Is My Website Secure? ... SSL Basics
WHAT IS SSL?
SSL stands for Secure Sockets Layer. It secures the data passed between the web server and the web browser. For example, if a potential client fills out your online form, a non-secure website will send that information to the server as plain text. A secure website will encrypt the data being transferred. A website with an SSL certificate will display the URL with https:// proceeding it and a small lock icon to the left of the URL. A non secure site will display the URL with http:// proceeding it and is often indicated by a small lock icon with a red line through it or the text “Not Secure”.
WHY DO I NEED SSL PROTECTION?
HACKERS
If you collect any type of personal information on your website including credit card information, login information, etc., SSL will protect your clients data.
TRUST
In addition to being labeled as not secure, visitors to your website using Google Chrome will likely receive a browser warning that at first blocks your website from view and requires the user to accept the risk before proceeding to your website. “As of December 2019, Google Chrome accounted for around 47.91 percent of overall internet browser market share in the United States.” That is a lot of potential clients that are either going to leave your site immediately or be left with a sense of distrust.
SEO
Having an SSL certificate in considered an SEO best practice. If your website is not secure, it may actually rank lower on search engines. A 2015 interview with Google’s Gary Illyes discussed that websites on HTTPS may have an edge in search engine rankings as HTTPS may serve as a tiebreaker. Having an SSL Certificate can also reduce bounce rates. Bounce rates are the percentage of visitors to your website that leave before viewing additional pages on your site. While bounce rates are reported to not directly effect SEO, they will certainly stand in the way of landing that new dream client or customer.
SO TELL ME SOME GOOD NEWS!
The good news for my clients is that SSL certificates are automatically included with your Squarespace website. Learn more about why I choose Squarespace for all of my Creative Entrepreneur clients in my post: 5 Reasons I Recommend Squarespace to Creative Entrepreneurs.