I just bought http://www.gamers-market.com (are live links allowed? If not, I'll remove it). Its pr 4 and has had its pr since early September, so its got a good chance to definitely be out of any "sandbox" problems in the next some/few months. I'm getting the domain transferred to godaddy from another domain registrar, but I've kept all the same whois info, aside from a phone number and email change. Can I change the site from a forum to an informational site, or would that possibly make google think of the site as a whole new site and essentially restarting this "sandbox" effect? I really would not want to do this. Thanks, Saadh
As far as i know google does not even admit that a sandbox filter exists... Also any whois change is still a change and some people say that buy old domains and change theme is not really useful nowadays... Good luck anyway...
Others though say that buying old domains is the only way to go so that you can get around the age filter. You may lose some in the change but the age of the site makes it worth it. Beats the heck out of putting up a brand new site and waiting.
I think of this one in short term and long term goals for SE sales. When starting a new site, put a budget toward PPC and let your site age, with the correct domain name purchase. While the 6 to 7 months are going by set up organic marketing on the site. And when the Timeline is up, you will see 6 months of built up linking. The domain name is key. this happend to me a year ago with this site: acnetreatmentproduct.com and the keyword Acne Treatment Product he is still # 2. At the 7 month mark his stats took off, and he went # 1 on that keyword, and many others, just like google released it into the wild.
OKay cool. Yeah, I bought the domain for $40, so its not that much more than an old domain, so I'll take the risk of changing it around. I assume even if i get penalized, it won't be as long as the usual sandbox age of 9 months. Really, google doesn't admit theres a sandbox?