Unlocking Technical SEO Potential: Enhancing Website Performance with an SSL Certificate
August 10, 2023
Unlocking Technical SEO Potential: Enhancing Website Performance with an SSL Certificate
In today’s digital landscape, it is more important than ever for websites to be secure and user-friendly. This is where SSL certificates come in.
SSL certificates encrypt the data that is transferred between a website and a visitor’s browser. This helps to protect sensitive information, such as credit card numbers and passwords, from being intercepted by hackers.
In addition to providing security, SSL certificates can also improve a website’s SEO performance. This is because search engines like Google now favor websites that use HTTPS over HTTP.
Here are some of the technical SEO issues that can be resolved with SSL certificates:
Security risks: SSL certificates encrypt the data that is transferred between a website and a visitor’s browser, which helps to reduce security threats. This is especially important for websites that collect sensitive information from visitors, such as credit card numbers or passwords.
Browser warnings: When users try to access an unsafe website, their browser may display a warning message. This can discourage users from visiting the website, which can lead to lost traffic and revenue. SSL certificates can help to eliminate these warnings, which can improve user experience and boost SEO.
Limited functionality: Some website features, such as using particular APIs or getting the device’s location, may not be available on non-secure HTTP connections. SSL certificates are also required for some JavaScript APIs and other contemporary web features and technologies to work effectively. Without an SSL certificate, you might be unable to take advantage of these developments, which can hurt your SEO performance.
Compliance issues: In certain industries, there are regulations about security and privacy that must be followed. By creating a secure connection, securing user data, and avoiding potential legal and financial repercussions, an SSL certificate can help to ensure compliance.
Missing ranking advantages: Search engines like Google reward websites that place a high priority on security. Websites with SSL certificates are more likely to rank higher in search results, which can lead to more traffic and revenue.
If you are serious about improving your website’s SEO performance, then you should consider getting an SSL certificate. SSL certificates are a relatively inexpensive investment that can provide a number of benefits, including improved security, increased user trust, and better search engine rankings.
Here are some best practices for implementing SSL certificates on a website:
Choose the right SSL certificate type: There are three main types of SSL certificates: extended validation (EV), organization validation (OV), and domain validation (DV). EV certificates offer the highest level of security and are the most expensive. OV certificates offer a good balance of security and affordability. DV certificates are the least expensive option, but they offer the lowest level of security.
Choose a reputable certificate authority: There are many different certificate authorities (CAs) that offer SSL certificates. It is important to choose a reputable CA that has a good reputation for security and reliability.
Generate a CSR: A CSR (Certificate Signing Request) is a file that contains information about your website, such as its domain name and contact information. You will need to generate a CSR in order to obtain an SSL certificate.
Submit your CSR to the CA: Once you have generated a CSR, you will need to submit it to the CA. The CA will then verify your identity and issue an SSL certificate for your website.
Install the SSL certificate on your web server: Once you have received your SSL certificate from the CA, you will need to install it on your web server. This process will vary depending on the type of web server you are using.
Test your SSL certificate: Once you have installed your SSL certificate, you should test it to make sure it is working properly. You can do this by visiting your website in a web browser and checking to see if the URL has changed from HTTP to HTTPS. You should also check to see if the padlock icon is displayed in the address bar of your web browser.
By following these best practices, you can ensure that your website is properly secured with an SSL certificate. This will help to improve your website’s SEO performance and protect your visitors from security threats.