If you are an online business owner, it is obvious that you are concerned about the security of your site and your customers.
One of the highest security measures you can undertake for your business is to install an SSL certificate from a trusted CA. An SSL can authenticate your site’s identity and safeguard customers’ sensitive information by encrypting it.
It deters widespread phishing attacks. It builds customer trust, increases sales, boosts SEO, and makes your site PCI compliant, which is crucial for an online business.
Moreover, Google, who takes online security very seriously, has announced that an HTTPS site will rank higher in search engines. It will display a warning sign to your visitors if your website is not secured by an SSL. The importance of a SSL certificate can even play a role in Google Shopping advertising, helping products sold on an https site appear at the top, first to be seen by the target audience. This trusting of the secure site can result in more conversions and sales, essential for eCommerce stores.
There are plenty of benefits that your online business can derive by installing an SSL. Let’s check them out one by one.
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Increases site security
As an online business, you will be having plenty of sensitive information stored in your database, including passwords, credit information, and addresses. Since an SSL can encrypt the information transmitted between a computer and server, it secures them and deters hackers from compromising the sensitive information.
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Stops phishing Scams
When it comes to data breaches, 90% are phishing attacks. And it is said that around 1.5m new phishing sites come up monthly.
SSL can avert phishing attacks that usually involve website cloning. SSL provides websites with a brand of authority, and it is not possible to create an SSL certified cloned website.
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Safety for all your subdomains
Do you maintain large websites with multiple subdomains? Installing a Wildcard SSL will secure your subdomains along with your primary domain.
You can get a Cheap Wildcard SSL Certificate and start protecting all your domains with a single SSL. Apart from strong 128 – 256-bit encryption, you will get a site seal and HTTPS.
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Build trust with customers through SSL
Studies say that security concerns deter consumers from conducting transactions online.
And their fears are not baseless. Cases of data breaches keep increasing every day. It has been estimated that cybercrimes cost businesses more than $2 trillion in 2019.
An SSL with trust seals from trusted SSL Certificate providers can build trust with customers. They will be less reluctant to offer their personal information online if your site is secured.
Other trust indicators like a green padlock and HTTPS that SSL provides can also help gain your visitor’s trust.
Studies show that only 3% of consumers would offer their credit card information if your site doesn’t have the padlock symbol.
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See increased sales
When customers trust your site, you will have more traffic and will be more willing to do business with you, leading to increased sales. Studies show that consumers trust on authenticated SSL Certificate providers.
When they see that the data in your site is encrypted by an SSL issued by a trusted CA, you will gain more customers.
So please take advantage of it and install an SSL to see your sales increase.
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Boost your website’s SEO
An SSL certificate can change your SEO game. In an attempt to fix security breaches, Google has decided to make HTTPS a ranking signal. So, by installing an SSL certificate for your online business, your site will be ranked higher by search engines.
Moreover, the trust signals itself are going to bring more traffic to your site. So you have so much to gain and nothing to lose by securing your site with an SSL.
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Be PCI compliant
As an online business, you must have at least a 128-bit SSL certificate from a trusted CA that encrypts your data. It is demanded by the Payments Card Industry (PCI) compliance norms. Only then will you be able to receive card payments.
PCI guidelines also demand that a website offer a private connection on any page needing customers to give out personal information.
An SSL certificate can help you to be PCI compliant by ensuring that your site is encrypted with 128-bit encryption. It can also offer a private connection.
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Failing to Comply
Browsers such as Google Chrome or Mozilla Firefox display a warning saying “site not secure” if your website is not secured by an SSL certificate.
What happens when your visitors see this? They will most likely abandon your site and turn to your competitor, whose website is secured. You lose potential buyers in the process, thus affecting your sales. This is applicable even for non-business sites.
However, your browser will display a green icon on the URL bar when your site is secured. It signals the visitors that your website is safe.
If you don’t want to be punished, better install an SSL cert.
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Identity Affirmation
An SSL certificate can provide identity affirmation, which is crucial for a business website security. It proves that your company is an authorized entity and that you are the rightful owner of the domain.
With the number of data theft incidents increasing at a rapid scale, customers want to be assured that they are dealing with a safe site.
Install an SSL certificate to give your customers that assurance.
Wrapping-Up
There are several advantages to implementing an SSL certificate as an online business owner. Put yourself in your customers’ shoes and see if you will be willing to give out your personal information when a site is not secured. You will be hesitant.
The top priority of a business should be to provide unsurpassed customer experience. By giving security with SSL cert, you can achieve it.
SSL has many benefits apart from securing your site, as you have just seen. If you haven’t installed it yet, you are missing out on a lot.
Just ensure that you are obtaining your digital certs from trusted SSL Certificate providers.
