Short answer: Yes.
But what on earth is SSL? I could talk to you about an added encryption layer of SSL/TLS to protect the traffic, but let’s just focus on why it matters to business owners, and leave the geekery to me and other geeks.
SSL is the technology that changes a website’s address from http to https (yes “s” for secure). It adds security to a websites in a way that is relevant if you have any type of form on your website (ie something that a client types in and hits submit or enter on).
As recently as 2017 the only websites that routinely required HTTPS were those who were selling directly eCommerce and taking a client’s credit card via a shopping cart or similar.
However since late 2017 Chrome (and other web browsers) now show the following if a website is not running SSL.
This will show even if your website has no eCommerce, but has a contact form or blog comment form. With SSL you will see something like this in a browser:
So why should I upgrade as a business owner?
Well here are three good reasons:
- Clients like it — even if your website doesn’t have any forms we now create all new websites https enabled. If it makes a client feel more secure with your website, and by extension your business, why wouldn’t you?
- Google Rankings. Google has long claimed that websites with SSL rank slightly better than those without. How significant this is is debatable, but again, if your competitors are doing it this is a no-brainier.
- It makes you look more professional against competitors who are not running SSL. And rapidly you will be left behind as SSL becomes the new normal, you don’t want to be left behind.
You convinced me — how much is upgrading to SSL going to cost me?
How about — nothing? If you sign up with our new Business Class Care Plan we will upgrade your SSL for free.