Why Your Website Needs HTTPS (And Why It Needs It Now)

You may have noticed some websites feature a little padlock next to their URL in the address bar or start with “https://” instead of “http://” – this indicates the presence of what we refer to as a “security protocol” which can be either “SSL” or “TLS”. Security protocol offers an additional layer of encryption that ensures data sent and received cannot be targeted by a “Man-In-The-Middle Attack” (MITM) which targets information once it has been sent, effectively intercepting data as it’s travelling across the web.

Using security protocols contributes towards keeping your website users safe and there’s also an awful lot of evidence to suggest that HTTPS is considered a “ranking criteria” by a number of search engines. This means that using SSL or TLS encryption can potentially improve the positioning of your website in search engine results pages.

The practice of improving search engine results positioning is known as “Search Engine Optimisation” (or SEO for short) and can have a massive impact on how many people click through to your website. 75% of searchers click on one of the first five results they see on the first page of Google when performing a search, in fact, only 5% of users even click through to the second page.

SEO can even impact how people behave on your website, for example someone will be more likely to buy from a website that presents itself as reputable and capable of fulfilling their requirements.

Which leads us to the most beneficial feature of HTTPS, the reassurance it provides for users that their data is safe on your website.

Thanks to Google’s commitment to user safety, Chrome users will now start noticing something a bit different when accessing websites that do not hold an HTTPS protocol. The words “Not Secure” will appear beside the URL – needless to say, this has the potential to dissuade users from using the site, especially if it features payment facilities. After all, who would want to risk their bank details on a site that Google claims is “Not Secure?”.

By purchasing a certificate and installing it you can ensure that your users’ data stays safe.

There’s also a good chance you’ll be rewarded with more desirable search positions and that your potential customers aren’t put off.

If you’re ready to commit to a more secure website, the digital specialists at Genesis are happy to help you implement HTTPS protocol. We can also help with a website audit and digital plan, which might for example (depending on your business goals) include SEO, Digital Advertising, User Experience, Performance Optimisation and more. Be sure to get in touch if you require any assistance.