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What is the Google sandbox?
And how can I climb out of it?
People new to putting a website out there on the internet are often perplexed when their wonderful site doesn't make it to the the first page of Google.
This is around the time that many first come across the term, 'Google sandbox'. It's a term given to the theory that Google holds back new sites for a period - reportedly anywhere from three to nine months - before the sites are 'released' into the normal Google index.
Sites that were not ranking well for particular search terms might suddenly start ranking much better - so the theory goes.
The fact is, it is both very easy and extremely difficult to get on the first page of a Google search result.
If your website sells 'purple walking boots for fashion-conscious koalas' - you might well find yourself ranking at the number one spot in Google for that phrase as soon as your site is indexed.
However, if you are just selling boots, the same boots as thousands of other sites out there - it's just not practical to think that your new site can rank number one for the word 'boots'.
The best strategy is to go for keyword phrases that describe more specific items, such as combining the word 'boots' with the type of boots you are selling, the area in which you operate from, or the name of your shop (if you are well-known)
Don't worry about the so-called sandbox!
Spend your time building your site up and gaining links from other sites within your industry (sites that rank well in the search engines) - and you should gain a lift in the Google search results after a few months.
Experts widely recommend patience (and lots of it!) during this time. Most sites will not see a first page ranking for their search terms for quite a while. And if you do not spend time building your site and gaining good links, your site may remain lost in the cyber wilderness.
Anni Taylor Copyright March 2008
This is around the time that many first come across the term, 'Google sandbox'. It's a term given to the theory that Google holds back new sites for a period - reportedly anywhere from three to nine months - before the sites are 'released' into the normal Google index.
Sites that were not ranking well for particular search terms might suddenly start ranking much better - so the theory goes.
The fact is, it is both very easy and extremely difficult to get on the first page of a Google search result.
If your website sells 'purple walking boots for fashion-conscious koalas' - you might well find yourself ranking at the number one spot in Google for that phrase as soon as your site is indexed.
However, if you are just selling boots, the same boots as thousands of other sites out there - it's just not practical to think that your new site can rank number one for the word 'boots'.
The best strategy is to go for keyword phrases that describe more specific items, such as combining the word 'boots' with the type of boots you are selling, the area in which you operate from, or the name of your shop (if you are well-known)
Don't worry about the so-called sandbox!
Spend your time building your site up and gaining links from other sites within your industry (sites that rank well in the search engines) - and you should gain a lift in the Google search results after a few months.
Experts widely recommend patience (and lots of it!) during this time. Most sites will not see a first page ranking for their search terms for quite a while. And if you do not spend time building your site and gaining good links, your site may remain lost in the cyber wilderness.
Anni Taylor Copyright March 2008
How long in the Google sandbox?
It's easy to put blame on the 'sandbox'
The lesson is - If you have a unique product that is a hot seller, or if you start up a brilliant website that fills a gap - you might never have to play in the sandbox at all.