If your website has no SSL Certificate and not running on HTTPS, you are in major problem.
Major internet browsers like Mozilla Firefox and Google Chrome are now displaying a red alarm signal or red padlock for every website not running on HTTPS.
When users or customers are logging in your website, they could also see that “Not Secure” message as an alarm. This could ruin your relationship to your customers or readers. It could also affect your search engine ranking as Google penalize unsecured websites now. As of January 1, 2017, SSL Encryption is now a ranking factor in Google’s Algorithm.
If your website has no SSL yet, you should consider getting it, install it and update it right away.
Why should You Care about HTTPS?
Security – HTTPS sites have extra layer of security as you are serving your website over an encrypted SSL/TLS connection. This is very important especially for eCommerce sites or sites that process credit card information, accept sales transactions and accept client’s information. Customers and clients’ logins on your website are protected. SSL prevents hackers from accessing your site and stealing important information.
SEO – I have mentioned it already, As of January 1, 2017, SSL Encryption is now a ranking factor in Google’s Algorithm. An online business will rank better when searched by everyone online.
Trust – customers and clients nowadays are avoiding websites with that red bar or red lock on the address bar of their browsers. With HTTPS, your conversion rate will increase as customers trust you.
Performance – the latest optimization for websites for speed improvement is a new protocol called HTTP/2. HTTP/2 requires HTTPS because of browser support. Speed matters with all search engines. The faster your website loads, the better for SEO and your customers.
Get a Free SSL Certificate
No worries, Let’s Encrypt offers free SSL Certificate. Let’s Encrypt is a free, automated and open Certificate Authority trusted and sponsored by Facebook, Cisco, Akamai, Chrome, Sucuri, Vultr, Siteground and many more.
How to Install SSL Certificate?
You can get a free SSL from Let’s Encrypt or you can buy one from other SSL providers like COMODO, Digicert and the like. Once you have one, ask your hosting company to install it for you. Most hosting companies offer free SSL installation. If your hosting does not offer one, you should switch to other hosting. Sorry I said that but I personally don’t know any hosting company who does not have support for SSL right now. Most hosting companies also has free SSL integration already.
SSL for WordPress
Are you using WordPress? If you have your own WordPress website, It’s easy to set up your free Let’s Encrypt. Most of the Managed WordPress hosting providers offer that feature for free. I recommend Cloudways because I have been using it for many years now and SSL set up is super easy, done in a few seconds.
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