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What is the SSL certificate?

What is the SSL certificate It is essential for your website’s successful SEO optimization to know what is the SSL certificate and why it is so important.

First of all, SSL stands for Secure Sockets Layer.
This very important feature assures you that YOU ARE SAFE to browse the webpage you entered in the search engine and that your personal data is secure and encrypted.

 

Have you ever browsed the internet and opened some websites and the “warning” page popped up saying that the webpage is NOT secure and recommendable for visiting?

This usually happens because that webpage is not covered with the SSL certificate. This means that data and your personal information you might provide to this website (in case you decided to ignore this message) is not secure and not encrypted. Sometimes, you will not be able to enter the page at all.

 

What does this security certificate do and why you have to install it on your website?


  • It encrypts the information sent to the server. The browser will access the digital certificate and establish a secure connection whenever an internet user sends any confidential information.
  • It proves a domain ownership
  • Secures your visitor’s personal information and data
  • Boosts your website’s Google ranking

 

How do you know that the website has installed SSL?


  1. You will see the lock next to the URL typed in the browser
  2. The website’s URL starts with HTTPS. The letter S at the end of the HTTP stands for SECURE

SSL-certificate

 

Where you can find the SSL certificate and how to turn it on?


Every provider offers SSL certificates. This is something that I consider as a mandatory feature to have in order to achieve successful SEO optimization.

When you visit your hosting account, for example, SiteGround, you will see that there is an option to turn ON the SSL certificate feature. You just have to turn it on. This automatically installs the certificate on your website.

 

Now what you have to do is to start the plugin on your WordPress website which supports the SSL certificate and you are all set.

Really-Simple-SSL

 

The plugin recommended to use for this is Really Simple SSL. You just need to download it and activate the SSL with one click on the activation button.

Activating SSL certificate

 

You will see that your URL changed from Http to HttpS. 

 

IMPORTANT steps before the SSL activation:


  1. Back up your website
  2. In case you can’t find your SSL certificate in your hosting account, contact customer support, they will be more than happy to help you
  3. Some providers charge an annual fee for SSL. I strongly recommend the Wealthy Affiliate as they provide free certification, customer support, and even easier installation of the SSL certificate. And if you are just starting your WordPress blog, you will find amazingly detailed step-by-step training to successfully build and run your business.

 

How to verify that your SSL certificate is working properly?


You can verify this in several ways. First, check within your WordPress if the plugin is enabled.

SSL-is-enebled-on-your-website

 

When you click on the little lock next to your URL the window with all the information about your certificate will pop up and it will be written CONNECTION IS SECURE. You can find more details within this window:

 

SSL-certificate-on-the-best-online-home-business-website

 

An SSL certificate contains the following information:


  • The certificate holder’s and issuer’s names
  • The certificate serial number, issue, and expiration date
  • A copy of the certificate holder’s public key

You can find this information on every website you browse. It’s public.

 

Does the SSL have an expiration date?


The SSL certificate does have an expiration date, but this is renewed automatically when is provided for free. If your hosting provider charges for the Security certificate, then, you will just have to renew it manually with the payment.

 

So let’s recap:


SSL certificate is the NUMBER ONE tool you are recommended to have installed on your website in order to gain Google trust and higher rankings, therefore better SEO optimization of your website which of course brings more audience and ultimately a SUCCESS to your business!

 

What else is important to know?


Since a few years ago, Google made this feature pretty much mandatory. The SSL certificate assures your website is safe for your visitors and Google appreciates that.

 

This leads to trust as SAFETY is your number one priority as well right? It’s the same for your visitors. Since we are talking business here, you want to make sure that people will trust your website when entering their personal information especially when your business is selling products.

 

Now before you go I would like to point out one more important feature in the online industry.

I recommend that you check the WEALTHY AFFILIATE as this is my NUMBER ONE online platform. This is the first place for me to look for information, updates in the online marketing industry, new features, and more than anything security! And it’s free to join.

 

You are a newbie in the online business world and you can’t wait to achieve your financial freedom?
Great! This is where you will find everything you need to reach your business goals.

 

You are an experienced entrepreneur?
Perfect! The Wealthy Affiliate is the platform for you as well!

 

CLICK ON THE IMAGE TO FIND OUT MORE ABOUT THE NUMBER ONE ONLINE PLATFORM FOR ONLINE MARKETERS!

