It may not seem like a little “s” at the beginning of a URL would make a big impact, but it does. Read more to find out why this little letter can help you better reach your audience and build consumer confidence.
What is an SSL?
An SSL is an extra layer of security that helps to protect data transmitted across the Internet by adding an additional layer of encryption.
A more technical definition is that an SSL (Secure Sockets Layer) is a standard in security technology. It is used to establish encryption between a web browser and a server. Using this link, data can pass securely from the web server and browser.
How do I know if my Site has an SSL?
You will know your website is secured by an SSL if you see one of the following:
- On Chrome, Safari, Firefox and Microsoft Edge, you will see a lock next to the website address
- If your site has https: in front of the domain name (example https://domain.com or https://www.domain.com)
Benefits of an SSL
The top benefits of an SSL are:
- Prove your website is secure
- Protect yourself and users against hackers and identity theft
- Improve ranking in search engine results
- Increases user confidence that your website is safe, reputable and secure for interaction
- Displays as secure (without a warning from Google or other web browsers)
- Increased data security
Should you add an SSL to your Website?
Our professional opinion is if you do not have an SSL, you should add one. Here are our top reasons:
1. Loss of user Confidence
Due to this, website visitors are more likely to abandon your site out of caution, and you will miss out on the other added benefits of having an SSL.
Not only will users see your website as “unsecured” when they go directly to your site but in Google search results. This is due to the fact that the URL for the search term is shown in the search results. From looking at the results, users will clearly see if the site URL has https or http in front of it.
2. Google Gets “Angry”
Furthermore, as a standard, more and more websites are integrating an SSL. For that reason, Google is leading the pack with this trend by flagging websites that are not secure with a large red warning screen.
3. Negative Impact on SEO
A website that is not secure can have a negative impact on SEO. Search engines will not value your website as high as those with an SSL.
How to get an SSL
These are available from website hosting providers. If you would like more information on getting one from Tidal Media Group, please contact us.