The “S” In HTTPS Means “You’re Safe!”
It’s rare when Google actually reveals any of its SEO ranking factors, so it came as a big surprise when Google announced they would reward sites using HTTPS encryption with a boost in search results.
When you switch your website from HTTP to HTTPS, Google will now give it preferential rankings on their search pages. This boosts its chances of being seen by people searching your category, topic or industry. It’s good for Google’s business and it’s good for any business which relies on Google’s search engine rankings.
HTTPS versus HTTP
Hyper Text Transfer Protocol (HTTP) is the protocol over which data is sent between your browser and the website you are visiting. The ‘S’ added at the end of HTTP stands for ‘Secure’. It means that the website is using a secure protocol, called SSL (Secure Sockets Layer), to encrypt communications between your browser and the website. HTTPS is mostly used to protect highly confidential online transactions, like online banking and online shopping order forms, but it now has the additional benefit of improving your search rankings.
Once installed, web browsers such as Internet Explorer, Firefox and Chrome will display a padlock icon in the address bar to visually indicate that a HTTPS connection is in effect. Even if you don’t engage in online sales and transactions, there are other benefits in addition to SEO offered by HTTPS.
The Benefits of HTTPS Added Security
Higher Rankings, Better Exposure
Because of Google’s preference for HTTPS sites, a large percentage of sites on Google’s first page of search results are HTTPS. This means your site will outrank competitor sites without HTTPS.
Increased Security & Privacy
HTTPS provides a safer web experience for your site visitor by protecting your information and your visitors’ from being hacked. It does so in three ways:
- HTTPS verifies that the website the user is visiting with is actually on the web server it is supposed to be on and not redirected to another site.
- It stops middle-men attacks and tampering by third parties
- It encrypts all communications, including browsing history, so your preferences and browsing data is protected.
Differentiated Browser Labels
Another reason to consider moving to HTTPS is Google is updating their labeling for plain HTTP sites in its Chrome browser. HTTP sites will appear in gray in the address bar indicating the site is not secure.
Better User Experiences; More Confidence; More Conversations
With all the news about hacking and data breaches these days, consumers are looking for assurances that the information they exchange on the web is safe and secure. Websites marked as HTTPS provide users that assurance. The more confident they are, the more likely they will be to engage with your site and become a customer.
Why Aviation Businesses Should Use HTTPS
In the big scheme of things, more security is always better than less. But in the aviation, security is an important factor in doing business. Aerospace industries that pass proprietary information to customers and entering into conversations with suppliers around the globe should certainly consider HTTPs.
Flight schools operating on tight budgets and competing for students could certainly benefit from the higher search rankings they’ll get from Google – not to mention the security HTTPS provides when it comes to collecting student information from their websites.
There isn’t a pilot in the world who doesn’t understand the benefits of taking every precaution before taking off.
For aviation, HTTPS is an enhancement that makes doing business on the web safer and smarter. The “S” in addresses with HTTPS stands for “secure”. And now, Google is ensuring the security encrypting provides improved SEO rankings as well. With an HTTPS address, your website truly is ready for flight.