Google sandbox effect
The sandbox effect describes the restraint search engines show toward new domains: for several months, rankings progress slower than the quality of signals would suggest. Google officially denies its existence; practitioners consistently observe it.
In practice
The most plausible explanation: an initial deficit of trust signals rather than a dedicated filter. Levers that shorten the period: early links from established sources, real branded search queries, content that accumulates genuine engagement. Factoring this latency into any launch plan prevents hasty conclusions at month three.