11 replies to this topic

[opcis]

I have a newer site, up since Jan. 1, 2005, but only recently started optimization. I have just recently (last week) submitted my site to over 50 directories and I have been trying to optimize and fill in content. I am starting to see fantastic results in MSN, OK results in Yahoo, and no results in Google.

For example, let's take one of my less competitive keyphrases that I am trying to optimize for, Expired Domain Search. Here is my current rankings:

Expired Domain Search (Overture = 236 searches last month)
MSN --> #1
Yahoo --> #22
Google --> ? (> 1,000)


Here is the results of a more competitive keyphrases:

Expired Domain Name (Overture = 1,509 searches last month)
MSN --> #1
Yahoo --> #79
Google --> ? (> 1,000)


Here is the results for the keyphrase I really want:

Domain Name Search (Overture = 16,581 searches last month)
MSN --> #10
Yahoo --> #740
Google --> ? (> 1,000)


As you can see I am doing very well in MSN, Yahoo is on it's way, and google is unknown. Why? Am I doing something wrong? I know my site is indexed by google. Any ideas?

[Jill]

Welcome opcis!

Please read our aging. delay thread.

[opcis]

Thanks for your quick reply. I read the thread you suggested. That makes sense. I guess I'll just concentrate on Yahoo/MSN. Is there anything I can do for google in the mean time?

[bernienich]

I think I'm in the same situation as Opcis.

If you're stuck in Google's Sandbox, does your site come up at all in Google or just way lower than you'd expect? e.g., for my site, the keyprhases are coming up top 20 in Yahoo and MSN, but some of them are around #80 or so on G, others not even top 500.

[opcis]

I found a sandbox detection tool at:

[http://www.socengine...ndbox-tool.php]

Note: Be prepared to way 5-10 minutes for the tool to complete.

It tests many different factors and gives you a percentage of what chance that you are in the sandbox. I've tried a few keyphrases and my percentage ranges from 30-60%. I'm doing very well in MSN, but still have a long way to go in Yahoo. I've submitted my site to over 50 directories. So far I have been listed in 20 of them and out of that 6 are scanned by MSN, 5 are scanned by Google, and 1 is scanned by Yahoo. Once all 20 are scanned by all 3 of the major search engines, I'll be able to get a better idea of my standing in Google.

Oh and I am not in the top 1000 in Google for keyphrases I'm #1 in MSN and in #8 in Yahoo. However, I do come up for my domain name. The strange part is in google I do come up for allintitle and allinanchor.

I would like to learn more about the mysterious google sandbox. Anyone know of some more informative articles or any theories on how to escape faster?

Edited by Jill, 28 March 2005 - 04:05 PM.

[cdruler]

In the mean time if you really want to get some traffic from google users, you can always setup an Adwords campaign if you haven't already.

[opcis]

I was thinking of google adwords, but I was hoping to do this without the use of PPC.

After trying a few more keywords I believe that I can conclude that there is definetely some kind of sandbox effect happening with my site.

Take a look at these results:

Expired Domain Tutorials

MSN: #1
Yahoo: #1
Google: #312

Google (allintitle): #1
Google (allintext): #1
Google (allanchor): #1
Google (allinurl): #1
Google (with quotes): #1 (only result)


What makes things worse is in MSN/Yahoo it's my home page that is ranked #1. My tutorial page has not been scanned by either of those search engines yet. And in Google it is my tutorial page that is ranked #312 out of only 76,700.

I will continue to build quality content and links, but I would still like to learn more about the effects of the sandbox and possible solutions. I remember that I was ranked much better in Google when my site first was indexed by Google.

[Sal Collaziano]

Don't give up on Google.. I read an email newsletter this morning that mentioned how people are able to rank better in MSN and Yahoo!, but still get more traffic from their badly ranked listing in Google.. Google is still "the" search engine to be listed in - for the time being...

[opcis]

Thanks for the reply. My thinking is this:

MSN - Many searches probably come from new window's users, because that is their default home page.

Yahoo - Many searches probably come from their FREE email users.

Google - I would think more advanced users use Google, because of their search tools and thinks like their Linux search (google.com/linux). My site is mostly geared toward advanced users.

I could be totally off, but that's why I am trying so hard to rank in Google. Any suggestions?

[sweepthelegnate]

I could be totally off, but that's why I am trying so hard to rank in Google. Any suggestions?

build a site for your visitors with quality content...get some links (which just might come naturally with great content)...add some more quality content...and then wait. (while adding more quality unique content.)

[opcis]

Thanks for the suggestion. I plan to.