Free-starter-membership-at-wealthy-affiliate

 

Whether you are a newbie or experienced entrepreneur the Wealthy Affiliate is the platform where you will be able to tune into new features in the industry, host your websites FOR FREE, and learn MORE WAYS to make an online income.

My detailed review will unveil more information for you.

 

 

 

Best-Online-Home-Business-logoI will be more than happy to hear what you think and to read about your online experience. Should you have any questions or concerns or you need my assistance please let me know in the comment section below.

Don’t forget to come back to get my reply to your comment! 

57 Comments

  1. Thank you for this here. At least, people like us with no coding knowledge before can be rest assure that the business websites we built are fully secured and not out our visitors to any harm. This ud definitely great and thank you so much for sharing here with us all. I find this well worthy enough too. Thank you here

  2. Hi Sunny, 

    This is an essential read for all online entrepreneurs. Even we make mistakes a lot of times when it comes to website security and this article explains how to understand what is right and do it well.

    I check out my own websites and found that all is well. Thank heavens.

    Do keep writing such wonderful content Sunny. Thank u.

    Regards,

    Aparna

  3. It’s very resourceful to share this article, many people who are not aware of how to secure their website probes them to failure and it makes it hard for them to make a better use of their websites. SSL certificate is really essential and this article will help people know it importance. I’ll share this to other people.

  4. Hi again! Thank you for sharing yet another educative article on ssl certificate. I’ve heard of it before but I didn’t know what it stands for and the functions it perform. SSL certificate is indeed very important for any website to have. It’s important for people to know your website is secure before assessing it. All thanks to this article, I now know how to identify a secured website before embarking on it. I’ll definitely share this article with my friends, thank you. 

  5. Having an SSL certificate is now mandatory for your website to be ranked in the search engines. Because it is a sign the says that your website is safe to use.

    I have to say that because my website is hosted in Wealthy Affiliate, I never worried about the SSL certificate because it is automatically included in the hosting. I did not need to change or activate anything, it is already there.

    Thanks for sharing!

  6. I have installed SSL on my website but some pages do not show the lock but others do, what may be the problem? SSL not only boosts Google ranking but gives assurance to the audience about the safety of the website. There are too many scammers out there targeting personal information. One should have an SSL certificate. Nice article. 

  7. Wow, thank you for this helpful information. Several times I have been into those websites , where I am warned about the security of my information but I rarely give the warning the attention it deserves. This was really empowering, From this day forth I will even check for myself if the website is secure before I engage with the website. 

  8. Indeed SSL is one of the most vital tools for website building asides SEO. There are a lot of websites that are not protected by this tool and the warning signs usually pop up when browsing from these sites. When I created my website I didn’t have idea about this tool until I created a free website at WA. This is really an interesting review

  9. Thanks for educating us about SSL certificate Sunny. It is very important, as implied in this article, to include SSL certificate feature or plugin on one’s website to ensure people who are visiting the website of their safety and that their personal details or data is secured. Wealthy Affiliate offers SSL for websites that are created on its platform. Now my question is, does it cost anything to get SSL certificate else where? Also, is SSL certificate of different types?

    • Hi Kelvin, 

      Yes, the SSL certificate is provided for free at the Wealthy Affiliate for the members hosting their websites withing the WA platform. 

      Regarding other hosting providers, they offer the SSL certificate typically as part of the package. Or if your website is hosted for free, usually you can purchase the SSL certificate as an important tool for every website. 

      As far as I know, it is to be paid in some way. 

      Hope this helps 🙂 
      Sunny

  10. Hello Sunny, 

    I have just started getting training to go into affiliate marketing and I have actually enjoyed every bit of it because I have always wanted to go into an online business. Learning new things make me glad and the article had added a lot to my knowledge. I didn’t know much about the benefits of this certificate and how it shows ownership of a domain name but now that I do, I will push to have my own certificate 

  11. Some very important information we need to understand baout the tech side of having a website and how you can get the website to be safe. Really, after reading this, I now understand how the whole ssl certificate works and I know why it will boost visitors confidence when they are sure I have a secure website.

  12. Hi Sunny,

    Thanks for an important presentation.

