Well today is a good day for my directory. It has finally been released from the google sandbox. It took 8 months but I am happy with the results. Index-it.net now ranks #5 (#4 on some dc's) for it's main keyword "internet web directory"
If you search for your main keyword, for example "fish bowls" and your site does not show up in the top 1,000 google results then that is a good sign that you are sandboxed. This mostly applies only to new websites.
hmm I'm probably in it then. Searching for video game news doesn't give my site within in the first 10 pages and I can't be bothered looking anymore : I get some good positions for more specific searches though like "graw2 achievements"
That's great! I'm just now starting to look into getting my site out. Nice to see people who have gotten there
did you come out all of a sudden or did you notice a ranking in the higher pages first? I'm trying to see the bigger picture on coming out of the sandbox!!
yeah I just came out of it too, which was good news. Our site now rates in the top 10 for tax refund service!
Many ways! Black Hat Techniques, gaining backlinks too fast, any unnatural method of gaining traffic and links.