When creating a website, businesses often forget several tiny steps that can significantly improve the user’s overall experience.   One of those facets is the SSL certificate.  Now, when it comes to SSL’s (otherwise known as secure socket layers), there are countless companies that should be utilizing these beneficial services and are, incidentally, doing a dis-service to the users.  Let’s explain a bit more in detail.

What is an SSL Certificate and How Does My User and I Benefit?

In general terms, a secure socket layer binds a key to all data within (or transferred to/from) a website.  So, if your users use your site to make payments for items or services, it’s tremendously important that you protect their information from “eavesdropping”.  If you fail to protect their information, you may risk legal ramifications should their information be compromised (i.e. stolen) during the transaction.  Some of these transactions and more popular uses for SSL sites are: (1) credit card transactions, (2) data transmissions, (3) login information, and/or (4) social media information.

As for the benefit, your user has the sense of security in knowing that their information is safe with your website.  Let’s put it this way; you would not want a user to walk into your storefront and have their information stolen by someone walking around in the store, right?  So, why would you not want to protect them in the same way for your online store?

And, as for the benefit for you, you encourage more user loyalty and use by ensuring their security.  This, of course, translates to more return revenue dollars and a potential for new clients to also return due to the same feeling.

 How Can My User (and I) Tell If My Site has an SSL Certificate?

While most users are not going to look around for sites with SSL certificates, they are fairly easily identifiable.  For instance, in a Firefox browser, the address bar (place where you put the website’s URL) is green or has a green bio to the left of the address bar.  If you happen to click on that bar, the SSL information will populate in a pop-up box.  From that box, you can reveal all the certificate information (and sometimes your frequency information or how much information the site keeps of yours).  In other browsers, you might also find a padlock in the right side of the address bar that gives you the same information if you click on the lock.

So Where Do I Go From Here?

Great question!  First and foremost, if you already have a SSL certificate for your website, make sure that you have the correct version that is doing the most for you and your users.  Second, if you do not have an SSL certificate for your site, you need to make the determination as to if that is something from which your users would benefit.  If they can benefit from having their information secured, simply contact us and we’ll be more than happy to help you get the right plan in place for your business website.

Of course, there are intricacies and other information that we don’t want to overwhelm you with on this article, but that’s why we are here for rapid responses.  So, if  you have any questions at all with regard to secure socket layers and their respective certificates, please do not hesitate to contact us today or simply leave a comment for us.

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If website design is something that you are interested in but don’t know how to get started, contact us today to schedule your free marketing analysis.

Sources:
“The Essential Step-by-Step Guide to Internet Marketing”-E-Book
SlideShare.net
Image Source: HubSpot, “The 2011 State of Inbound Marketing”, E-Marketer.com