Step by step guide on how to install an SSL Certificate

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Although you might not know what an SSL certificate is, you probably see one every day. An SSL certificate is used to show that the site that you’re using is secure, ensuring that your credit card transactions, data transfers and logins all remain protected. You can tell if the website you’re using is securely encrypted if there is ‘https://’ in the first part of the webpage’s link, meaning you can share your details with the site safe in the knowledge that your information is properly protected. 

Having a SSL certificate is therefore of paramount importance for your online business. Not only does it show that people can trust you, but it also ranks you higher on Google’s search engine, as it tells Google that your website won’t put users at risk. 

What type of SSL certificate to get

There are multiple types of SSL certificates to choose from, and thus it is important that you choose the right certificate for you. 

Domain Validation SSL (DV) certificates are the most basic type of SSL certificates. They are simple and easy to get – all you need to do is show the Certificate Authority (CA) that you’re the owner of the domain that was applied for. It is a quick process – the certificate can be issued only minutes after purchase, and installed shortly after. This is a fantastic option if you need to secure a personal website, blogs or small online store, as it is a quick and easy way to secure your site.

Organisation Validation SSL (OV) certificates require slightly more graft: your company must meet several requirements to pass the test. However, once validated your website is able to show that it is fully secure as, like the DV SSL,  the green HTTPS and padlock in the address bar will show users that your site is legal and has been approved by a trusted 3rd party.

– The highest level of SSL certificate that you can have is an Extended Validation (EV) certificate or, in other words, the Green Address Bar SSL. This inspires the highest level of trust amongst your customers by triggering the globally understood green address bar. As this is recognised worldwide, anyone around the world can see that your site is very safe. Although this process takes a few days, it can be sped up by ensuring all your organisation’s records are up to date. 

Check out TechRadar’s post on Best SSL certificate services to buy from in 2020 to get the cheapest price!

How do I know what SSL certificate is right for me?

A DV SSL is the cheapest and fastest way to secure your website, as all you need to do is prove that you own the domain. The process is generally automated and doesn’t require you to fish out extra documents to verify your business, so you could be protected in just a few minutes. However, they are not as secure as other SSL certificates. Although Google won’t rank your website lower if you have a DV SSL, some visitors may not trust your site as much as if it had a more secure certificate. This is more likely to become an issue if your online business depends on ecommerce, as potential buyers may not feel comfortable inputting their payment details into a site with a DV SSL. 

An OV SSL shows not only that you own the domain, but also that you own the company that it is linked to. It may take a little longer, but it could mean that visitors to your site think that you are more legitimate and make it more likely for them to make a purchase. 

The EV SSL proves that you own the domain and the business linked to it, but also shows that you have legally registered your company as a business. This high-level SSL takes longer to get and requires more paperwork, but it is the most secure. However, it is unlikely that you need the EV SSL unless you have a large and well-established business that manages large numbers of online payments. 

Renewing your SSL certificate 

Before your SSL certificate is due to run out, you should receive an email alerting you to this. It is vital that you renew your SSL certificate before it runs out: even if you go a day without being certified, Google could push you to the bottom of the search engine. It could also block others from visiting your site. This means that all the hard work that you’ve done to push your ranking up will be lost – Google won’t recommend a site which they believe to be untrustworthy.

Is there an easier way?

Although this might seem all a bit complicated, Go Sitebuilder offers a completely free SSL certificate. This means you don’t have to pay for your certificate, and you also don’t need to go through the laborious process of obtaining one. Our easy to use website comes with a ready-to-go SSL-protected web domain, meaning you can get your online business up and running from day one.

If you’re still uncertain, then our 14-day free trial gives you time to see just how easy it can be to run a secure website – try it today!

What is SSL and why is it important?

You might have seen the term online or noticed your fellow small business owners talking about it at the last networking meeting, but what is SSL? Why is it important? and should you be worried if your website doesn’t have it? We’re here to answer these questions and explain how this techy term can help your business to succeed online.

What is SSL?

In technical terms:

Secure Sockets Layer (also known as SSL, SSL Cert or SSL Certificate) is a digital certificate. It authenticates a website and encrypts information passed through an online connection.

To you and me:

It provides a secure, private connection when browsing the internet! It keeps your website protected and provides a safe experience for your customers. 

SSL has become the foundation of internet security, keeping you and your customers safe from hackers as your valuable data travels through the world wide web. Every day we are reminded about the imminent online security threat and how important it is to protect our data. This doesn’t just mean financial data, but any data. We already know that we should purchase some kind of malware protection and create complex passwords, but we should also be ensuring that we’re buying from and browsing trusted websites. SSL provides that level of security and we should all be aware of its greatness! 

How do I check if a website is safe?

It’s easy to spot if a website is being actively protected by SSL. All you need to look out for is the https:// at the start of the website’s URL and a closed padlock icon next to it. It might look something like this:

A website and domain being actively protected by SSL

Chances are, your customers will be looking out for this too – so make sure your site is protected!

If a website isn’t protected, you might see something like this:

An example of an un-secure website and domain not being protected by SSL

You might even be faced with one of these scary messages:

A browser security warning

This is all the more reason to make sure your website is protected. If you’re trying to sell products, the last thing you want is your customer’s browser warning them off!

Why is SSL so important?

Okay, so we’ve covered the main points of securing data and protection from online hackers. However, SSL provides more than just that, especially if you’re running a business. SSL can also:

  • Boost your Google rankings (who doesn’t want that?!): Google now considers SSL important for ALL websites, not just for those with checkouts or password-protected areas. With more activity online than ever before, Google and other major search engines are dedicated to countering security threats. As part of this, they’re using https as a ranking signal, encouraging people to be safe online and rewarding those who already are 
  • Provide credibility and build customer trust: Seeing ‘https’ or the closed padlock next to your website’s domain name instantly tells your website visitors that you are a legitimate business. This means that it’s safe to not only browse your website, but also to purchase from it.

What happens if I don’t have an SSL cert?

Your business probably won’t thrive online – and might not even survive. If you’re selling anything online or asking visitors to provide any data, such as credit card credentials or information via a contact form, you need to have an SSL cert in place. Even if you aren’t collecting this information, SSL will improve your SEO and your customers will know you care about their online security – it’s a win-win situation! If your customers don’t trust your website, you could miss out on valuable business. They might even be blocked from accessing your website completely if their browser deems it too unsafe to visit. 

While it’s always good to think about your website’s security, our advice would be to go one step further than this, and to invest in an SSL certificate today. There are lots of helpful guides out there to help you to choose the right SSL for you. If you’re using a website builder like ours, you might already have an SSL certificate included in your package; or perhaps your provider can supply one at an extra cost.

We know how important online security is for any business, so we’ve included SSL with every premium Go Sitebuilder package, completely free of charge; all you need to do is enable it! If you have a Go Sitebuilder website, here’s how:

If you don’t have a website or you’re looking to create a new responsive website that you can update from anywhere (plus a FREE SSL cert), sign up for a free trial with Go Sitebuilder.