Google recently announced that it will be giving preferential treatment to websites that display a valid SSL certificate. This will help to improve security across the web, and also ensures that legitimate websites will find it easier to be ranked more highly.

(Original header image credit)

You can find out more about this new ranking factor with this thorough guide: Google introduces HTTPS as a ranking factor from Impression.

If you’re involved in search engine optimisation at any level, you’ll know that it continues to get more difficult and competitive, and Google-approved quick wins are few and far between. Getting an SSL certificate for your own websites (or your customers’) is a simple set-and-forget exercise that you can tick off your list and/or provide as a service to your clients.

What type of websites is an SSL certificate for?

SSL certificates aren’t just for safeguarding payment information on ecommerce websites. They’re essential for signalling visitor trust, legitimacy, secure browsing, and ensuring details of any kind (including passwords) aren’t intercepted thanks to advanced data encryption.

You can benefit from an SSL certificate regardless of the type of web hosting you have and the software you have installed. In a nutshell, it has multiple advantages for all websites of all shapes and sizes.

How to install your SSL

One of the most common questions we’re asked is, ‘Isn’t setting up an SSL certificate a lot of effort?’ Unlike most other hosts, we’ve set up a system to ensure that your SSL certificate is activated with a minimum amount of fuss within the hour.

If you’re on our shared cloud hosting platform:

1. Purchase the SSL for the website of your choice.
2. Check your [email protected] email (it’s always sent to admin@) for the link.
3. Click the link, and your SSL certificate is automatically installed on your hosting package. That’s it!

 

If you have a VPS, Hybrid Server or Dedicated Server:

1. Purchase the SSL for the website of your choice.
2. The SSL email is usually sent to [email protected] (however very occasionally this can vary so please contact our support team if you don’t get an email through).
3. Click the link, and your SSL will be passed to our support team who will check if you want to install it yourself or want them to do it.
4. Your SSL certificate is then installed!

If you need any help, feel free to contact our support team and they’ll be able to answer any queries or help with your installation.

Resellers save 50% on Standard SSLs until the end of August!

Are you a Heart Internet Reseller? You can take advantage of a huge 50% off Standard SSLs for the first year by entering code SSLSTAN5 at checkout (expires on 31st August 2014; standard Heart Internet terms and conditions apply).

Secure your website and improve your search rankings today! Check out our full range of SSL certificates and features.