+45 53 83 87 01HyperText Transfer Protocol Secure (HTTPS) is the secure version of HTTP, which is the primary protocol used to send data between a web browser and a website.
Importance in SEO:
HTTPS is encrypted using Transport Layer Security (TLS) or, formerly, Secure Sockets Layer (SSL) to ensure secure communication over the Internet. The main purpose of HTTPS is to authenticate the visited website and protect the privacy and integrity of the exchanged data.
HTTPS has been a ranking signal for search engines such as Google since 2014. The use of HTTPS can have a positive effect on a websites search engine rankings because it provides a secure browsing experience for users. Websites that are secured with HTTPS have a lock icon in the address bar, which indicates that the connection is secure and helps to increase user trust.
Implementation:
To switch from HTTP to HTTPS, a website must obtain an SSL/TLS certificate and install it on their server. This certificate is typically issued by a Certificate Authority (CA) and serves as a proof of the website’s legitimacy and trustworthiness. Post-installation, it is recommended to set up proper redirects (301) from HTTP to HTTPS URLs for all pages, to ensure that users and search engines are directed to the secure version of the site.
SEO best practices:
After implementing HTTPS, ensure that all internal links point to the HTTPS URLs to avoid unnecessary redirects and that the website’s sitemap includes the HTTPS URLs. Also, update the robots.txt file to include the HTTPS version of the site, and configure the server to send the HSTS header (HTTP Strict Transport Security) to enforce secure connections. Its critical to maintain the proper configuration and timely renewals of certificates to prevent security warnings in browsers that could deter users and negatively impact a websites trustworthiness and, consequently, its SEO performance.
Monitoring:
After transitioning to HTTPS, monitor your website for any mixed content issues, where some resources load over HTTP within an HTTPS page, as this can cause security warnings. Additionally, track your website’s performance and rankings to identify any potential issues that may arise from the migration, such as crawl errors or duplicate content, and rectify them promptly to maintain and improve search engine visibility.
In summary, HTTPS encryption plays a crucial role in safeguarding user data and enhancing website credibility, making it an essential component of technical SEO and website optimization.
