No PageRank Update = Sandbox Effect

Is the Sandbox just an effect of no PR update

[glitterball]

At present there 2 theories floating around this forum:

1. That a 'Sandbox effect' exists and that this is a deliberate ploy by Google to delay new websites from competing in the natural SERPS.
This Sandbox effect apparently 'delays' the effects of new links pointing to these new pages.

2. That Google have a seperate and hidden PageRank system and that this private system is continuously updated behind the scenes.
The PR that is displayed in the toolbar which has not been updated for more than 3 months is no longer relevant and does not have any bearing on the SERPS.

Surely another more obvious theory is that the PR that is displayed in the Toolbar is correct and it is this very lack of an update that is also causing the 'Sandbox effect'?

[prairie]

Hi Glitterball,

Not 100% sure, but I believe the sandbox effect pre-dates the maddening no PR update effect.

However I'm not sure if you have to wait 1 or 2 updates before PR is passed from new links.

[vincevincevince]

Yes, I think it is. I've never believed in the Sandbox effect. I just wish the PR would update soon...

[jrs_66]

I don't believe a new page not yet being assigned a PR has anything to do with it's google SERP rank. I've got several hundred pages right now which have yet to be assigned PR and they rank great. As a matter of fact, it's been 2 years since i've seen a PR increase or decrease affect ranking.

[BillyS]

I'm not sure I believe in a "sandbox" affect either. I think non-ranking pages are more a result of other factors in the ranking calculation. The difference is subtle, some feel it is more like a switch. I just think it is more like multiple factors that finally work in a page's favor.

Quite frankly, if a real "sandbox" could be proved, it would be good for my ego. Even in my small world I conduct experiments to boost my ego and prove the sandbox in my mind - for example the appearance of my full name (not a common last name) in the SERP.

I just introduced my full name on the articles I write about 10 days ago, the best page on my site ranks around 200 for my first and last name combination. Many other combinations of my last name appear well before the actual query of my first and last name. I am keeping an eye on it to see how it moves over time.