{"id":45180,"date":"2018-09-23T01:44:24","date_gmt":"2018-09-23T01:44:24","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.dirtygimarketing.com\/?p=45180"},"modified":"2024-01-05T01:44:01","modified_gmt":"2024-01-05T01:44:01","slug":"secure-your-site-now-or-lose-leads","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.dirtygimarketing.com\/secure-your-site-now-or-lose-leads\/","title":{"rendered":"Secure your site now or lose leads"},"content":{"rendered":"

It\u2019s past the time to get an SSL certificate! \u00a0If you don\u2019t have one, your site visitors are likely being told that your website is not secure, corporate security policies may be blocking it, and Google is downgrading it in the search results. \u00a0The good news is that it\u2019s easy and inexpensive (often totally free) to correct.<\/p>\n

What is an SSL certificate?<\/strong>
\nSSL Certificates create encrypted connections between a web page (or web server) and a browser on the website. \u00a0It uses public key cryptography<\/a> to encode the information being transmitted between a person\u2019s computer and the website\/web server. \u00a0In short, it keeps information like credit card numbers, usernames\/passwords, or even email address private and secure.<\/p>\n

Why do I need it?<\/strong>
\nIf your website has any ecommerce (i.e., you sell merchandise, memberships, day passes, seminars, etc. through it), you need an SSL certificate to protect your customers\u2019 private information. \u00a0But even if you don\u2019t use it for ecommerce, you need one. Release 68 of Google\u2019s Chrome Browser now displays a \u201cNot Secure\u201d warning in the URL bar next to the domain name.<\/p>\n

\"Google<\/p>\n

Firefox displays a similar warning. And some corporate digital security policies prevent access (and more will likely join soon) to non-secure sites. \u00a0That means if someone tries to reach your website from their work computer, there is a risk that the site will be blocked.<\/p>\n

How can I tell if I have one?<\/strong>
\nType in https:\/\/yourdomain.com or https:\/\/www.yourdomain.com (note the \u201cs\u201d in \u201chttps\u201d). \u00a0Your site should load properly and should display a padlock. \u00a0Google Chrome will also show \u201cSecure\u201d on the URL line. Google Chrome will look like this:<\/p>\n

\"Google<\/p>\n

If that works, great!\u00a0 Now\u00a0just make sure that your site is setup to always redirect people to the secure version. \u00a0In your browser, type in http:\/\/yourdomain.com or http:\/\/www.yourdomain.com (note there is no \u201cs\u201d in \u201chttp\u201d this time<\/strong>), and see if it automatically redirects to the secure (https) version of the site. \u00a0If not, then your redirects are not setup properly and need\u00a0to be fixed so that the secure site always loads regardless of what people type in.<\/p>\n

How do I get one and how much does it cost?<\/strong>
\nYou need to check with your host provider. \u00a0Thanks to Let\u2019s Encrypt<\/a> by the Internet Security Research Group\u2019s (ISRG)<\/a>, most can get an SSL Certificate for FREE<\/strong>. \u00a0Almost every host provider supports it though some have simple, automated installations with redirection and others have a somewhat more complex installation, configuration, and redirection process. \u00a0Try Googling: \u201cLet\u2019s Encrypt <host provider>\u201d to find articles on how to do it. \u201cLet\u2019s Encrypt Siteground\u201d or \u201cLet\u2019s Encrypt Godaddy\u201d, for example. Or contact us, and we\u2019ll help you do it right.<\/p>\n

Then what?<\/strong>
\nLunametrics has a good article<\/a> on several things you\u2019ll want to do as part of your SSL configuration. \u00a0It includes things like:<\/p>\n