Following on from my email last month, I wanted to remind you that Google will start displaying a message on all websites that do not use an SSL certificate to encrypt their website traffic from next month.
An SSL certificate makes the connection look like https:// rather than the normal http://. Its what the banks use to ensure data transmitted between your computer and their online banking website is secure.
Google will also start to rank higher website with an SSL so if your doesn’t have an SSL not only will it rank lower than other websites, but any visitor may be presented with a message like this before they can access your website:
Hardly a great way to inspire trust from a potential customer visiting your website.
You can find out more about this change by Google in the following Forbes article:
It is very unlikely you already have an SSL certificate on your website unless you have been paying for one separately as they were not required for normal (non e-commerce) websites before so you may be affected.
Luckily, if you host your website with us you still have time to order an SSL in time for the change.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why does Google show visitors a warning before they can access my website?
Google started warning visitors when a website doesn’t use an SSL certificate to encrypt traffic between the visitor’s browser and the site. Without SSL, your site loads as http:// rather than the secure https://, and visitors may see a warning message before they can continue to your website — hardly a great way to inspire trust in a potential customer.
Will not having an SSL certificate affect my Google ranking?
Yes. Google ranks websites with an SSL certificate higher, so a site without one will rank lower than competitors that have already switched to https://, on top of any trust warning visitors may see.
What does an SSL certificate actually do?
An SSL certificate encrypts the traffic between a visitor’s computer and your website, changing the address from http:// to the secure https://. It’s the same technology banks use to keep data safe during online banking, and having one on your site protects any information your visitors send you.
Do I already have an SSL certificate on my website?
It’s very unlikely, unless you’ve specifically paid for one separately — SSL certificates weren’t required for normal, non-ecommerce websites before this change. If you host your website with Cloud Plus, there’s still time to get one in place before it affects your site.
If you’d like a quote, please reply with he website domains you’d like an SSL for and I can send over a quote.