SSL Certificates and HTTPS: Why Your Website Security Matters

If your website URL starts with "http://" instead of "https://", you have a problem. Here's why SSL and HTTPS matter more than ever.

What is SSL/HTTPS?

SSL (Secure Sockets Layer) encrypts the connection between your website and your visitors. When installed, your URL changes from http:// to https:// and browsers show a padlock icon.

Why it matters:

1. Trust Browsers now display "Not Secure" warnings for http:// sites. 85% of online shoppers avoid unsecured websites. That warning is actively driving away your customers.

2. SEO rankings Google has confirmed HTTPS is a ranking signal. All else being equal, the HTTPS site will outrank the HTTP one.

3. Data protection If your site has any forms (contact, login, payment), data sent without SSL can be intercepted. This is especially important under POPIA — South Africa's data protection law.

4. Conversion rates Studies show HTTPS sites have 20%+ higher conversion rates. Visitors feel safer sharing their information.

5. Browser features Many modern browser features (geolocation, camera access, service workers) only work on HTTPS sites.

How to get SSL:

Most modern hosting providers include free SSL via Let's Encrypt. Platforms like Vercel, Netlify, and Cloudflare provide automatic HTTPS at no extra cost.

Common mistakes:

• Mixed content warnings (loading HTTP resources on an HTTPS page)
• Expired certificates (set up auto-renewal)
• Not redirecting HTTP to HTTPS
• Forgetting to update internal links after migration

At Pixaloom, every site we deploy is HTTPS by default with automatic certificate renewal. Security isn't an add-on — it's a baseline.

Not sure if your site is secure? Check your URL bar right now. If there's no padlock, let's fix that.