What is the Google sandbox?
Google Sandbox Effect is defined as the situation where the results of Google’s main ranking algorithms (PageRank) when your recently launched site deserves a decent rank based on typical factors like keyword density correct pages in place and a few inbound links. But instead it’s nowhere to be seen, or is way down on page 40 or 50.
Does the sandbox really exist?
Google engineer Matt Cutts has essentially acknowledged that a ” sandbox effect “exists and that it’s a product of their algorithm. They say it is to test the initial value of a site before it can be trusted as a true source for content or product. Another anonymous Google engineer is reported to referred to this a the “probation” period for new sites. Despite some differences in terminology, the sandbox as an abstraction for a specific sum of parts in Google’s larger algorithm is almost certainly existent.
Does the sandbox affect you?
If your site fits into these key criteria:
- Newly established (less than a few months old)
- Target a highly competitive and/or commercial industry
- Have attempted optimization, especially link building (This includes paying for links)
By our definition, at least number one has to be true, otherwise you can label virtually any aspect of Google’s algorithm that dampens rankings the sandbox, and the discussion would become too general. We can’t be sure the above are actual trigger factors (i.e. a cause and not simply an effect), we only know that sites fitting this criteria are plentiful in the “sandbox.”
Next Post will be how to get out Stay tuned!
