How to mature a domain name?

[Jake]

That article is probably just referring to the length of the domain name registration, it's assumed that search engines check the public whois record of a site, though they may just count the days since they first indexed a site. Those manipulating search ranking with added backlinks have to go easy with a new site to avoid suspicion, SEO guides talk about not worrying so much about the number of links as after 6 months or a year. Search engines do use some 3rd party traffic reporting services to cross reference the number of visitors a site receives, it would raise red flags if a site got more backlinks than visitors.