Hi, Is there a difference in the duration of the sandbox effect based on where the new site was submitted? Is there a difference if the first link to the new site came from the add url page in Google, a regular site or DMOZ? Just wondering...
Nobody understands the "sandbox effect" for sure. There is no way in the world anyone has an answer to that detailed question.
the "submit site" form for google is completely useless. if you submit and there aren't links elsewhere, you won't be added. if there are links elsewhere, you don't need to submit. my guess would be that it has absolutely no impact at all.
I agree with Tauren - often, there are sites and pages that get added (much to the dismay of people who think their page is 'hidden') simply because the site as a whole is linked. I've also had exeperiences with sites that will not get added (with repeated attempts submitting the URL to G) until other links are set up. This is where a good blog can come in handy.
just to add a comment to the last couple of posts - although it may be generally true that you won't get added to google if you have no incoming links i don't think it is always the case - my last site "submitted" to google had no links for a month and yet it was spidered the night i submitted and included in the index 3 days later. (it didn't drop out of the index either)
well, keep in mind that we don't VISIBLE links- ie ones displaying with a link: search. we just mean that you need SOME page that's in google's index to link to you, and you'll be added (even if it isn't displayed as a backlink).
Going back to the sandbox effect - here is my personal observation and belief. 1. Google like fresh content - ad new pages (already indexed site or new site linked to by other site already indexed.) and be placed in the top of serps/ 2. as content becomes older it now is placed into normal google algorithm and can slip to the back as necessary 3. now as site ages and builds backlinks and content the pages can climb back up the serps. moral of this story - add fresh content more often to keep some pages at top while bringing older pages back to the top.