    I must say, I am still not strict enough about checking SSL certificates of the websites I visit! I mean, I had to stop reading your article a few lines down, to go back and check that you have the padlock and everything! 😂😂

    But that’s just because of the rush of online work. However, in this climate of economic turndown due to COVID-19, it is important to be extra vigilant, because apparently thousands of unscrupulous people who found themselves staying at home and not making a living, have turned to creating online scams and hacking software.

    Warmest regards.

  13. Before reading this article, I thought I knew a lot about ssl. This article was really an eye opener as I learnt loads of things. SSL certification is very important, and any website without it is highly avoided by me because if your card details or any classified information of yours is being put up on such sites you could be in great danger. SSL really builds trust, thank you for sharing this article 

  14. Very good article, I recently had problems with this SSL certificate. I found a solution on Youtube.And I also learned that you can make good money with it.Security is unfortunately very important nowadays. I have a question for you how many people at all pay attention to whether this site is secure or not?

  15. You produced an excellent and detailed explanation of SSL and site security. As a blogger its important to have this security feature installed on your website so that your visitors can feel safe visiting your site knowing that their browsing and information is safe. Im glad the monthly subs for premium at Wealthy Affiliate includes this SSL certificate. Thanks

  16. I really think SSL is very important, I have 3 site and all have SSL on them since I think It raises some level of trust for visitors and buyers if their buying off of your site, but hey! not only your readers/visitors but in order to gain Google trust and higher rankings as you have stated, so many scams online today it ain’t easy. What you’ve share here is very useful and edifying, do agree with you 100% and more, thanks for this article.

    Earl

  17. The SSL certificate is so important to keeping your website current and secure, and for the safety of your patrons and their information. 

    I knew what it meant when I seen the lock symbol next to the URL, but after reading your article I now have an even better understanding of the whole thing. It is also good to know that having the SSL certificate helps with Google and SEO ratings. That makes it even more important.

    Thank you for such an important article and for sharing your knowledge.

  18. Hi,

    From my research ssl certificates are small data files that digitally bind a cryptographic key to an organization’s details, when installed on a web server, it activates the padlock and the https protocol and allows secure connections from a web server to a browser. Typically, ssl is used to secure credit card transactions, data transfer and logins, and more recently is becoming the norm when securing browsing of social media sites.

    Thank you.

    Aluko.

  19. The SSL certificate, I like this particular one because while I browse on the webpage, this great features is the one responsible for my safe browsing on the net, it makes sure my information are secured. This article is really elaborate because it teaches what SSL is, how it is being used, the value of using it and lots more. Thank you very much.

  20. I must say the SSL certificate is very very important as with out it things could go wrong.. I am just greatful to Wealthy affiliate that I was able to input SSL certificate in my website even without any for of coding experience..thanks alot for sharing this awesome article I know it would definitely help others

  21. If you are running a business security of goods and cash is always a priority. Same is the case when running a website for profit. You should think of security, as such secure socket layer should be a priority. Top of it Google takes it serious when considering sites for ranking. Like you rightly itemized it secures your visitors information. 

  22. Trust is so important. In today’s world, trying to figure it all out is practically impossible. I remember when Google first put notice out on this topic. It’s important to add it to your website and it’s so simple. I also use Wealthy Affiliate and love the fact that my site through the program is automatically set with SSL security so I don’t have to worry about it or try to know more than I do.

  23. I am so glad I found your site. You introduce me to useful platforms and also explain key concepts in a very easy way. I was wondering what this SSL thing was. And I had read a lot of posts were they talked about it and I had an idea but I see I had also misinterpreted some aspects about what SSL really is.

    Thanks for helping me with this.

  24. I pretty much don’t know about SSL certificate until now. But with the green lock, my guess was that it has to do with something more of security. I never knew that it has a major impact on how Google and other search engines rank your website. This is very educational. I’ve learnt a lot here. Now about Wealthy Affiliate. When you said it’s free to join, does it include adding my credit card details before I create a free account?

  25. Hello there,thank you for sharing this article which is centered on what  the SSL certificate is .it is awesome to know that there’s something that secures and encrypts personal data on webpages.I will love to share this article around so people who has no idea about SSL certificate would know if their websites are secured or not

  26. Thank you for sharing this helpful information. You provided an excellent and detailed explanation of SSL and site security which is something that all site owners should know about which is why I think your article will be the ideal introductory point for anyone willing to learn about secure sockets layer

  27. It was a real pleasure to have peruse through this educating blog-post, the layout is very appealing and it basically covers every aspect for beginners to understand what it is to have an SSL certificate installed on my website. And I think you have done very well in being realistic because this article will guide me through to ensure my website is secured for visitors and customers.

