links.

In MSN/yahoo I rank 1-10 for my main keywords, in google i'm on page 20-30.

2 sites (1 dutch and 1 translated in english) started at the same time. The dutch site has >100 incoming links and is in the sandbox (page 20-30). The English site with almost no incoming links, ranks very good for my keywords (on page 1 or 2).

Are your rankings spot 20 and 30? Because then its not the Sandbox :) If you are in the sandbox you are FAAAAR away usually :) How old are the domains and when did they get the first backlink? (when you had your first backlink to it, it started to live.)

Still being in the Sandbox might not be wrong. Eventually you get out, and then you have very much backlinks. Try getting good quality links, and you WILL get out. Then you might get even higher rankings, and all intern pages might rank good as well because of high PR and link popularity. For me; I often just take the chances that a new domain is useless for the first 90 days but get links fast because I try to aim for the long run.

[Dirkjan]

Bingo, it seems to be more of a filter of cause/effect than a magical penalty given to all new sites, you just have to be careful that the site grows naturally as regards it backlinks without triggering any flags that make it look like the site is gaining links too fast.

It only happens to newly indexed websites. Keep in mind that getting MANY links FAST is usually a good thing. The exception only counts for new websites. Even if DP got a million links on a single day, it would not hit the sandbox.

[dcristo]

I did a search but didn't seem to find a thread about this (I may have done a poor search) but what is the general consensus about the Google Sandbox here? Do we believe it exists? If so, what is the DP definition of the sandbox?

For the record: I don't believe it exists.

I feel it exists. I am unsure on what the DP consensus is regarding the issue but this is my take...

Moderate/Very competitive keyword phrases targetted by new domains are put through some kind of sandbox filter. This filter applies to whole domains, not specific pages. Whilst you can begin to rank for very obscure terms, you will not rank for the main keywords you really want to rank well for (the money terms) Some say that agressive linking is the cause of it, I tend to disagree. I feel all sites are sandboxed the second they get indexed... But hey, this is my 2c take it for what its worth :)

[Sjorritsma]

Are your rankings spot 20 and 30?

Sorry, I mean on page 20 - 30 (spot 200-1000)

[Dirkjan]

How old is the domain? How many backlinks do you have in MSN?

[Sjorritsma]

How old is the domain? How many backlinks do you have in MSN?
The .nl domain is 3 months old
the .com is 1.5 month old

Links MSN
.nl : 6.562
.com : 4.128
(.com links are more then i expected)

[MattL]

So how old does everybody think a domain needs to be until the "getting links too fast filter" no longer applies?

[BobL]

I've heard and i hope that its 120 days maximum as one of my sites is just coming up to the magical 4 month period.

I think i made the mistake of gaining to many links to quickly. I just hope that it does show up soon. The customer is getting a little impatient even though i told them it would take time.

[flyguy]

Hi,

I am looking for sandbox tool, from where i can check my site is in sandbox or not?
Here's another tool to check out.
http://www.seomoz.org/tools/sandbox-tool.php

[nonijuicer]

I believe that I'm in the sandbox. I'm in the top 100 for all of my keywords on Y and MSN but I'm not even in the top 1000 for G for a single keyword. Site is about 8 weeks old.

Tony

[HansV]

In my opinion the google sandbox exists on all sites in the high competitive
keywords area, no matter what. Lots of linkbuilding or not.

[dcristo]

Heh this thread has gone from what ppl think the sandbox is to "im in the sandbox" posts :D

[Dirkjan]

Heh this thread has gone from what ppl think the sandbox is to "im in the sandbox" posts :D

Yeah but still, those are often the best explaining threads.

If your website is 1,5 month - 3 months old and have 4k links to it (especially Dutch ones dont gain that fast) you WILL be in the sandbox ;) Once you are in it, dont bother... Keep getting links.. get some quality ones.. (not the coop, manual onesl...) Holland has quite a lot subdomain directories that may be quite relevant. Eventually you get out, and you get on top.

[BobL]

Here's another tool to check out.
http://www.seomoz.org/tools/sandbox-tool.php

That is an excellent utility. Thanks for that.:)