What is The Google Sandbox?

What is Google Sandbox?

If your web domain is new, chances are that you will not be featured at the top of SERPs. Not ranking high despite using every SEO strategy available is not due to a flaw in your webpage or SEO campaign. It’s because of Google Sandbox.

What exactly is Google sandbox in SEO? In simple terms, this is sort of a probation period for new websites where certain restrictions are put on young web pages. The main reason behind this is what Google considers relevant. The search engine considers older pages to be more authentic based on rankings. While Google Sandbox isn’t officially acknowledged by the search engine, this phenomenon does exist on the web.

First, Google filters new websites and the algorithm, then, ranks the old pages on top and the new ones get pushed below.

Learn  Why is your new website not ranking? How can you reduce the sandbox period? Mueller explains about Google Sandbox and Google Honeymoon for new pages.

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Google does not take the risk of featuring a new site with high-volume keywords. The idea is to gain organic traffic. Focus on finding low-volume keywords that have low competition. You will rank high for keywords with low search volume as they are less risky.

1. High Competition

Once you start gaining organic traffic on your site, Google’s algorithms determine that you have quality content and increase your rankings by reducing your sandbox period.

You will have to spend some time on your website and ensure the content is high quality for Google to understand. Pick a relevant topic, do a proper keyword search, and create your content. You should also publish more than one content piece to be considered an authority. These aspects make Google think that you are an expert in the field increasing the possibility of your website ranking high.

2. Lack of Content

Websites need backlinks. They are considered to be an important factor for rankings on Google. You will need to build a strong backlink if you want to rank higher. The absence of higher quality backlinks also leads to a drop in your rankings. Your content has to match the backlink.

3. Absence of quality backlinks

Rankings are also decided based on user traffic. They improve once the consumer engages with a site and Google’s algorithms record this. The search engine analyses user data, bounce rate, and click-through rate. If your page lacks user signals, Google will sandbox your page as it shows that there is no real traffic being diverted there.

4. Lack of user signals

It takes time for the site to get organic traffic. This period can last anywhere from one month to nine months. However, this waiting period can be reduced. There are a few things you can do:

How can you reduce the sandbox period?

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Check if your site has been indexed by Google. You have to type your domain name on Google search. If not, this is the first step you need to take. You just register your domain on the Google search console and submit your XML sitemap.

1. Get indexed

Audience engagement helps in reducing the Google sandbox period. Getting organic traffic is one of the best methods as it helps in getting out of the Google sandbox faster.

2.User traffic

Performing social media activities is a great method to reduce the Google sandbox period. Create social media accounts for your brand, run ads, and keep your audience engaged. Link all activity from your webpage to social media since this gives Google the authenticity of your webpage.

3. Social signals

When a new site is published, Google does not know how authentic the site or the content is. You need to build site authority. Use authentic backlinks, internal links, and mentions from high-ranking pages to build site authority.

4. Site Authority

Buying an active domain is one of the easiest methods to avoid Google sandbox. A website that has decent traffic saves time and you can purchase the domain and refurbish it as per your needs.

5. Buy an active domain

“In the SEO world this is sometimes called kind of like a sandbox where Google is like keeping things back to prevent new pages from showing up, which is not the case.

Mueller explains about Google Sandbox and Google Honeymoon for new pages.

Or some people call it like the honeymoon period where new content comes out and Google really loves it and tries to promote it. And it’s again not the case that we’re explicitly trying to promote new content or demote new content. It’s just, we don’t know and we have to make assumptions. And then sometimes those assumptions are right and nothing really changes over time. Sometimes things settle down a little bit lower, sometimes a little bit higher.”

Google sandbox sounds like a bad thing but it’s not. Using this probationary time acts in your favor. You must focus on aspects that will help you get out of the sandbox faster and generate higher rankings. Concentrate your efforts on building a domain. Remember, Google may be the primary search engine but is not the only one.

Conclusion