Google not ranking site on new domain after 301 redirects

[moopy]

Hi,

We've noticed a few glitches lately with transfering a site to a new domain. It seems as if 301 redirects and a notification via webmaster tools doesn't always do the trick.

I was thinking what may be the reason, and I found out that sometimes instead of redirecting domaina.com/page to domainb.com/page directly, the redirect may be more like:
domaina.com/page redirecting to www.domaina.com redirecting to www.domainb.com (all 301 of course)

Could this be the reason for Google not ranking domainb even after a few months?

Thanks!

[tedster]

Google is usually pretty good at following a chain of redirects - even though it's not the best thing to do. However, it is important that each redirect returns a true 301 HTTP status. I assume you have checked that. Are the Domain B urls now at least indexed, even if they are not ranking well?

The 301 redirect has been a spammer's tool as well as a legitimate but of technology, so Google doesn't always just accept a redirect or a change of address submission at face value. How long have you been you waiting? And is there a past history of other 301s for either domain? Are there any other domains redirecting to Domain B as well? The effect of 301 redirects is not instantaneous and depending on history, there can be an extended period of "trust checking".

Also, are you sure that Domain B is "clean"? That is, no dark and manipulative past, not hacked or hosting parasite content, etc?

One other possibility comes to mind. This is apparently a tough time at Google's back end and all kinds of anomalies have been showing up for weeks. I'm sure they are up to a major project or two, but it has meant we aren't seeing the kinds of process that we normally expect.

[moopy]

Thanks for the reply tedster!

Here are some answers...

Are the Domain B urls now at least indexed, even if they are not ranking well?

Yes, they are indexed, but are ranking terribly.

How long have you been you waiting? And is there a past history of other 301s for either domain? Are there any other domains redirecting to Domain B as well

We've been waiting for 2 months now. There's no apparent history of other 301s for the domain. There are no other domains redirecting to domain B....

Also, are you sure that Domain B is "clean"? That is, no dark and manipulative past, not hacked or hosting parasite content, etc?

This has been checked and no, no dark past at all.

I guess it's the other possibility then... I think we'll just include a reconsideration request...

Thanks again tedster!