If you’re involved in digital marketing or SEO, you know how important website security is in today’s online landscape. With cyber-attacks and data breaches becoming increasingly common, website owners must take all the necessary precautions to keep their visitors’ information safe.
That’s where SSL protection comes in. For those who may not know, SSL stands for Secure Socket Layer. It’s essentially a security protocol that encrypts sensitive information exchanged between a website and its users. The data is encrypted and decrypted using complex algorithms, so it is unreadable to anyone who might try to intercept it.
In this post, we’ll explore why SSL protection is crucial to SEO and any digital marketing plan. We’ll also touch on what you can do to ensure that your website is SSL protected and how this can positively impact your search engine rankings.
How does a Missing SSL Certificate Affect Search Engine Ranking?
An SSL certificate is crucial to your website’s security and user trust. It ensures that sensitive information, such as credit card numbers and login credentials, is transmitted securely. But it’s not just about security. Having an SSL certificate can also have an impact on your search engine rankings.
In 2014, Google announced that it would prioritize HTTPS websites over HTTP in terms of ranking. This means that if two websites have the same relevance and quality, the one with an SSL certificate is more likely to rank higher in search results.
So, if your website doesn’t have an SSL certificate, it could be negatively affecting your search engine rankings. Here are a few more ways a missing SSL certificate can harm your digital marketing efforts.
Some Browsers Stop Users from Entering Sites that are Deemed Risky
Have you ever tried to access a website only to be stopped by your browser and warned that the site might not be safe? This happens a lot when trying to access websites that are missing valid SSL certificates.
SSL certificates help prove the website is who it says it is. So, if a website doesn’t have a valid SSL certificate, it means that the website may not be secure, and malicious actors could intercept any sensitive information transmitted on it. It can be a big problem, especially when it comes to sensitive information like passwords and credit card numbers. Moreover, the impacts of not having a valid SSL certificate can affect your digital marketing efforts. Here’s why:
Some browsers, like Google Chrome, are getting better at warning users about potentially risky websites. If a user sees a “not secure” warning on your website, they might not trust your site enough to stick around and engage with your content. It could hurt your conversion rates and lead to a lower return on investment (ROI) for your digital marketing efforts. So, what can you do to avoid these problems?
The answer is simple: get an SSL certificate. But, not just any SSL certificate will do. For higher authentication, you can get an Organization Validation SSL certificate or, even better, an Extended Validation or EV SSL certificate. However, a site owner can get a single domain, wildcard SSL certificate, or multi-domain SSL from a reputed SSL vendor like CheapSSLShop which offers a higher discount on SSL certificates.
These types of certificates provide a higher level of security and show users that you take their security seriously. They also give you the “secured padlock” icon in the address bar, which can increase trust and credibility on your website. A user can click on a padlock and check the verified company name.
Having an SSL Certificate on your Website can Help Show Your Passion for Consumer Privacy
As a digital marketer or a search engine optimizer, you probably already understand the importance of building trust with your audience. One crucial aspect of that trust is privacy—particularly when it comes to sensitive information like credit card numbers, addresses, and personal details.
Having an SSL certificate on your website demonstrates to your customers that you take their privacy seriously. Having an SSL certificate does not only show your customers the commitment you have to protect their data.
It also shows that you comply with data protection regulations like the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) and the California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA). These regulations require businesses to protect consumer data, and failure to comply can result in significant fines.
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Beneficial for B2B Communication and Deals
Tom from UppercutSEO, a leading SEO Company, stated that having an SSL certificate on your website is an essential component of digital marketing, especially when it comes to B2B communication and deals. Here’s why;
B2B communication often involves the exchange of sensitive information, such as contracts, financial data, and other confidential documents. With an SSL certificate, all data transmitted between your website and the client’s browser is encrypted.
It ensures that it remains protected from hackers and cyber-criminals. This level of security instills trust in your business and can go a long way in building long-term relationships with clients.
And as we have already explained above, when a website has an SSL certificate, it displays a padlock icon and “https” in the address bar. It alone is enough to indicate to your visitors that their information is secure. This can help to increase customer confidence, leading to higher conversion rates and a more successful B2B communication strategy.
SSL Allows your Business to Grow
An SSL certificate is an essential aspect of modern-day business. In the digital era, an ever-growing number of transactions and interactions occur online. This shift requires businesses to establish a solid online presence that instills customer trust and confidence. An SSL certificate serves as a crucial tool in achieving this goal.
As you already understand, it encrypts sensitive information transmitted between a website and its users. This encryption protects the business’s and its customers’ privacy and security, thus making it a necessary investment. Besides enhancing security, having an SSL certificate can also enhance your business’s marketing efforts. An SSL-secured website conveys trust and reliability.
This increases the likelihood of potential customers remaining on the site and interacting with its content. This stability also creates an ideal environment for digital marketing campaigns, allowing businesses to focus on developing high-quality content, optimizing their search engine rankings, and attracting more visitors to their sites.
The Bottom Line
Having an SSL certificate is crucial in growing your business in the digital age. It does not just help improve your search engine rankings and boost customer trust. It also supports better digital marketing efforts. So, if you haven’t already, consider getting an SSL certificate for your website today and start growing your business!
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