More and more internet users are becoming security conscious due to the recurring incidences of hacks and exploits.
It’s only those who don’t care about their privacy visit unsecured websites. Given the aggressive manner in which cybercriminals are evolving every day, internet users have become very sensitive to cybersecurity issues.
Also, Google is taking the matter seriously. That’s why they’ve added website security as one of the SEO ranking factors. So, if you’re a website owner that wants to improve your rankings on search engines, this article will prove to be of excellent help.
We’ll tell you what SSL Certificate is and why it has become one of the security factors that improve SEO rankings.
Let’s dig in!
What is an SSL Certificate
SSL stands for Secure Sockets Layer certificates, and it’s an important security measure that every website must put in place to protect users’ data. SSL Certificates are cryptographic protocols that ensure secure data transmission over the internet.
They come in small data files that automatically activate the HTTPS protocol once installed on your web server. That’s why you’ll notice a small padlock icon on every website that has the SSL certificate.
SSL Certificate encrypts every information that passes between a browser and a web server. They protect email addresses, credit card details, and other sensitive information that visitors use on websites.
That’s why web browsers will advise you to proceed with caution on any website that doesn’t have the security padlock. They’re warning you that the site is not using the HTTPS protocol, and you’ll face a data breach on the site.
If there’s no SSL Certificate on a web server, there’s no way to establish a secure connection between the server and the web browser. That’s why you’ll get the warning to avoid malicious third parties who might compromise your data.
But SSL Certificates do not only protect data on web servers; they also boost your SEO rankings.
Importance of SSL for SEO Rankings
SSL Certificates boosts trust
Many people using the internet during this period are conscious of their security online. No one wants to equip criminals with the means to hurt them willingly. So, if you want your customers to trust you, show them a security measure to that effect. That’s why you need that small padlock at the top left of your website to prove your legitimacy online.
With that, you can gain more visitors and rank high on search engines. Maybe you didn’t know, the number of direct traffic you get on your website determines how you rank on Google. Thousands of people won’t visit your website directly if they don’t trust that their data is secure. But with SSL Certificate, you can earn trust easily.
SSL Certificate is a standard for SEO ranking
In years past, having a responsive web design was one of the standards for ranking high on search engines. In recent time, SSL Certificates has joined the requirements for SEO rankings. It is now recommended for every new website to apply security measures before launching.
By so doing, you’re automatically showing internet users that your site has been verified as an authentic source of information to visitors. Search engines like Google will not index an unsecured website because visitors’ data won’t be safe in such a place.
SSL improves website speed
One of the SEO ranking factors that you can gain with SSL is page speed. If your pages take ages to load on your website, they won’t rank high on the search engine. HTTPS-enabled websites usually load faster than HTTP-enabled sites, and you can test it on this site. This means that you need to install SSL to ensure that your pages load faster for SEO rankings. But apart from directly affecting your ranking, page speed also has an indirect relationship with SEO rankings.
Do you know that a high bounce rate and low dwell time reduces SEO rankings for your website? Bounce rates mean the percentage of your visitors who leave immediately they land on your website without bothering to explore your content. Dwell time, on the other hand, means the time a visitor stays on your site before leaving.
One of the factors that can increase the bounce rate and reduce dwell time is slow speed. No one will waste their time on a website that is not loading as fast as others. Even though they decide to give it a trial, you can be sure that visitors won’t stay long on such a site.
HTTP Pages get an SEO boost
According to the Google algorithm, every web page with HTTPS encryption will receive SEO boosts. HTTPS adds security and privacy to your website and its SEO goals by verifying it and preventing third-party exploitations. Once you install an SSL Certificate, Google will know that your pages have been encrypted and crawl them faster. Without this, your pages will not appear in Google’s catalog and will not show up on searches quickly. If Google is not showing your pages, all your SEO strategy is a waste of time.
SSL Certificates can increase backlinks flow
One of the important SEO ranking factors is backlinks. This simply means that other websites are linking back to your web pages. Backlinks are also called incoming links or inbound links, and they boost your SEO.
If you want authority websites to link back to your pages, you need to prove your authenticity. It doesn’t matter the authority you exhibit in your niche; if your connection shows “not secure,” no sane web owner will have anything to do with you. Linking back to your website means that they’re indirectly sending their visitors to be hacked. But with an SSL certificate, other websites will trust and link back to your pages.
SSL Certificate Installation in Web Host Manager
If you’re ready to improve your SEO ranking with an SSL Certificate, do the following:
- Get your SSL Certificate (buy a premium one or get it free from Let’s Encrypt)
- Log in to web host manager (WHM)
- Enter the username and password
- Go to WHM homepage
- Click on SSL/TLS
- Click on “Install an SSL Certificate on a Domain”
- Type your domain name
- Copy & Paste the Certificate files
- Click install.
The process is simple, but if you have other devices or using another server, you must install the SSL Certificate on each of them.
Final Words
Without an SSL certificate on your website, you’re indirectly telling the search engines and internet users that you’re not legit. It also means that third parties with malicious intentions can intercept every piece of information that passes through your website. No one with take you seriously on the internet if you’re running an unencrypted website.
But once you install an SSL Certificate on your website, it boosts the confidence of all those who use your website. They’ll know that hackers will not compromise their data and victimized them unnecessarily. Also, search engines such as Google will index your site and allow it to show up on searches. So, it’s essential that every website must have this security measure to prevent cyberattacks. The good news is that you can quickly get an SSL Certificate through the authorities responsible for issuing it. You can get a free SSL Certificate from non-profit authorities, Let’s Encrypt, or you can buy it from other CA on the internet. But the Certificate Authority must first verify your identity before issuing it. But the process is not complicated, and anyone can complete it. So, get your SSL Certificate for better SEO Rankings today.
