If Your Site Isn’t Secure Yet, It Should Be

by Madison CopelandOct 22, 2019SEO

What is HTTPS?

Many people have at least heard of HTTP (the shortened version of Hypertext Transfer Protocol), but what what about its cousin HTTPS? The “S” in in this longer acronym stands for “secure,” meaning that HTTPS is the secure version of the protocol your browser uses when communicating with websites.

When you send private information over an HTTPS connection, it is protected. Regular HTTP sites put you at risk for having information stolen, but HTTPS sites don’t run this same risk. HTTPS protects not only private information, but any information that a malicious source could use to analyze a user’s behavior and remove the anonymity that should be inherent when surfing the web. Not providing your personal details to just anyone is a central tenet of responsible internet usage, but unsecure sites break this core value, oftentimes without even telling you.

If your site is not already secure, don’t worry; switching to an HTTPS site is easy. All you have to do is get an SSL certificate for your domain. By installing your SSL certificate, the HTTPS protocol will activate and your site will no longer be vulnerable, meaning that both you and your customers can use your site without fear of compromising information.

Why should my site be secure?

With all the recent news stories about data hacks and the breach of people’s personal information, having a secure site is more important than ever. Consumers want privacy, and by offering a secure connection to your site, you can ease concerns about conducting business over the web. Proper security has become almost mandatory for websites, especially e-commerce sites, and even if it is not strictly required, it is a simple step that can go a long way toward earning and keeping your customers’ trust. If your site isn’t secure, now is the time to do it.

Does having HTTPS affect SEO?

Yes! Moving your site to HTTPS can have a positive effect on your organic rankings. Back in 2014, Google confirmed that HTTPS is a ranking signal, as well as HTTPS sites having higher conversions than sites that lack this same basic security. Adding proper keywords and writing unique content is a great way to boost your SEO, but even these methods will go to waste if Google and consumers sees your site as unsafe and won’t convert.

If your site is not secure, fret not–Rogue Digital can help. Our experts can guide you through the process of ensuring your site is fully secure, including confirming that your site automatically serves the secure pages and that any redirects are properly in place. At Rogue Digital, we stay up to date on the latest SEO trends and best practices for your site, so you know that we always bring the latest and greatest information to the table. Contact us to schedule one of our SEO services today!

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