I have proof that the sandbox isn't real, I registered a domain and build my forum in mid-july and I'm getting lots of hits from google. It's something else besides the sandbox
It's real... people are just confussed on what it actually is. It's just a filter and when you trigger the filter you go there for a while. Things that trigger the filter: -too many links to fast -similar anchor text (or the same)
I think the sandbox exists - but only if you are above a threshold for a certain search. So, if you are competing for something that has like 100,000 or less sites, you probably wouldn't see the sandbox effect. Conversely, if you compete on something with 25 million sites, you would notice the effect. What the actual number is before it triggers is anyone's guess.
I'm with the OP on this, i've always managed to rank new domains for big terms no problems. Also terms with huge search volumes, and in alot of different niche's. The sandbox i believe is more of a "commit a fatal mistake in the beginning that takes time to recover from".
Yea, you might be fast out of the gate, but wait and see if it remains there. It has been my experience to get good positions initially, then disappear for several months. Let us all know in a few weeks how it is going.
If you have good quality content and good traffic, a site will never see the sandbox... it is like a baseball player coming out of high school...... He is brought up to the major leagues... if he excels then he stays... if not he goes to the minor leagues (sandbox) until he is ready for the big time. After a while a decision is made and he's either made it through to the majors or he doesn't make it.... it's the best analogy I can come up with.
LOL How true. If I know now what I didn't know back then, where would I be now! And yes sandbox is real Real Real Real Real And it is also related to adwords Adwords Adwords Adwords Adwords
I don't believe the sandbox exists the way that it did a couple years ago when every new site was unable to rank. I've also had new sites rank well right away, with only a few, high quality links. For me, the sandbox dissappeared when I stopped submitting to free directories.
Thats an interesting observation. Anyone else have thoughts about that? It seems counter-intuitive to what I've read - unless you submitted to a LOT of directories very quickly - and google put the stops on you because you developed too many links too quickly.
Yes, I picked up on that too. I don't really use those free directories anymore. A bit more selective. IMHO it was a coincidence