  28. SSL is one of the first tools needed for a safe website optimization. There is so much going on online that people look into a secure site vs a non secure site for protection to getting a virus. I agree with you about WA platform. It is definitely very helpful and its member are always there to advise. 

    • Hi Maria, thanks for stopping by. You are so right. So many times you get that message not allowing you to browse further to some website and that’s because of the absence of the SSL. 

  29. One of the most common things online nowadays is having infiltrated details like social media accounts and all, it gets more and more difficult to leave important information online, so it is good if someone can work around SSL and how it can be used to give is a secure mode of browsing. Thanks for sharing

  30. Hi Sunny, 

    I thank you for sharing this article, I don’t think people realize how important it is to have this secure connection to become visible on the internet. obviously, you can find about anything you want to when surfing the web but, I will not use or open a site that does not have the little padlock in the browser. 

    just think of all the traffic that thinks like that. If your SSL is not up to snuff, you are missing out on traffic! 

    I suggest as you do, go with Wealthy Affiliate! They take care of this for you and the site speed is unprecedented! 

    Thanks,

    Chad

    • Exactly Chad, even though some people told me that the SSL is mostly required for the websites with stores. However, I think like you, that every site has to have a certificate because of the user experience. 

  31. Thanks for your article. I agree that having a SSL certificate is a must if you have an online business. When I started my first blog I told all my friends and family to check out what I was doing. Monitoring the traffic, it didn’t seem like anyone was reading the different articles I had posted. I talked to one of my cousins to see whether he had visited or not. He told me he was concerned about reviewing my site since he didn’t see the lock icon. I installed my certificate the next day.

    • William, that’s so true. The user experience depends on the SSL. Thanks for sharing 

  32. Hi Sunny, 

    That is an awesome article on SSL. Security is prime and we should always make sure we are protected. Wealthy Affiliate does present a great program and they offer more than great SSL protection. I would go with them anytime. I still need to read up on that as I am not sure how I back up my website. 

    I am sure Wealthy Affiliate does offer weekly backups for us.

    Ntlhane

  33. Thanks for bringing us this explanation of what SSL is.

    From what you say, SSL is not a good idea, but an absolute necessity.

    In these days of online fraud we are responsible for protecting our customers information, as we will become liability if it is not protected.  So we need it to protect ourselves firstly and then for the customers benefit and protection a quick second.

    Thankfully Wealthy Affiliate supply it for free as part of their hosting, so there is nothing to worry about if you join Wealthy Affiliate.

  34. Hi and thanks for highlighting this subject. It is something that has been on autopilot for me since I launched my site since this is provided as part of the package on Wealthy Affiliate – as you have said. Reading your article did prompt me to click on the little padlock icon and see what it says. Interestingly it lists all the cookies that you have active on your site. I didn’t know that. That is actually quite useful and I am guessing a good way of checking that you don’t accidentally have any rogue cookies that you didn’t know about. It is important to understand these things so you are right to highlight them. Thanks and best regards, Andy

  35. Hi Sunny,

    It was interesting learning about the SSL certificates and why it’s important for strategic SEO in winning Google trust criteria. Good SEO practice is key for increased rankings in organic searches. You also explain the process of acquiring and setting your SSL certificate very well and comprehensively. Thanks for sharing this information!

    ~Sergej

  36. Thank you for this article! It is very important to be secured online. If not, then horrible things happen to everyone. I like how you explain about the SSL topic in complete detail. From how to get your website register, what SSL means, pros to have it and what happens if you don’t. You covered everything. Well done!

  37. Thank you so much for another great post!  To be honest, I did not know much about SSL before reading this article.  I knew it had something to do with security, I just didn’t know what.  I also see that it helps build Google rankings, which I find to be very important when you have an online business like I do.  Thank you for this information!

  38. Thank you so much for this article. I have used the internet for years but still don’t know what some terms like SSL mean! It has been so helpful reading up on this. I have been working a couple of businesses from home since the pandemic so this has been very helpful. Especially in relation to security online. Looking forward to your next article. 

