Does your website have an SSL certificate? If not, then now may be the time to get one. A Secure Sockets Layer (SSL) certificate is like a virtual padlock that helps to protect your visitors’ data. This can give users added peace of mind when they enter usernames, passwords, and even payment information on your site. In fact, security-conscious individuals often look for this certificate when determining a website’s legitimacy and safety.
There are many benefits to having an SSL certificate displayed on your website, including an improved reputation and added security. However, many website owners don’t realize that this certificate can also boost your search engine optimization (SEO), thus improving your search engine rankings and potentially making your site easier to find.
Improving SEO With an SSL Certificate
How can having an SSL certificate boost your SEO? For starters, the algorithms that Google uses to rank websites on search engine results pages (SERPs) favor secure websites over those without security measures in place. Therefore, because SSL certificates improve your site’s security, you may experience a boost in your Google rankings after adding one.
Having an SSL certificate may indirectly improve your SEO as well. This is because many browsers can detect if a site doesn’t have an SSL certificate and will encourage users to navigate away or avoid entering personal information. And because the amount of time spent on a website is also incorporated into Google’s SEO algorithms, not having an SSL certificate could very well harm your rankings.
How to Get an SSL Certificate
Obtaining an SSL certificate is relatively quick and easy, but it does come with a price. You can purchase one from a reputable source for around $50 per year or less. Additionally, you may want to check with your dedicated hosting company to see if you can purchase one through them directly. Once you’ve acquired your certificate, you can set it up through your hosting control panel in just a few simple steps.
Other Ways to Improve SEO
In addition to getting an SSL certificate for your site, there are several other measures to consider taking to improve your SEO and SERP rankings. Start by making sure that your site has been optimized not just for desktop use, but for mobile as well. If your website doesn’t work on mobile, Google’s algorithms will penalize you significantly.
Site speed is also essential for SEO rankings, as those with slow page-loading times will automatically rank lower (or may even be de-indexed altogether). You can use a free resource like SpeedTest.net to find out how fast (or slow) your site is. And if you haven’t done so already, making the switch to a dedicated server can ensure that your website is properly hosted to optimize speed and minimize page-loading times.
Ready to Enhance Your Security and Boost Your SEO? ReliableSite Can Help
By maintaining a secure website, you can improve your reputation among customers and increase your visibility on the web. One of the best ways to do this? Investing in dedicated server hosting from ReliableSite.
Contact the ReliableSite team today to find out more about how dedicated hosting can help your business!