People always want their websites to rank high in Google searches. While many swear by their own bag of tricks, the truth is that a lot of SEO is guesswork. However, we have good news. Google openly acknowledges that it prioritizes sites using HTTPS and SEO in search results.
In this article, we’ll explore how adding an SSL certificate can boost your Google SEO and bring more customers to your website. With our HTTPS and SEO tips, your site rankings can go sky high!
HTTP vs HTTPS and SEO
HTTPS stands for Hypertext Transfer Protocol Secure. It’s an internet communication protocol that encrypts data so that a third party cannot intercept and exploit it.
HTTPS sites utilize SSL or TLS protocols to secure data transfer and ensure that it has not been altered or corrupted along the way.
You know you’re on a website using this encryption because the URL will display HTTPS in the browser address bar rather than just HTTP. You should also see a padlock icon.
If you go to a secured website using a regular HTTP address, the site should automatically redirect you to the secure version.
How Does HTTPS and SEO Work?
To add HTTPS to your website, you need to purchase a security certificate (SSL) from a vendor such as YakoCloud. The vendor then submits your information to a Certificate Authority (CA) like Comodo or Symantec. In turn, these CAs issue a “certificate,” which is a cryptographic key that protects the data.
It’s important to note that there are different levels of SSLs. While they all provide the HTTPS prefix, they don’t offer equal protection for your site.
We recommend Extended Validation (EV) SSL Certificates. These are the highest and most secure certificates and are ideal for all sites that require the transmission of private data.
EV SSLs verify that the site owner is the legal owner of the business and the domain. In turn this reassures visitors that they are on the legitimate website for the business. EV certificates also turn the address bar green and add a site seal to further verify the website.
Google provides a great article that explains HTTPS and SSL Certificates in more detail as well as a helpful video presentation on HTTPS.
Does an SSL Certificate Help SEO
In addition to securing website transactions and instilling confidence among your customers, SSL certificates also boost your HTTPS and SEO.
Google in particular has openly acknowledged that it favors site URLs that begin with HTTPS, which is only possible with an SSL certificate. As of December 2015, Google prioritizes HTTPS links over HTTP, giving a boost to sites that utilize SSL certificates over those that do not.
In other words, sites that verify ownership and protect users’ privacy and transactions will rank higher on Google than those that do not.
How Can You Get Started with HTTPS and SEO?
When you’re ready to take your website to the next level to secure your users’ data and transactions, YakoCloud has you covered. With YakoCloud, you can choose from different levels of security, depending on your website’s needs.
