If you do not have an SSL certificate on your website, it’s quite important that you get one now. The changes started in 2014 and it’s sort of snowballed from there.
But first, lets start with the usual explanations so you can get a good understanding of what on earth we’re talking about!!
What’s an SSL Certificate?
An SSL (Secure Sockets Layer) certificate sits on your server that houses your website and encrypts all that lovely data. The art of encryption just means jumbling up all those 1’s and 0’s so if anyone successfully accessed that data, it’d be a load of gobbledygook. With the added bonus that they can’t track where that data has come from or going!
The only difference that we see as users of websites is either HTTP (Hypertext Transfer Protocol) or HTTPS (Hypertext Transfer Protocol Secure). When a website has the URL that starts with HTTPS and that lovely green padlock, the website is secured with an SSL Certificate.
But how does all that impact SEO?
Well, now, this is where we turn to the internet giant known as Google. In 2014 they put out a blog all about security and what that meant for https connections. They specifically mentioned:
“…over the past few months we’ve been running tests taking into account whether sites use secure, encrypted connections as a signal in our search ranking algorithms. We’ve seen positive results, so we’re starting to use HTTPS as a ranking signal.”
Security is up there as one of Google’s top priorities, as of course it should be. They now actively favour HTTPS websites in their ranking algorithms. So, as an example; if your website is HTTPS and your similarly SEO’d competitors isn’t. You’re going to jump ahead of them in the ranking system because Google would rather display your securely connected website that’s running with an SSL certificate.
- Over 80% of users said they would abandon their cart on an online shop if the connection was not secure.
- Google Chrome and other browsers will label unsecured websites as insecure.
- Google are working towards a secure web by default.
- HTTPS connections load faster, page speed is also a ranking factor for search engines.
- More than 50% of all desktop page loads are HTTPS, which is currently an all-time high.
- Users are beginning to understand and trust HTTPS connections.
GDPR Compliance
Yes, I am sorry to say… you’ll need an SSL certificate if your website collects any personal information. This can be as simple as a customers name in a contact form all the way up to customer details from shop orders and beyond. Though I shouldn’t apologise, SSL certificates make for much better user experience, so really you’re nailing two birds with one stone.
Be Proactive & Act Now: Get Your Website Secured
Whether your an existing client, a new client or just someone looking for a little more info. Contact us and we’ll always be more than happy to help.
Phone us on: 01362 851118
Email us at: info@jemmettfoxmedia.com
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