Secure Socket Layer (SSL) and Hypertext Transfer Protocol Secure (HTTPS) are two technologies that work together to provide an added layer of security for websites. In recent years, their importance for technical SEO has become increasingly clear. In this blog post, we will discuss the benefits of using SSL/HTTPS for technical SEO and how it can positively impact your website’s search engine rankings.
First and foremost, SSL/HTTPS helps to protect sensitive information on your website such as personal data, login credentials, and financial information. This added security can help to build trust with your website’s visitors and customers, leading to increased conversions and revenue. Additionally, Google has stated that they use HTTPS as a ranking signal in their search algorithm. This means that all other factors being equal, a website that uses HTTPS may rank higher in search results than one that does not.
Another benefit of SSL/HTTPS is that it helps to prevent man-in-the-middle attacks, in which an attacker intercepts communications between your website and its users. This can be particularly dangerous for e-commerce sites where financial transactions take place. Using SSL/HTTPS ensures that communications between your website and users are encrypted and protected from these types of attacks.
SSL/HTTPS is also important for website performance and speed. A website that uses SSL/HTTPS will typically load faster than one that does not, as it eliminates the need for the additional redirects required for non-HTTPS websites. This can result in a better user experience, which can have a positive impact on your search engine rankings.
Another key aspect of the website performance is user experience and engagement, Google has made it clear that website engagement and user experience plays a key role in SEO. By providing an added layer of security, HTTPS can help to increase user engagement and trust, which can also have a positive impact on search engine rankings.
Lastly, moving to HTTPS can also help with website indexing and crawling. Google has stated that it is easier for them to crawl and index websites that use HTTPS, as it helps to prevent the blocking of certain resources that may occur on non-HTTPS websites. This can lead to better and faster indexing of your website’s content, which can result in higher search engine rankings.
In conclusion, using SSL/HTTPS is a crucial aspect of technical SEO that can have a significant impact on your website’s search engine rankings, user engagement and website performance. With Google’s updates and push towards secure web and privacy, it is becoming increasingly important for websites to implement SSL/HTTPS as part of their technical SEO strategy. While HTTPS migration might seem difficult and time consuming, it is important to remember that it can have long-term benefits for your website and business as a whole.
It is worth noting that there are different types of SSL/HTTPS certificates available, each with its own level of validation. The most basic certificate, called a Domain Validated (DV) certificate, verifies that the domain of a website is valid and that the organization requesting the certificate is the rightful owner of the domain. This type of certificate is typically the easiest and quickest to obtain, but it may not provide the same level of trust as more advanced certificates such as an Organization Validated (OV) or Extended Validation (EV) certificate.
An OV certificate, in addition to verifying the domain and ownership, also verifies the legal existence of the organization and that it is in good standing. An EV certificate, on the other hand, provides the highest level of validation and requires extensive vetting of the organization, including business registration and background checks.
If you’re an e-commerce or sensitive data based website, it’s highly recommended to use an EV certificate, as it will provide a higher level of trust for your customers and help to build credibility for your business. However, for smaller websites or personal blogs, a DV certificate may be sufficient.
It’s also important to note that migrating from HTTP to HTTPS requires some technical knowledge and experience, it’s always recommended to seek help from a web developer or professional for ensuring a smooth and successful migration.
Migrating to HTTPS can be a complex process, but it’s worth it for the many benefits it provides. It is important to ensure that all internal and external links, as well as any resources such as images or videos, are properly redirected to their HTTPS versions. Additionally, you should update any hard-coded links in your website’s content and make sure that your website’s sitemap is updated to reflect the new HTTPS URLs.
Finally, it is important to monitor your website’s performance after migrating to HTTPS to ensure that everything is working properly. You should pay close attention to any potential issues such as broken links, mixed content errors, or problems with your website’s performance. With the right approach and by following the best practices, HTTPS migration can be a very successful step for your website and your business in general.
In summary, using SSL/HTTPS for technical SEO can greatly benefit your website by providing added security and protection, increasing user engagement and trust, improving website performance, and helping with website indexing and crawling. Additionally, HTTPS is becoming increasingly important as Google and other search engines are giving more weight to it in their search algorithms. With the increasing importance and benefits of SSL/HTTPS, it’s definitely worth considering the migration of your website to HTTPS.
Another important aspect to consider when migrating to HTTPS is the handling of redirects. When migrating to HTTPS, it is important to set up proper redirects to ensure that all traffic to your old HTTP URLs is properly directed to the corresponding HTTPS URLs. This will help to prevent any issues with broken links or 404 errors, which can negatively impact your website’s search engine rankings.
It is also important to pay attention to the type of redirects you are using, as different types of redirects can have different impacts on SEO. For example, a 301 redirect, which indicates that the page has permanently moved, is the most SEO-friendly redirect as it passes on the link equity from the old URL to the new URL. On the other hand, a 302 redirect, which indicates that the page has temporarily moved, is not as SEO-friendly as it does not pass on link equity.
Additionally, it is important to monitor your website’s analytics after migrating to HTTPS. This will help you to identify any issues with traffic or conversions and make any necessary adjustments. For example, if you notice a drop in traffic after migrating to HTTPS, it could be an indication that some of your redirects are not working properly or that you have some broken links.
It’s also worth mentioning that it’s possible to implement HTTPS on specific pages of a website, this is called “HTTPS Everywhere” approach, it’s mainly used to secure the pages that handle sensitive information and the pages where transactions take place, for example, login pages, checkout pages, contact forms and etc. However, keep in mind that this approach is not preferred by Google, as it might create mixed content errors, which will affect the overall user experience.
Finally, it is important to keep in mind that HTTPS migration is not a one-time process. Once your website is migrated to HTTPS, it is important to keep it updated and properly configured. This includes renewing your SSL/HTTPS certificate when it expires, ensuring that all links and resources on your website are directed to the HTTPS versions, and monitoring your website’s analytics and performance.
In conclusion, HTTPS migration can greatly benefit your website and improve your search engine rankings by providing added security, improving user engagement and trust, and helping with website indexing and crawling. It is important to seek professional help and follow best practices when migrating to HTTPS, including proper redirects, monitoring analytics, and keeping your website updated and properly configured. With the increasing importance of HTTPS in search algorithms and the many benefits it provides, it’s definitely worth considering the migration of your website to HTTPS.
