Why You Absolutely Need an SSL Certificate for Your Website

Why You Absolutely Need an SSL Certificate for Your Website

NEWS: Digital Marketing NEWS: SEO SEO

Does your website really need an SSL certificate?

The answer is a resounding: YES!

The internet has made it easy to do everything, especially buying and selling, and that’s why online security is a necessity. Google is taking online security very seriously, and at the end of 2017, they flagged every unencrypted website. So, if your website doesn’t have an SSL certificate, Google displays a ‘Not Secure’ sign in the URL bar.

It’s the difference between HTTP and HTTPS and that difference makes a serious impact.

Of course, you want your customers and potential customers to feel safe when browsing your website. You also need to ensure that they can find you on Google and trust us; you don’t want to be penalized in the search rankings. So here’s everything you need to know about adding an SSL certificate to your site.

What is an SSL Certificate?

SSL stands for Secure Sockets Layer. It’s the standard security technology that establishes an encrypted link between a web server and a browser.

This encrypted link makes sure that all data passed between the web server and browsers stays private and integral.

Without an SSL certificate, no secure connection can be established. That means, your business’ information will not be connected digitally to a cryptographic key.

An SSL Certificate contains the following information:

  • The holder’s name
  • The serial number and expiration date
  • A copy of your public key
  • A digital signature of the certificate-issuing authority

Why are SSL Certificates Important?

Do you want random computers to see your credit card numbers, usernames, passwords, and other sensitive data? Unless you’ve got a screw loose, the answer should be NO.

But all the information you send over the internet is passed from computer to computer until it arrives at its destination server. That means if your information is not encrypted then any computer in between you and the server can see all your private data.

That’s why SSL certificates are so important. An SSL certificate ensures that all of that sensitive information remains encrypted, so even when it’s passed from computer to computer, it can’t be read.

When an SSL certificate is used, your private data becomes unreadable to everyone except for the server you’re sending the information to.

What’s more, according to Cybersecurity Ventures, cybersecurity breaches will reach a global cost of more than $6 trillion annually by 2021. Yikes! Luckily, an SSL certificate can protect you from cyber criminals.

Many hacks are transit-based, meaning your information is stolen as it moves from computer to computer on its way to the destination server. An SSL certificate provides a necessary means of protecting you against these transit-based hacks.

You need an SSL for SEO

Not only does not having HTTPS diminish customer trust but it also negatively impacts your Google rankings.

Having an SSL certificate boosts your SEO because Google values security. when a site is trusted more, people will visit it. Plus, Google is already beginning to favour HTTPS sites over HTTP, and this will only increase as time goes on.

Since 2014, Google has implemented algorithms that favour HTTPS websites and penalize websites missing the SSL certificate. These algorithms have tightened and become stronger and stronger. Now in 2019, having an SSL is critical if you want to be listed anywhere near page 1 of Google’s listings.

Never forget that better Google rankings result in better traffic to your website. Not only will an SSL indicate to potential customers that they can trust you, it will ensure they can find you on Google.

An HTTPS site also loads much faster than HTTP, which is another boost to your SEO and your brand power.

How Does an SSL Certificate Build Brand Power?

When your website has an SSL certificate, your customers and potential customers, see a lock icon next to the URL and a green address bar. This shows your customers that an SSL certificate is in use, encrypting all their sensitive data.

When your customers see this they know they can trust your business and that builds brand power.

How Do I Install an SSL Certificate?

Setting up an SSL certificate on your website is easy! There are five simple steps to follow:

If you have a website, then you have a hosting company supporting that website. If you don’t have a plan with a dedicated IP address ask your current web host company to upgrade your account, so it has a dedicated IP address.

Next, you need to buy an SSL certificate which you can do from your host or companies like ssls.com, NameCheap, ssl2buy.com, etc.

Once you’ve purchased an SSL certificate ask your web hosting company to activate it and install it for you. Once this is done if you go to https://yoursite.com, you should see it load! And now your website is secure.

Looking for more information? Here’s a helpful resource. 

We Can Help

Not only does an SSL certificate provide peace of mind, minimize the risk of hacks, and build credibility for your brand but it also improves your SEO. If you’re looking for a comprehensive digital marketing strategy that includes SEO optimization get in touch with Barker Social today! Our expert team will be happy to provide a FREE consultation and create a digital marketing and content creation strategy that will meet all your business goals.

Todd Foster

As a dedicated Digital Marketing Strategist at Barker Social, I am passionate about helping businesses unlock their full potential online. With a focus on results-driven strategies, I aim to deliver measurable success for our clients.