TL;DR: An unsecured website triggers browser warnings that turn visitors away and hold back your SEO. Since the majority of internet users utilize browsers that flag unencrypted sites, an SSL certificate isn’t optional; it’s foundational. Just remember it needs upkeep, too: renewals, redirects, and full subdomain coverage all matter once it’s live. Get this right, and encryption stops being a barrier between your site and the customers searching for you.
You brainstormed and searched for the best domain you could find, one that is easy to remember and accurately represents your brand. You have links, primary keywords, and secondary keywords. You should be watching those SEO analytics grow, but there’s one factor that can undercut all of that work: an unencrypted website.
If your site isn’t secured with HTTPS, it doesn’t matter how strong your content or keyword strategy is—your search engine optimization strategy will hit a ceiling it can’t grow past. So, if you want to grow your reach online, you need to lock down your website first.
Who Cares About Encryption?
If you do not sell physical merchandise online, you might be tempted to believe that no one cares whether or not your website is encrypted—for modern websites, this is not the case. Google cares and wants all websites to be secure, no matter their industry. Google Chrome and other major browsers flag unencrypted sites directly in the address bar. If you are missing the secure “https” at the beginning of your web address, browsers will show your visitors a “Not secure” warning before they even load your page.
This warning can understandably make visitors pause before exploring your site further. If people believe that looking at your site is not safe, your SEO progress and potential sales can take a hit alongside it. How likely are you to click on a website with a warning? Placing encryption and security on the back burner carries a real risk for your bottom line.
Why It Matters
Google Chrome is the most widely used browser in the world, holding roughly two-thirds of the global market. With that much of the market on one browser, it is impossible to ignore this essential security standard.
Other prominent browsers, like Firefox and Safari, apply similar warnings for unencrypted sites. Between these three browsers, you are looking at a strong majority of internet users forming a negative impression of your organization if your website isn’t encrypted.
The Solution: Get an SSL Certificate
A Secure Sockets Layer, or SSL, encrypts the link between the server and browser. An SSL certificate can be purchased, and the one you need is determined by your website and hosting. Once you have the certificate, you will see the secure “https” on your site, showing browsers (and your visitors) that your site is encrypted and safe to use.
Getting a certificate installed is an essential step forward—but there are a few common missteps that can undo that progress if you’re not aware of them.
Common SSL Mistakes to Avoid
- Letting Your Certificate Expire: SSL certificates aren’t a one-and-done setup—most need to be renewed annually. An expired certificate brings back the same “Not secure” warning you were trying to avoid in the first place.
- Leaving Mixed Content on the Page: If some elements on your site (like images or scripts) still load over the old, unencrypted http://, browsers may flag your page as only partially secure, even with a valid certificate in place.
- Forgetting to Update Internal Links and Redirects: Switching to HTTPS without redirecting your old http:// URLs can lead to broken links, duplicate content issues, and lost SEO value from pages that search engines have already indexed.
- Assuming One Certificate Covers Everything: Certain certificate types only cover a single subdomain. If your site includes multiple subdomains (like a blog or store), double-check that your certificate actually covers all of them.
FAQs
Does HTTPS actually affect my Google rankings?
Yes. Google has confirmed that it uses a website’s HTTPS status as a ranking signal, meaning secure sites have an edge over unencrypted ones, all else being equal.
How do I know if my site has an SSL certificate?
Check your address bar. If your URL begins with “https://” and shows a padlock icon, your site is encrypted. If it begins with “http://” or shows a “Not secure” label, it’s time to get a certificate in place.
How often do SSL certificates need to be renewed?
Most SSL certificates need to be renewed annually, though terms vary by provider. Letting a certificate lapse can trigger the same warnings as never having one at all.
Will adding an SSL certificate immediately improve my SEO?
It removes a barrier, but it’s one piece of a larger strategy. Encryption supports your SEO efforts rather than replacing the need for strong content, keywords, and site structure.
Key Takeaways
- No Security = No SEO: An unencrypted site (no HTTPS) can hold back your SEO efforts, no matter how strong your keywords or content are.
- Search Engines Care—a Lot: Google Chrome, along with most major browsers, flags unencrypted sites with a “Not Secure” warning, turning away users.
- SSL Certificates Are the Solution: An SSL certificate is the fix you need—it encrypts the connection between your server and your visitors’ browsers.
- It’s Not a One-and-Done Project: SSL certificates expire, so ongoing maintenance matters just as much as the initial setup.
Secure Your Site, Strengthen Your SEO
As an experienced web design studio in Oklahoma, the myheartcreative team understands the importance of encryption and SSL certificates. Getting your site secured is a small step that removes a real barrier between your business and the customers searching for you—and we are ready to help you navigate the process. Get in touch to start your project!
