What exactly does Google sandbox?

Discussion in 'Google' started by Googles76, May 8, 2005.

  1. #1
    Does Google sandbox the domain name (ie, they look at date of creation of domain name) or do they sandbox each individual page in a website? or perhaps both? Do we know those details or is it still vague?
     
    Googles76, May 8, 2005 IP
  2. l234244

    l234244 Peon

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    #2
    I dont think anyone knows exactly whats going on, but if they were going to sandbox anything it would be the links. They dont want a new site which has 10,000 backlinks generated in a week out ranking an established site with 9000 backlinks gained over a couple of years.
     
    l234244, May 8, 2005 IP
  3. lorien1973

    lorien1973 Notable Member

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    #3
    they can sandbox a single page on a site. I changed the keyword focus for a page on one of my sites; and it took 7 months for the page to reappear in the index.
     
    lorien1973, May 8, 2005 IP
  4. mjewel

    mjewel Prominent Member

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    #4
    The sandbox is done to the entire domain. No one knows the exact details, but the release of the google patent information has shed some light on the process.

    It is not only the age of the domain, but also ownership. If you buy an older domain name (not fully developed site), the ownership transfer can trigger trigger the sandbox. I personally believe that google only applies the sandbox to certain categories which is why some people will never experience it. I think the length of time a site stays in the sandbox also varies with the category.

    Many people confuse the sandbox with a change in the google algorithm. They will have a site or a page that leaps in the rankings so they assume they must have been in the "sandbox". I have had rankings go from top #10, to #300, to #1 with absolutely no changes to the page.

    Once you are out of the "sandbox" you don't have the problem with adding new pages.
     
    mjewel, May 8, 2005 IP
  5. City2

    City2 Peon

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    #5
    ya the sandbox isnt a solid thing and sometimes facts dont add up
     
    City2, May 8, 2005 IP
  6. Googles76

    Googles76 Peon

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    #6
    This is not good, I was thinking for my next site, I would buy a domain name that is like 8 month to a year old, so that it would be out of the sandbox, or at least close to being out. But if individual pages and ownership can trigger it, than I need to think of a new strategy :rolleyes:
     
    Googles76, May 8, 2005 IP
  7. l234244

    l234244 Peon

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    #7
    Planning ahead is the key to beating this sandbox, easier said than done. Try to purchase a domain early, put up some content, add a few links to it, then forget about it until you have time to develop it
     
    l234244, May 8, 2005 IP
    MattUK likes this.
  8. MattUK

    MattUK Notable Member

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    #8
    I agree, I have 5-6 domains that I've added temporary content to in the hope that when I get round to finishing the site I won't have long to wait for the rankings to come
     
    MattUK, May 9, 2005 IP
  9. skattabrain

    skattabrain Peon

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    #9
    ... or 200 for that matter!
     
    skattabrain, May 10, 2005 IP
  10. markkk

    markkk Well-Known Member

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    #10
    So this means If your site/domain is NEW, the quantity and quality of backlinks wont affect to get higher rank?

    Backlinks are useless if youre at the sandbox state?


    Cheers!
     
    markkk, May 11, 2005 IP
  11. MattUK

    MattUK Notable Member

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    #11
    No, they're not useless, their effects don't come into play until the filters are taken off your site. Backlinks are NEVER useless, I get 50% of my traffic from them. If everyone stopped worrying so much about the sandbox and concentrated on decent link exchanges, had a little patience then they'd be fine. Being sandboxed by Google isn't the end of the world. The huge increase in traffic when you do get ranked is a nice bonus!
     
    MattUK, May 11, 2005 IP
  12. markkk

    markkk Well-Known Member

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    #12


    Yep.. Backlink helps to generates high traffic... but I mean to say ,,,

    One factor Google rank the site is by vote which is quality and quantity of Inbound links.

    We all know that new sites/domains is place in sandbox.


    Will getting more backlinks will help my NEW domain/site to get higher rank at Google.. even if its in the sandbox?



    Cheers!
     
    markkk, May 11, 2005 IP
  13. MattUK

    MattUK Notable Member

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    #13
    Probably not - there is some debate about exactly what is sandboxed, the site, the links, the pages or the keyword terms themselves. Though usually if you're looking to rank on a competitive keyword it'll be extremely hard - I've yet to see anyone doing this.

    However, this doesn't mean the aquiring the IBLs is a waste of time. They'll help on MSN and Yahoo, and when you're site does come out of the sandbox you'll already have done most of your work.
     
    MattUK, May 11, 2005 IP
  14. Dirkjan

    Dirkjan The Dutch SEO Guy

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    #14
    Well not to make everybody depressed, but gaining backlinks can get you into the sandbox (imho). If you have a new website, and gain 5-10 real relevant backlinks, you probably wont get sandboxed (nor get any good rankings either :p) but if you start using the co-op or get less relevant backlinks, like from directories, you probably hit the sandbox.

    Problem is, these links are easy to get, bring traffic, help in MSN and Yahoo, and without these, its almost impossible to get high in Google. Still if you have a new domain, dont RUSH the backlinks, but get them manual, each at a time.
     
    Dirkjan, May 16, 2005 IP
  15. Googles76

    Googles76 Peon

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    #15
    I'm working on a new site and this is what my dilema is right now. I can either pour some co-op weight on it and get instant MSN rankings and get Google sandboxed OR I can build the links manually and not get MSN rankings and probably not Google for a while :(
     
    Googles76, May 16, 2005 IP
  16. skattabrain

    skattabrain Peon

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    #16
    yeah ... but if you had a #1 ranking on each one ... google would still be 80% of your traffic.

    unless you have a business model that affords you a large profit fom #1 sale ... you'll need the volume.

    sucks ... yes, we know.

    what about static links with link vault? you can easily make it give you only 1 link a day instead of the full on coop approach. nice and steady and "somewhat" targeted.
     
    skattabrain, May 16, 2005 IP
  17. Googles76

    Googles76 Peon

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    #17
    True but the amount of time it would take to gather the amount of relevant links to make a difference in Google SERPs is about the same as waiting to get out of the sandbox :D

    I'm thinking of giving them a try, but the new site has missed the PR update so my "voltage" will probably be low :cool:
     
    Googles76, May 16, 2005 IP
  18. skattabrain

    skattabrain Peon

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    #18
    perfect!

    lets say you have 1000 vaultage ... 1 link a day for 7 days could consume 1 volt.

    i just hate the thought of trading links manually.
     
    skattabrain, May 16, 2005 IP