Could this be killing us?

[Postmaster]

3. Spam Detection & Punishment

Google is employing many new systems of spam detection and prevention according to the patent. These include:

• Watching for sites that rise in the rankings too quickly
• Watching for registration information, IP addresses, name servers, hosts, etc that are on their "bad list"
• Growth of off-topic links
• Speed of link gain
• Percentage of similar anchor text
• Topic/Subject shifts or additions

I found this information on http://www.socengine.com

However I believe this is a threat and not practised to a high extent by Google, other wise it would come into conflict with there, "there's just about nothing anyone can do to harm your rankings" quote. I'm sure it would take a lot and many other factors for Google to do something about it. Or do they?

[Brian Turner]

They are all possibilities, but they are all pretty much potential options described in the patent, rather than actual practice IMO.

Certainly younger sites that accrue links too fast will sandbox themselves in what I see as an entirely automated process. I believe that GoogleGuy (Matt Cutts) has already stated elsewhere that where sites perform particularly above the Google radar, they may come under manual review and WHOIS data referenced - domains that are bought by new owners as effectively being sent back to square one, and any established presence as devalued.

Too much similar anchor text has certainly come up before now, and it is certainly wise to consider varying it - but as for link relevance - it's not a particular player as yet.

The big key at the moment is that established domains have far more space to play with.

[Postmaster]

At least we're lucky to have started our sites early in the game, because search engines are getting harder and harder to influence, I'd hate to open a site in 5 years time by that time we would have enough self made links not to worry about it.