5 reasons for using https for your website
What is https? SEOs are familiar with HTTP and now an “s” is added to it without apostrophe. It is “SSL” but the multiple sounding of sss…. is silenced with one “s”. SSL stands for Secure Sockets Layer – a technology that encrypts website data to improve its security.
What is the role of HTTPS in SEO? It is a security feature but it plays a decisive role in determining website ranking. SEOs must know its importance in search marketing. Here are five reasons that tell why SSL should be enabled on every website.
1) Its good for search
Google’s algorithm makes websites to battle on every front from downloading speed to responsive design to come on top three results. Every feature counts when it comes to choosing one out of two very close competitors. Every site is HTTP enabled but the “S” factor can be decisive, if the rival is too close but lacks Secure Sockets Layer. Google will give priority to the site that is HTTPs over the HTTP site in case of a tie result.
2) It’s better for users
You can hardly learn about data theft from an https site. SSL helps hacking that like eavesdropping. A third person monitors the communication between sites and their users and that person that is a hacker modifies the information for personal gains. SSL puts end to such incidents as it doesn’t allow encrypted data to be accessed and read by unauthorized parties.
SSL features become important for sites that accept credit card payments and also for sites that have login functionality. It shows that you care about sensitive data collected from customers.
3) SSL is required for AMP
Accelerated Mobile Pages are the pages that download instantly and decently on mobile devices. The technology is called AMP and it is going to play a determinant in SEO 2017. Google is set to include AMP in its algorithm that shows that AMP-ready pages will get high rankings. But before a web page is labeled as AMP, it must be secured with SSL.
AMP will be the leading SEO trend in 2017 and all the attention will be on a mobile-first index that Google has worked on. SEOs have understood the value of AMP technology for mobile-ranking but they shouldn’t overlook the value of SSL for AMP-ready pages.
4) Google is indexing mobile
The new algorithm will include AMP-ready pages or mobile version of sites. AMP will be a factor in website ranking. But Google also recommends that mobile-first sites have the best practices and it keeps the security of users on high priority. It is a direct indication that only HTTPs sites will be considered for the mobile-first index. It is migration from the usual HTTP to HTTPs.
5) Not Secure
Chrome 56 displays non https sites as “not secure” on the browser. Sites that take credit card payments and make secure login but aren’t secured with Secure Sockets Layer (SSL) are termed “not secure” by the browser. It is to alert visitors that the sites they’re dealing with aren’t secure. If Google also starts labeling sites as “not secure” then the sites without https will suffer considerable traffic and business loss.
Conclusion
SEOs should get things done in right way. Google is preparing for a mobile-first index that will include AMP-ready pages but security is the biggest concern for Google. Sites that don’t have SSL added to their http will be kept out of the algorithm. The “s” factor is also important for branding. Adding SSL to your site will show that you’re concerned about your visitors and that you’re ready to take any step towards safety of the customer data.
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