Google “Sandbox” Effect and How to Get Back to SERPs. Tips & Strategies.
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Google “sandbox” is a term webmaster use to describe Google punishment. Many web marketers are skeptical about “sandbox” and Google itself denies form of punishment called “sandbox”. It still creates a lot of discussions in SEO forums and webmaster communities to explain website partial removal from Google index or sudden drop in rankings for specific keywords especially when site was over-optimized or “black hat” SEO applied.
Signs which tell that website was placed in Google”sandbox”:
If you open a new website and become build links very aggressive especially for popular keywords you site can appear on Google for a little while but suddenly loose all positions for all keywords except when you type full domain name. It happens when webmaster submit site in thousands directories overnight, use submission software, build links with the same anchor over and over again, spam in forums or blogs.
Google can also move site to “sandbox” if you use link farms or build links from fake blogs / sites hosted by free hosting providers. Example: many blogs on Blogger which was created to link your new website.
Unlimited link exchange or link buying process could lead to “sandbox” punishments as well especially if link building software or networks were involved.
How to tell if my site appeared in Google Sandbox?
Some webmasters believe that complete removal or appearance in Google omitted results is a sign that site was placed in “sandbox”. Not true, omitted results is a place for pages with duplicate content or pages with little or no content at all. Complete removal tells that website was banned from Google.
When Google doesn’t show your site in top results (even when you copy and paste entire sentences from your site) unless you type full domain or company name. Also, Google can remove all pages and leave only homepage in index.
I don’t know why my site was placed in sandbox!!!
Don’t lie to yourself and others… “Sandbox” effect does not happen by itself without any reason. Have you ever used link exchange networks, build hundreds links in one night, bought links on hight Pagerank sites, spam in blogs / forums, hired SEO without checking background, or applied for “Submission in XXXXXX search engines and directories for $XX”. Most likely you already know what you did and if you recognize your mistake read more to find how to remove site from Google “sandbox”.
Tips and strategies on how to remove site from Google “sandbox”…
I was working to optimize my client website (Football School for Teenagers) but he applied for some spam service to submit in “thousands search engines” without telling me. His site appeared in link farms, spammy directories, and fake search engines. In less than 2 weeks all pages was removed from Google and site was searchable only when people was typing full name of the school or domain name. Situation was critical because it was summer time when we needed people to come during school brake.
We applied several strategies and tips listed below and site came back to Google index in 7-10 weeks.
- Stop submitting your site in directories, use forums, or social sites (except popular ones like YouTube, Facebook, or Twitter). If you don’t, Google might think that you still spam.
- If it possible, try to remove your “spammy links” from spammy websites. Use backlink checking tools to find all your links.
- Remove all “link partners” or “link exchange” pages from your site. The same way, make sure to remove all sponsored links without “nofollow”, sponsored posts, or exchanged links on different pages.
- Double check who you link and remove everyone who seems like “bad neighbor”. Remove 404 links and links to unrelated sites.
- Cancel any accounts in link exchange, link market, or link building networks. Avoid any new link building scheme strategies.
- Improve your site by adding more unique content pages, open blog, even improve design. It will help to show Google that you are providing valuable content and even leave some good impressions if real person from Google come to check your site (sometimes real person from Google can review your site).
- Build some real links, links from real articles and press releases on powerful networks. 5-7 links can help way more than 100’s links from forums or directories. Become more serious about your backlinks if you want your business to be removed from “sandbox”
- Write letter of apology directly to Google. Don’t lie, they already know everything if they placed site in “sandbox”. Explain that it was your mistake and lack of knowledge, apologize for using “black hat SEO” or tricky link building strategies. I was helping several companies to reindex site in Google by writing direct letters and on one occasion we even received reply from Google stuff.
- Double check that your site was not hacked and it doesn’t contain any hidden links, pages, or tricky redirects to viagra, watch replica, or adult sites.
I hope this tips will help you to avoid Google “sandbox” effect. Please let me know if article was helpful for you.
