HTTP vs HTTPS. Which one to choose when planning your positioning strategy?

The great debate

HTTP

The Hypertext Transfer Protocol is an application protocol for distributed, collaborative, and hypermedia information systems. It is the foundation of data communication for the World Wide Web (WWW). Hypertext is structured text that uses logical links (hyperlinks) between nodes containing text.

HTTP is a request-response protocol where a client requests a resource from a server. A server responds with one of four main possible responses:

• 2xx code if everything is fine and the resource has been served,
• 3xx code to redirect the client to another URL,
• 4xx code to indicate a problem on the server side, such as missing or incorrect data,
• 5xx code to indicate a problem on the client side, such as malware or incorrect browser settings.

HTTPS

On the other hand we have the Hypertext Transfer Protocol Secure. It is used for secure communication over a computer network, and is widely used on the Internet. HTTPS consists of communication over HTTP within a connection encrypted by Transport Layer Security, or its predecessor, Secure Sockets Layer. It creates a secure connection between a web server and a web browser. This connection ensures that all data passed between the web server and browser remain private. Data in transit can be intercepted, which means information such as passwords, bank account numbers, personal identification numbers, credit card numbers, etc., can be captured.

There’s a lot of debate surrounding the topic of HTTP vs HTTPS for SEO. Some say that HTTP is better because it’s faster, while others believe that HTTPS is more secure and thus will rank higher in search results. So, which one should you choose when planning your positioning strategy? The answer may surprise you… Both types of websites have advantages and disadvantages, so it really depends on what type of website you’re looking to create.

If you’re looking to drive traffic from social media (Twitter, Facebook), then HTTP sites are best as these sites cannot crawl an HTTPS site without JavaScript enabled. On the other hand, if you’re looking to rank high in Google SERPs, then there is evidence that shows your website can rank higher with an HTTPS site.

Why do you need an SSL certificate?

SSL certificates are important because they provide security for your website and allow you to build trust with your visitors. They also help improve your SEO by giving you a ranking boost in Google search results. When deciding whether to use HTTP or HTTPS for your website, consider your audience and what type of information you’re sharing.

The benefits of SSL certificate

SSL certificates provide authentication, which means you can be sure that the data being transmitted to and from your website is safe. They also offer encryption, which means that even if someone were to intercept the data, they wouldn’t be able to read it. SSL also offer tamper-proofing, which means that anyone who tries to change the data in transit will be unable to do so. Finally, it provides a level of trustworthiness and credibility that can boost your search engine ranking.

Where should you buy your SSL certificates from?

While you can buy your SSL certificates from a number of different providers, we recommend using a provider that is also a web host. That way, if you have any problems with your certificate, you can contact your web host for help. Additionally, many web hosts offer discounts on certificates if you purchase them through them.

What about the free certificate?

If you’re on a budget and can’t afford to pay for an SSL certificate, there’s a way to get a free one. Let’s Encrypt is a non-profit organization that provides free SSL/TLS certificates. If you’re just starting out, this might be the way to go. However, free certificates come with some risks. For example, they’re only valid for 90 days, so you’ll need to renew them every three months.

How to install an SSL certificate?

Before you can install an SSL certificate, you need to generate a CSR (certificate signing request) and then submit it to a CA (certificate authority). After your CSR is approved, you’ll receive a confirmation email with instructions on how to download and install your SSL certificate. Make sure to follow the instructions carefully, as the installation process can vary depending on your server type. Once your SSL certificate is installed, you can enable HTTPS by updating your site’s URL in the settings section of your hosting account.

Changing the HTTP address to HTTPS

This can be done by contacting your web hosting provider and requesting that they make the switch for you. Once that’s done, you’ll need to update your site’s links and references to reflect the new https address. Finally, be sure to update your sitemap and submit it to Google so that they can begin indexing your site under the new https address. Make sure you know what this change entails before moving forward with it!

How Google sees me now?

As of July 2018, Google Chrome began flagging all HTTP sites as not secure. This means that if your site is still using HTTP, any visitors using Chrome will see a warning message before they even get to your site.

While this doesn’t mean that your site is unsafe, it does give users a sense that you’re not keeping up with the times. So what does this mean for your SEO strategy? Well, if you’re planning on launching a new website or blog, you should definitely choose HTTPS over HTTP.

Summary

HTTP and HTTPS are two different types of protocols that are used to transfer data between a web server and a browser. Both are equally important when it comes to SEO, but they serve different purposes. Today, with the development of the Internet and technology, we pay more and more attention to security – not only our own, but also younger users. So it’s worth betting on the best solutions, as long as you treat your website seriously.