Why Adding HTTPS Is A Must And Why it Adds Value for SEO
As reported in February 2018, Google has started marking sites as “Not Secure” in the Google Chrome address bar, when proper security measures aren’t in place. These warnings started popping up on July 24th with the release of Chrome 68. It’s time to take action if you haven’t already implemented HTTPS and an SSL. Thankfully, it’s easy and the upside far outweighs the alternative of what can only be described as a public shaming from Google.
Credit: ppc.org
Reasons To Implement HTTPS Right Now
There’s really no downside to having your web team update your website with HTTPS. Here are a few of the most obvious reasons for taking action, as it relates to SEO and brand visibility:
- It’s a ranking factor. Waaaay back in 2014, Google made the determination that it would favor sites with HTTPS in search results. So, if you haven’t already made the update, it’ll help your rankings and SEO.
- It builds credibility and trust with your customers.
- Many times, it provides a boost in website speed over HTTP.
- Users on public Wi-Fi have an added layer of security.
But, here’s why it really matters. If we focus on only user experience and leave security out of the equation, a byproduct of not enforcing HTTPS is that it can simply scare users away from your site.
What’s more troubling about this release are the stats that Google provided along with the release, stating how infrequently websites are implementing an SSL. From Google:
- Over 68% of Chrome traffic on both Android and Windows is now protected
- Over 78% of Chrome traffic on both Chrome OS and Mac is now protected
- 81 of the top 100 sites on the web use HTTPS by default
Avoid the scarlet letter from the big G and implement HTTPS today. Reach out to our account team for more info. We’d be glad to help outline a plan of attack for keeping your site secure and your users happy.
