You may have noticed a little gray or green lock on the left of some of your favorite website URLs, like google.com, facebook.com, and lojomarketing.com. That little gray or green lock means that the website is secured by an SSL certificate.
An SSL Certificate, or a Secure Sockets Layer, is a standard security technology for establishing an encrypted link between a web server and a browser. An SSL is used to keep data passed between a server and a browser confidential and safe. In simpler words, an SSL helps keep any type of data transfers performed on your website secure.
So now that you know what an SSL is and what it does, you’re probably wondering if you need one on your website, right? Here are some reasons why you may or may not need an SSL certificate installed on your site.
- If you’re taking credit card payments directly on your site, you absolutely need an SSL in place to protect your customers’ transactions. If you use PayPal exclusively to accept payments, then you don’t need an SSL since customers aren’t paying you directly from your website.
- If you run a membership site, free or paid, an SSL can be beneficial. When your customers sign up for your membership site, they are providing you with their names, addresses, emails and passwords (which are most likely being used as passwords on other sites). Customers will feel safer knowing that their information is being protected if your site is under the protection of an SSL certificate.
- If your customers are submitting sensitive information via forms, an SSL is important. Just like with a membership site, your customers are submitting important personal information that is considered sensitive. If you are collecting any information at all, we recommend buying an SSL certificate.
But, do I really need an SSL certificate on my site? If you’re not convinced yet, here are some reasons why you should install an SSL on your site if you are selling items or collecting any type of information.
- It builds trust. Personally, I will not buy items from a site that isn’t protected under an SSL certificate. I look for the little “lock” before I purchase anything to make sure my credit card information remains safe. If people don’t feel secure, they will not buy from you. Identity theft is so common these days, that giving people that extra assurance that their information is secure really goes a long way!
- Google ranking boost. Need I say more? Google likes sites that have SSL certificates installed and they will give you a ranking boost. You can learn more about this here.
When don’t I need an SSL certificate? You don’t need an SSL certificate when:
- Your website is a blog
- Your website is purely for informational purposes
- You’re using PayPal to receive payments
Where do I get an SSL Certificate? Now that you’re ready to take the next step and protect your customers’ sensitive information by installing an SSL certificate on your site, you’re probably wondering where you can buy one and how you go about installing it. Fortunately, LOJO sells and installs SSL certificates for a low price. Contact us via our form or give us a call and we will personally install your new SSL on your website within minutes (I will personally take care of the installation!)
Don’t delay! If you are selling items on your site or collecting any type of personal and sensitive information, contact LOJO today to have an SSL certificate installed on your site!
Written by Maria Agurto
