The Key To Avoiding The Sandbox: Keyword Density and Affiliate Link Counts?

steveperch · 05-04-2011, 08:05 AM

Hi everyone,

One of my sites was "sunk" or sandboxed last week. It started doing a serious google dance after I added a few more affiliate links to my home page. It danced around for a few days then settled. The next day, I edited the affiliate links again. Added one here, removed another one there. Within a few hours it was completely sandboxed.

I'm curious, do you think this could have played a role in getting my site sandboxed? It makes me want to be very cautious with affiliate links but I'm not sure if that really was the culprit or not. Anyone have any experience?

mattlaclear · 05-04-2011, 08:06 AM

What sandbox?

steveperch · 05-04-2011, 08:46 AM

Haha Matt, checking out your WSOs. Maybe your SEO game is so good that there is no sandbox for you! But for me, my page no longer ranks for my keywords. It's hidden somewhere in Google. I believe this is the sandbox effect that all the kids are talking about.

dburk · 05-04-2011, 09:01 AM

Hi steveperch,

There is no sandbox, it's just a myth.

You are probably suffering from one or two of the following issues.

Trust - You keep changing your page contents which resets you trust level to that of a brand new page.
QDF - The freshness factor has worn off and you have competitors outranking you.
Links to Bad Neighborhoods - One or more of those affiliate links are to an untrusted/bad website.

You should check to see if your website is still indexed using the site: operator. If you are still indexed then it will simply be an issue of your competitors outranking your web pages.

dburk · 05-04-2011, 09:06 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by steveperch

Haha Matt, checking out your WSOs. Maybe your SEO game is so good that there is no sandbox for you! But for me, my page no longer ranks for my keywords. It's hidden somewhere in Google. I believe this is the sandbox effect that all the kids are talking about.

Hi steveperch,

What you call the "sandbox effect", I call outranked by competition.

Now show me a keyword you optimized for and are not ranking, in the absence of competition, and perhaps I will cede the existanse of the fabled "Sandbox".

steveperch · 05-04-2011, 09:31 AM

Hi Dburk,

Maybe you are right, it's just that I was ranking number one for that keyword for a few weeks. Also, it is not competitive at all! It's a laser targeted clickbank product website and now I am not even in the top 100.

I doubt I am outranked by competition, because sites outranking are significantly less optimized and are ranking for completely different words. Call it what you will, but it is definitely something funky.

That's why I am curious if having too many affiliate links or keywords on a page could screw you up in Google's eyes.

linkwhizz · 05-04-2011, 09:36 AM

Too many keywords will harm your rankings. If you spam a site or stuff it with a particluar keyword then your not trustworthy.

I have also noticed an effect with affiliate links, but only if they are in place before indexing. Usually I let my sites get indexed, then gather some ranking pace and then ut in the affiliate links. I always cloak them also, just to be on the safe side.

Quote:

Originally Posted by steveperch

Hi Dburk,

Maybe you are right, it's just that I was ranking number one for that keyword for a few weeks. Also, it is not competitive at all! It's a laser targeted clickbank product website and now I am not even in the top 100.

I doubt I am outranked by competition, because sites outranking are significantly less optimized and are ranking for completely different words. Call it what you will, but it is definitely something funky.

That's why I am curious if having too many affiliate links or keywords on a page could screw you up in Google's eyes.

RichardF · 05-04-2011, 09:41 AM

This sounds like a regular Google dance to me. Since it happened "within hours" of changing your links, I doubt that had anything to do with it. Just wait a few weeks more and see if it comes back (keep building links/adding content). If not, then you probably have a penalty on your hands.

blend · 05-07-2011, 02:06 PM

This is the google dance!

This normally happens when you update your website and building backlinks.
It's google trying to work out where next to place you? Your bounce back!

As for keyword density?...mmm well i think you shouldn't worry to much, it;s just common sense. Use it on your site has if you was writting an article to EzineArticles. Make sure you use the correct <H1> tags </H1>.

I love google as much as i hate them!

