HTTP and HTTPS: Why the Difference Matters for Your Website

Why HTTPS Matters in 2017

In September 2016, Google announced that version 56 of Chrome would begin marking HTTP pages that require passwords or credit cards as non-secure in January 2017. So, what does this mean for your website? And what is the difference between the two?

HTTP stands for “Hypertext Transfer Protocol” and HTTPS stands for “Secure Hypertext Protocol.” The difference? The “S” is for “SSL,” which stands for “Secure Sockets Layer.” Essentially, the “S” is an extra Internet security measure that can prevent hackers from intercepting any sensitive information, like credit card details or login information.

Why Switch from HTTP to HTTPS?

We’ve broken it down into two main reasons why your website should make the switch from HTTP to HTTPS:

1) HTTPS is Good for SEO

Let’s say there are two websites that are very similar, battling for the top ranking for a certain keyword and the only difference is only one has HTTPS, Google’s algorithm is going to pick the secure site every time. Google is always working for a better and safer user experience, so HTTPS could give your site the extra push it needs to come out on top. Google’s Gary Illyes explains it as kind of like a tiebreaker has to be involved when choosing between top rankings based on security.

2) Secure and Mobile Friendly Websites = Better User Experience

One of the most important benefits of HTTPS is making the best possible user experience by securing your website and making sure it’s mobile friendly.

SSL is helping to keep user information secure as well as protecting communication between the website and the consumer. While so many hacking incidents are making headlines, it’s important to reassure the user that your website is safe to use. In fact, only three percent of users say they would use a website that does not display the green padlock in the search bar.

Another vital component of user experience is making sure your website is mobile-friendly. SSL is now required for AMP, or Accelerated Mobile Pages, which is the technology that allows mobile pages to load almost instantly. Google is also making AMP-friendly pages a priority in 2017, implying that these pages will receive better rankings.

Hopefully, some of your questions about the difference of HTTP and HTTPS have been answered. If you want your site to stay in the top rankings on Google and be as user-friendly as possible, make the switch from HTTP to HTTPS as soon as you can.