Will your site be downgraded? Learn why Secure Sockets Layer, commonly known as SSL, is now an essential piece of the Google algorithm SEO pie and why in January 2017, Google updated their algorithm and their Chrome browser to reflect this.
What is SSL?
SSL makes capturing and transferring a web user’s data like name, address, credit card number, phone number, etc. more secure. It encrypts the data between your website and a computer so no one can hijack the information. It also authenticates your site so that Google and other browsers know you are a trusted website and not just a spam site or a bogus site. You know a site is secure and has SSL when you see the little padlock and the word, “Secure” next to the domain name and the http will have an “s” next to it like this: https. Here’s an example:
Why SSL?
It used to be that just eCommerce websites needed SSL certificates but now Google wants all sites to have this extra security or they will downgrade you. And it is very likely that all other search engines will follow suit. The reason is that security is becoming more and more an issue on the web and Google wants all information to be secure.
Also, https has features that http doesn’t have that make your site faster.
What Does this Mean?
If you haven’t installed an SSL on your website, it means your site will be downgraded. Google Chrome will begin labeling all non-https sites as “non secure” and the HTTP security indicator will change to a red “x” over the padlock or something similar.
Install SSL
Studio 88 is committed to keeping our customers’ websites up-to-date and secure. Last year, we began implementing SSL for our new client sites and we are continuing to update all of our established client sites.
If you we haven’t already added SSL to your site, please contact us to install it. Although, the average SSL certificates are $40 – $80, ours are FREE and it takes about $100-$200 to set it up depending on your site.
