There is plenty of danger on the web, from phishing scams to data breaches. When people are browsing the web, they want reassurance that they are truly safe. One signal that they are in safe hands? An SSL certificate.
What Is an SSL Certificate?
An SSL certificate, also known as a Secure Sockets Layer certificate, provides security for your website by encrypting the connection between your site and visitors. It shows that your site is safe to visit because it has been verified by a third-party company.
Why Is an SSL Certificate Essential for Your Website?
An SSL certificate is now essential for any website that wants to provide a good user experience. Customers expect all sites they visit to have an SSL certificate, and if your site doesn’t have one, they will likely leave. In addition, search engines are increasingly using SSL certificates as a signal of trust
Why Do Customers Want Websites to Have SSL Certificates?
Customers want them because they are worried about being hacked or having their information stolen. An SSL certificate provides peace of mind that their data is safe when they are browsing your website.
Why Do Search Engines Want Websites to Have SSL Certificates?
Search engines want them, too, because not having one will hurt your rankings in search results pages. That’s because they are a strong signal of trust. If your site doesn’t have an SSL certificate, it is likely to be deemed untrustworthy by search engines and will suffer in rankings as a result.
How Not Having an SSL Certificate Will Hurt Your Business
Now that you know what an SSL certificate is and why people and search engines want them, their importance to your business should be pretty clear. If you don’t have an SSL certificate and your business relies on online sales, you’re likely missing out on a lot of potential revenue. In addition, not having one can also hurt your brand’s reputation as a safe place to do business. You also will rank lower in search engine results and might even be blacklisted by search engines altogether.
How to Get an SSL Certificate
Getting an SSL certificate is simple. You’ll start by choosing a type of SSL certificate that best meets your needs—domain validation, organization validation, or extended validation (EV). Then you will purchase the certificate from a trusted provider and install it on your server. After that, all visitors to your site will know they are in safe hands!
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