Why You Should Make the Switch to HTTPS

Having a secure site in today’s world means everything, there’s a lot more that goes behind that little lock button in your URL browser. The second a potential customer clicks that link and notices the “Not Secure” with the search bar, they’re going to get suspicious. In fact, 85% of consumers would abandon a purchase if data was sent from an unsecured website, while another whopping 82% wouldn’t even browse an unsecured website. That little “s” that comes behind the HTTP can make your site more secure, bring more people to your page, and overall give you a better-looking website.

What is HTTPS?

HTTPS is a way that information is encrypted between the browser and a web server. This allows for little to no communication somewhere in the middle, therefore making it harder to steal personal information like credit card numbers. In the past, HTTPS has been used only for websites that needed to secure personal information. As HTTPS has become easier to implement, a lot of different businesses have been making the switch. You can access HTTPS through an SSL certificate, a set of data files that provides an encrypted connection between the browser and the server.

If your website is not secure yet, here’s 5 reasons why you should consider HTTPS:

1) Google Rankings Increase

The bottom line, Google appreciates it when they see a secure site. Therefore, when you make your site secure, it shoots you up the rankings when someone is trying to search for you. Over 40% of the sites you see on Google’s first page when you search something are secured sites. Therefore, if your site is not secure, you may be outranked by someone’s site who is.

2) Security Increases

A cyberattack occurs every 39 seconds, and 43% of cyber attacks target small businesses. Google wants a safe experience for their users, they don’t want to lead them to a hacked website. When Google recognizes that your site is secure, they’ll add criteria to the ranking algorithm when it has proven to provide a better user experience.

3) Enhanced Browser Labels

Back in 2017, Google updated their browsers within Chrome to notify users when the site they were going to was an HTTP or https. Http sites are marked with a gray “not secure” symbol before the URL. Google continues to make users more notified when a site is not secure by taking users to a page where they would have to click a button to continue using the site. They’re also going to put “Not Secure” in bright red in the search. This will cause some users to feel uneasy and lead them in a different direction.

4) More Conversions with Your Users

When your user feels safe using your website, they’re going to put more information out there for your company. They feel more comfortable plugging in their name, address, and credit card number knowing that that little lock symbol is green on the top of their browser. As Google rolls out their new HTTP Not Secure label, more companies will realize they need to make the switch for better user experience.

5) A Happier Customer

A secure connection will leave your customer more at ease, it’s as simple as that. A user is not going to put information out there when there’s something that makes them uneasy.

Like we said earlier, that little “s” after HTTP can help your website go a long way when it comes to security and being recognized as a safe site by Google. Make sure you check your website’s URL and make that switch before a middle man gets in the way to hack or before Google throws your site into the deep end. For more insight on this topic, give Transformation Marketing a call at 402-788-2896.