  39. Wow thanks a lot for the very helpful information, another great post! From now on I will always check if it is http or httpS. I know security is very important but I did not know about this plugin and about SSL and how it works. I will activate it right now.

  40. So I have always wondered what the little padlock icon  in left corner of the search bar means or what does it do. And now thanks to this website I can make sure my visitors are safe and secure to browse my page without any pop up threat messages to ruin the reputation of my website. The SSL is very important and I didn’t realize how easy it was to acquire until I read this websites intriguing article on the subject of SLL. 

  41. I have had that happen sometimes when the website will not open, I did not know what that meant until now. This is good information to know, I use Wealthy Affiliate and I am happy that the SSL certificate is included in the service. Thanks for this information it is good to know for future reference. 

  42. To have a website with a SSL certificate is essential for SEO and also to make your visitors to your website feel secure. I do not enter websites when I get the warning message that the site is not secure, so I would hate to loose possible traffic to my site if I don’t have the SSL certificate. 

    Thankfully I checked and my site does have the little lock and https. 

  43. That is a great idea to create a post explaining in detail what an SSL certificate is. This is a big question for many new bloggers and will be useful for both beginners and seasoned bloggers as well.  You have some great content here I will definitely bookmark your blog and be back for more visits 🙂  Having a built-in SSL certificate on their sites is one of the things I also love about being with WA over other hosting providers. There is Nothing worse than landing on a website and getting a danger warning sign saying the site is not secure it makes many people disappear from a website fast. 

    Keep up the great content 🙂

    Sotiris Bassakaropoulos

  44. This very interesting. I’m familiar with the “S” after “HTTP”, but I didn’t really understand everything it entailed. Apparently it’s pretty important! It sounds like it’s similar to an ID, like a driver’s license or something. Is that an accurate comparison? Also, I didn’t realize you had to pay for SSL. How much would it normally cost?

    Anyways, I found this very informative–I certainly learned a thing or two. Thanks for sharing this information with the world!

    Isaac

  45. There are just too many reasons to download this plugin for all that it does and the benefits it truly provides! I have this downloaded and can truly comment that it easy to use and activate, secures information of visitors info, allows for professional use as it has all certificate holder’s info within so efficient and high quality for your website, great choice and will not let you down:)

  46. Do all providers automatically give you an SSL certificate for your website or do you have to request that separately? If you do not own your domain, can you still get an SSL for your website? For example, if you open a website on Wix, but do not buy your own domain.

    Nowadays it is very important to have an SSL certificate on your website. When I land on a site that has no SSL, I leave it immediately. I don’t want to risk it. 

    • As far as I am familiar is that you have to pay for the SSL certificate or you will buy a hosting package that includes the SSL. 

      Every site should have an SSL certificate. I am sure even if it’s not your own domain.

  47. Thank you so much for helping me clarify whether or not my site is secure. And, hooray, it is. I see that, like your article shrewdly pointed out, my site both contains the S in HTTPS for security and the lock symbol to the far right.

    This is exactly the article I needed to help me get rid of some of my uncertainty. I feel very blessed and fortunate to have crossed paths with your enlightening, eye-opening post and site. Keep up the amazing work!

  48. Thank you so much for the explanation of the SSL certificate. It all sounds so difficult, and it is when you have to do it all by yourself. With Wealthy Affiliate, you do your step-by-step lessons. When you are stuck, you can ask a question, and in minutes you get an answer from one of the highly professional members, 24/7. Without a Wealthy Affiliate, I would not have my website up and running. Thank you so much, Sunny, for all the work you do. You are doing a great job.

    Best regards Monique.

  49. Thanks for explaining about SSL. I’ve heard about it when setting up my domain and I just opt to buy it since it’s recommended by the provider. Now I understand why it’s important to both security and SEO. I’m glad that it will be automatically renewed without any charge 🙂 Great information here. Thanks.

  50. Another great and informational article. Thanks for this post.

    I knew that SSL is installed in my website but I really don’t know what it stands for and what is its function? I did not know about the lock.

    Thanks for revealing SSL’s function here and letting me know as well as others about the security of our website.

    I also understand now why a long known supplier’s website would appear as not a secure website.

    I am really learning from this comment section. And you are a provider of that learning before I even touch the lesson.

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