Is this how the sandbox works?

lakrasia · 06-03-05

Hi,

I have a fairly new site and sometimes it's ranked at no.2 for a keyword and then ten minutes later, it's nowhere to be seen. It has been fluctuating between no. 2 or nowhere ever since it started - most of the time it's nowhere.

Just wondered if this is due to its being in the sandbox?

Just trying to make sense of it all, so I'd be glad to know, even though it's out of my control.

Cheers

SashaCorinne · 31-03-05

Hi Lakrasia,

Your variation regarding changing pr # is probably due to the change in servers. Google has tons of servers and each one can pick up a different rank. The sandbox is the theory that new websites, once submit to the engine, have a period of time where regardless of how well they are optimized, they will not be ranked or have any top placement based on search results (not the url name alone but rather keywords, content, etc) because they are supposedly placed in a "probation" period. The sandbox is debatable by many, and the time period seems to fluctuate anywhere from 3 to 6 months. I personally don't think it takes this long however every site varies. I would just make sure you increase your quality inbound links and optimize your site as best you can. Then it's just about being patient.

bazza1603 · 31-03-05

Hi,

I was worried about a new site being sandboxed. Google picked up the site when about 10 pages big, and within 4 weeks I am no 1 with 70 pages for a keyword beating the likes of Ebooker!!!

I but it down to a google adsense advert!

Best Regards

Baz

SashaCorinne · 02-04-05

Congrats Baz. That's really exciting! Good news for Lakrasia too.

lakrasia · 02-04-05

Hi,

Thanks. But have to say that I read the sandbox does the opposite - that you start at the top then drop down. My site's been up a few months now and still drops wildly up and down, so it feels like it depends on which way the wind is blowing.

Don't think adsense increases your SERPS, but I presume you were joking on that one, Bazza.

Cheers

Lee_Owen · 02-04-05

If there is such a thing as a beach tramp then they may well use a sand box. I find my new sites list well and then disappear, proven by the fact that MSN and Yahoo are happy to continue listing my sites but google aren't.

So give it six to eight weeks, if that and you'll find yourself by the wayside. It's good for those two months though, just keep doing new sites and have some long term ones as well, it just takes a while to get long term sites up and running, but they link well to new sites that last in google before they drop you for a while. just have to play the game until google changes its outlook again.

I'm not sure I did my stats check right the other day, but with google also holding a domain registry, I did wonder whether when I searched a site and it's backlinks etc, why after I bought it, three quarters from google had disappeared.... perhaps I got domains mixed up.