Google has been saying for years that websites need to be secure, that is, have an SSL certificate. It’s the reason some sites begin with https:// instead of http://
Today Sandro goes over what this means, what may happen if you don’t upgrade and how to upgrade if you haven’t already.
Episode 0269
Why You Need an SSL Certificate
[00:00:05] Welcome to 60 Second Marketing, I’m Liz Hersh & I’m here with my co-host Sandro Galindo. We are the marketing podcast that gives you insight tips and tricks all in the time it takes to mix your favorite cocktail. Today Sandro is going to be talking about why you need an SSL.
[00:00:18] Thanks Liz. So today I want to talk SSL or secure sockets layer. Basically it’s the reason some web sites begin with HTTPS instead of just plain old HTTP. The S in HTTPS stands for secure. You may even notice on these sites have a lock symbol or the HTTPS turns green when you’re on a secure site. For years now Google has been warning Web sites that they want you to be secure and upgrade to an S S L version and they are now putting bite behind their bark. Beginning sometime around Halloween Google will release Chrome browser version number 62. As of this taping in mid-October I personally am running Chrome sixty one point zero point three. Well when version 62 comes out, any web site that is not secure and that requests any kind of information Google Chrome will warn you not to trust the site with any information. Now if your site is a simple basic one and you have a “sign up for special deals” or “sign up for a newsletter” box and your form just has one box, a place for someone to enter an email address, well that’s sending information over an unsecure site and Google Chrome will warn you to not do it. So it does not even have to be a credit card, which all credit card or sensitive info should be over a secure site but doesn’t have to be a credit card. Something as simple as an email address on a non HTTP site will get you flagged. Some sites are already set.
[00:01:50] If you use Squarespace the default is HTTPS. If you need a way to check, just go to your web browser type in HTTPS:// & your web site and if it does not go to the website you are not secure. So finally how do you become secure. There are many ways but basically you’ll purchase an SSL certificate every year they range anywhere from free to $300 a year. I would recommend avoiding the free ones and go to whoever you get your web hosting from. So if you’re Godaddy or host gator or 1 and 1, go to their site and search SSL I believe GoDaddy is like 50 bucks for the first year $65 every year after that. This isn’t the cheapest but it’s easiest if you want cheap. I believe namecheap is 10 bucks but if you don’t host there it could be a pain in the butt to link everything up. Sometimes your hosting company may not even allow a third party SSL certificate. So my advice if you’re not secure, find out who you buy your hosting from, Google the name of that company and the letters S S L and you’ll find what you’re looking for.
[00:02:53] Great tips. I gotta get back with a couple of our clients because they have been putting this off and sounds like we can’t wait much longer. So thanks for sharing this insight. That wraps up today’s episode. Don’t forget to subscribe on your favorite podcast app and join the conversation at the 60 second marketing group on Facebook.