You wouldn’t have your username and password on your T-shirt for everyone to see, so if your site is using HTTP instead of HTTPS, that is essentially what you are doing. So, if you’re thinking about going encrypted, here are some points to consider.
HTTPS has been around since the early beginnings of the web but was only used by sites that handle funds, such as banks, shopping carts, and accounts containing secure information. Then, in the late 90s, use of HTTPS slowly began to increase when a larger number of websites started to use it for portions of their site that needed additional security.
After the onset of network sniffing tools like FireSheep made it easy for anyone to view login credentials across an insecure network, some larger sites began to use HTTPS. An encrypted website blocked all network sniffing tools and also sent a message to the visitors that this site cares about my security.
Currently, websites that have no login credentials, handling of funds, or really nothing to hide, have chosen to go the HTTPS route. Why?
In 2014, Google announced that beyond their normal focus, they were also going to try to make the Internet a safer place by starting to use HTTPS as a ranking signal. In the past, people shied away from encrypted websites because of page speed. With the increasing speed of Wi-Fi connections caching, site load time is no longer an issue. People’s awareness of encrypted sites has proved that trust is a determining factor in where users decide to buy.
Lastly, in the current evolutionary state of the web right now, it’s the right thing to do.
Why hasn’t everyone converted to HTTPS? Ironically, it comes down to the one thing that HTTPS was created for: money. Currently, encryption does not work with the cheaper hosting choices like virtual hosts or website builders. Also, along with the yearly fees of hosting, domain name, and any other third party features, the price of an SSL is seen by some people as an unnecessary cost they are not ready to pay for.
In the very near future, people will be less concerned about how fast a site loads, and more concerned about how a site protects you and your info. If you have questions about HTTPs and what is means for your business, call On Target at (866) 998-6886. We have been helping clients in Atlanta, Orlando and Wichita, delivering expert SEO and digital marketing services.
Best,
Rick