How SSL Helps Boost Your Search Engine Rankings

Have you noticed? Even websites which you may know to be credible are still marked as 'not secure' by your browser?

It isn't just the browsers, but also search engines that see these websites as fishy. And the reason is the lack of an HTTPS or SSL Certification.

An SSL (Secure Sockets Layer) Certificate is the industry standard when it comes to secure browsing. It establishes an encrypted link between a web server and a browser. This link ensures that all data passed between the web server and browser remain private.

So, if your website is not showing up in the top-ranking pages despite all your SEO efforts, your SSL could be the prime suspect.

Here are a few ways an SSL Certificate or the lack of it affects your search engine ranking:

How SSL Affects Your SEO

Google takes SSL Certification seriously

Despite the inroads that several search engines make, Google remains the undisputed leader. And it recently announced an update to its SEO ranking algorithm.

The recent update shows adjustments in the indexing system. Which is to look more for HTTPS pages as opposed to HTTP. This means that despite high-quality content, credible backlinks, and strong optimisation strategies, your website may still lose out without an SSL.

Google has also shared its research results. It shows that sites with SSL usually have better relevance in search results.

SSL creates a positive audience impression

An SSL acts as a symbol of trust for your users. This becomes crucial since audience impression is highly important to increase online traffic.

So, it isn’t just the browser warning that negatively impacts your website. Due to the number of internet frauds and security breaches, users are more aware and less likely to disclose personal information on websites that are not HTTPS.

Moreover, if a business website has a payment gateway or needs security authentication, SSL encrypts user content to prevent hackers to get any access to it.

Data breaches can be very expensive. That’s why having an SSL Certificate makes a lot of business sense! 

SSL impacts your website's bounce rate

Users are more likely to exit your website right away and switch to a different site due to the lack of trust and security alert.

The lack of SSL certification is detrimental, especially if you end up losing highly relevant leads. The high bounce rates and lack of click-throughs impact your overall ranking too. This means that despite your best efforts, your website will never make it to the top of search results, which is a spot likely to be occupied by your competitors.

So, if you are looking to increase your SEO ranking and build trust with your users, having a proper SSL certification is the way to go.

In the online world, building trust is the first step to getting a customer to do business with you. According to an analysis by Ahrefs, less than 1 in 10 websites have a flawless HTTPS set up, and 60% have no HTTPS at all.

So, whether you are a blog owner or a business, having an SSL on your site is valuable. It will set you apart from the competition, play a significant part in your ranking and help safeguard your user data.

So, when selecting an SSL Certificate, find the right one since they all perform different levels of encryption to secure information.

And make sure that:  

• It is trusted by popular web browsers like Mozilla Firefox, Google Chrome, Opera, Safari, Microsoft Edge and Internet Explorer. 
• It comes with included mobile trust certification and has 24/7 tech support to help you in case any issue arises.

Gain search engines' and your customers' trust

SSL may seem trivial right now. But it will have a massive impact on your business in the long run.

Choose the type of SSL Certificate that is ideal for your domain. In addition to considering cost, make sure you go for an option that is best suited for your specific web needs.