The Google Sandbox

The Google Sandbox Effect can apply to new Websites, Websites with frequent nameserver changes or Websites that have previously displayed spam. The Google Sandbox places a filter on Websites as if the Website is on probation, assigning keyword related URL rankings in Google on partial hold. Even strong sustained SEO cannot erase the sandbox effect. It can take a number of weeks up to a number of months to be removed from The Google Sandbox. I have heard of some Websites that had issues took more than a few months to get removed from the sandbox. Some Websites I have worked with have been included in Google within hours, others within days, once in a while I have seen Websites take weeks, and on very rare occasion I have seen a Website take more than a month.

New Websites generally get listed in Yahoo, MSN and many other search engines faster than Google due to The Google Sandbox Effect.

How to Get Removed From The Google Sandbox

To be removed from the sandbox and displayed with regular priority, a Website needs to prove itself. This is done by demonstrating that your site is genuine, growing and not engaging in spam practices. Good balanced SEO helps quite a bit.  Ensure after initially going live with an acceptable site that you have submitted your URL to Google and waited up to two months. To see if you have been indexed in Google, search site:yourwebsite.com.

What if Your Website is Still in the Google Sandbox and it Has Been Months

Do a Google Search with site:yourwebsite.com and ensure no URLs are indexed. If none are included and you submitted your URL up to two months ago, file a Google Reconsideration Request here: http://www.google.com/support/webmasters/bin/answer.py?answer=35843

This entry was posted on Monday, May 19th, 2008 at 1:13 am and is filed under Google. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. Responses are currently closed, but you can trackback from your own site.