We have a site which has been up since May 2005. We know we are
indexed and understand the aging delay factor. However from everything
we've read the delay seems to be lasting anywhere from 6-8 months.

We have optimized with all of the search engines and think it has been
done correctly since we do show in good rankings in MSN, Yahoo and AOL
for our search phrases.

I'm worried because it has now been 9 months and google has still not
released us into the search result for the key phrases we have
optimized for.

We have not bought links nor have we done anything that may be
considered spamish as we've read all the tips about the criteria.
We've tried to follow those tips so as not to "upset" the process.

At this point what do we do? Have we been lost somewhere or done
something wrong - how do you know and how do you find out? We'd like
to correct whatever it might be so we can get back on track for release
if that's the case.

If not, why are we still not in the results? Still the delay? Why is
it taking so long?

I'm just really confused and worried. We really need the search engine
to list our key phrases as our business depends upon the traffic google
will bring us. And, we've been so very patient for nine months now.

Thanks for any advice or information you might have - I appreciate it.
Deb

Most sites that claim to be affected by the aging delay (or sandbox)
that I have looked at are not affected by it at all. They just rank
poorly - that is a very different thing. A sandboxed site or a site
affected by the aging delay should have what it takes to rank well in
google but does not. (eg it should rank well for allinanchor:keyword,
as anchor text is important for a good ranking)

Thanks for the info, I understand the difference between sandboxing and
aging. This is not sandboxing.

This is an aging delay. It conforms to all of the criteria that I have
viewed from seo's about the aging delay. You show up in the other
searches engines with a good ranking and search position with your key
optimized phrase or anchor text; but not google. You can be found
through google with obscure search phrases; but not under the actual
phrase you have optimized for. Your ranking is "ok" and you have
incoming links, etc., etc. The spider crawls your site constantly and
spends days there; still nothing. We've researched this, including the
recent google patent until our eyes have turned purple. As far as we
can tell; we've done everything we can.

And, I don't quite understand that if you have optimized correctly for
your key phrase and you type it into MSN, AOL or Yahoo and come up on
the first page, then why when you type the same phrase into google you
do not show up anywhere in the 700 pages of results? This isn't just a
ranking problem; the fact is, we're nowhere. It would be different if
we turned up on the 40th or 50th page. Then, we'd know what we needed
to do. But, you can't figure out what to do if you're not anywhere.

Is optimization different for google than it is for MSN, Yahoo and AOL?
If it is, I wasn't aware that the criteria was different. Please let
me know if it is and where I might find the optimization technique
differences so we can put them into play.

Thanks a bunch for the post - I really appreciate the help.

Deb

The sandbox and the aging delay are the same thing.

No they are not.

Sandbox: Sites that buy lots and lots of links or use link networks or
any other linking schemes seem to be affected by a longer term
"sandbox" effect where the links seem to be discounted and don't propel
the site to the top of the SERP's as we have seen happen in the past.

We have not bought links, or used link network or any other linking
scheme.

Aging delay: If your site is less than 6 months old, it is being
repressed on Google by some sort of aging delay. Tweaking, linking,
resassembling your pages, and begging Google to tell you what is wrong
will not help. This could go away at any time, but as of today, we
believe this to be the case.

6 months is the earliest we've had anyone report normal rankings for a
new site. Some sites are 8-9 months old and still repressed. At this
time it is not clear what triggers the removal of this filter. In fact
it is not even clear if it is removed on a site-by-site basis. It may
even be a case where all sites started within a several week or month
timeframe may be released enmasse.

This is a quote from HighRankings.com

We fall into the second category. So, we still are in the dark and I'm
still asking the same questions. What have we done wrong? How do we
find out? What do we do to correct this and get out from under the
aging delay?

I have another question which may be easier to answer. The aging delay
may have something to do with "when" you were indexed. Is there
somewhere you can go to find out when your site was first indexed?

Thanks again you guys - it helps just to talk about this.

Deb

There is a little known theory called reverse marketing. You mentioned
that your site's not getting optimized for the keywords
that you wanted. I understand that's target marketing. But what if you
did this, obtain a list of top keywords and fit them
into your site description. That would broaden the base for your hits
however your traffic would increase. Or how about this,
this may hurt the business but if you tried to get listed in a search
query for less listings and that would mean your
page ranking would improve. I guess it depends on many factors. Being
sandboxed does cross one's mind,however.
I guess we're all in the same business, getting your business.(pun).

Cheers,
Norman Dreamer.

Dreamer@MidnightFantacy.com

RUBBISH - the sandbox has nothing to do with buying links.

They are the same thing - go and ask on any SEO forum and they will
tell you the same thing.

Dear seo101,

You know, I think your missing the point here and taking this
personally. You evidently didn't read my email because I have quoted
from HighRankings.com which is a forum for professional seo's. So, I
have asked seo's and they have in turn listed buying links as just one
element in the sandbox theory. There are many theorys and many
elements but they differ from those of the aging delay.

I'm not looking for an argument here - I'm just looking for help. And,
part of knowledge is reading through and determining what is relevant
in all the contradictory opinions between seo's.

So I think "rubbish" was a little harsh here. Maybe there's someone
else out there who has information that may help me instead of confuse
me.

Thanks all.
Deb