05-04-2011, 08:05 AM	#1
steveperch Active Warrior War Room Member Join Date: Apr 2011 Location: Brooklyn, NY Posts: 73 Thanks: 29 Thanked 8 Times in 6 Posts	The Key To Avoiding The Sandbox: Keyword Density and Affiliate Link Counts? Hi everyone, One of my sites was "sunk" or sandboxed last week. It started doing a serious google dance after I added a few more affiliate links to my home page. It danced around for a few days then settled. The next day, I edited the affiliate links again. Added one here, removed another one there. Within a few hours it was completely sandboxed. I'm curious, do you think this could have played a role in getting my site sandboxed? It makes me want to be very cautious with affiliate links but I'm not sure if that really was the culprit or not. Anyone have any experience?

05-04-2011, 08:06 AM	#2
mattlaclear Lethal SEO Kung Fu Master War Room Member Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Mason, MI 48854 Posts: 3,810 Blog Entries: 50 Thanks: 1,660 Thanked 1,267 Times in 626 Posts Social Networking	Re: The Key To Avoiding The Sandbox: Keyword Density and Affiliate Link Counts? What sandbox?
	Looking for an extremely affordable SEO service program from the vendor with the most testimonials on the forum? If so end your search right now by clicking here!

05-04-2011, 08:46 AM	#3
steveperch Active Warrior War Room Member Join Date: Apr 2011 Location: Brooklyn, NY Posts: 73 Thanks: 29 Thanked 8 Times in 6 Posts	Re: The Key To Avoiding The Sandbox: Keyword Density and Affiliate Link Counts? Haha Matt, checking out your WSOs. Maybe your SEO game is so good that there is no sandbox for you! But for me, my page no longer ranks for my keywords. It's hidden somewhere in Google. I believe this is the sandbox effect that all the kids are talking about.

05-04-2011, 09:01 AM	#4
dburk Senior Warrior Member Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Tampa, Florida Posts: 4,643 Thanks: 162 Thanked 671 Times in 581 Posts Contact Info	Re: The Key To Avoiding The Sandbox: Keyword Density and Affiliate Link Counts? Hi steveperch, There is no sandbox, it's just a myth. You are probably suffering from one or two of the following issues. Trust - You keep changing your page contents which resets you trust level to that of a brand new page. QDF - The freshness factor has worn off and you have competitors outranking you. Links to Bad Neighborhoods - One or more of those affiliate links are to an untrusted/bad website. You should check to see if your website is still indexed using the site: operator. If you are still indexed then it will simply be an issue of your competitors outranking your web pages.
	Don Burk * Get Results - Outsource Your PPC Management * Get a Keyword Domain Name - www.SeriousNames.com

05-04-2011, 09:31 AM	#6
steveperch Active Warrior War Room Member Join Date: Apr 2011 Location: Brooklyn, NY Posts: 73 Thanks: 29 Thanked 8 Times in 6 Posts	Re: The Key To Avoiding The Sandbox: Keyword Density and Affiliate Link Counts? Hi Dburk, Maybe you are right, it's just that I was ranking number one for that keyword for a few weeks. Also, it is not competitive at all! It's a laser targeted clickbank product website and now I am not even in the top 100. I doubt I am outranked by competition, because sites outranking are significantly less optimized and are ranking for completely different words. Call it what you will, but it is definitely something funky. That's why I am curious if having too many affiliate links or keywords on a page could screw you up in Google's eyes.

05-04-2011, 09:41 AM	#8
RichardF HyperActive Warrior War Room Member Join Date: Oct 2010 Posts: 373 Thanks: 7 Thanked 130 Times in 45 Posts	Re: The Key To Avoiding The Sandbox: Keyword Density and Affiliate Link Counts? This sounds like a regular Google dance to me. Since it happened "within hours" of changing your links, I doubt that had anything to do with it. Just wait a few weeks more and see if it comes back (keep building links/adding content). If not, then you probably have a penalty on your hands.

05-07-2011, 02:06 PM	#9
blend HyperActive Warrior War Room Member Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: England Posts: 217 Thanks: 22 Thanked 20 Times in 19 Posts	Re: The Key To Avoiding The Sandbox: Keyword Density and Affiliate Link Counts? This is the google dance! This normally happens when you update your website and building backlinks. It's google trying to work out where next to place you? Your bounce back! As for keyword density?...mmm well i think you shouldn't worry to much, it;s just common sense. Use it on your site has if you was writting an article to EzineArticles. Make sure you use the correct <H1> tags </H1>. I love google as much as i hate them!