Since 2017 Google looks at global internet security based on the security of your website. Sites that do not currently utilize HTTPS gain the reputation of unreliability, that they are out of date and not secure.

For travel bloggers, converting from HTTP to HTTPS is a decision that impacts every reader that comes to your site. So make the switch now.

The bottom line is that switching to HTTPS is not just a nice option but something you should do TODAY.

Head to your Google search console and look for this warning:

Starting October 2017, Chrome (version 62) will show a “NOT SECURE” warning when users enter text in a form on an HTTP page, and for all HTTP pages in Incognito mode.

HTTPS vs HTTP

  • HTTP (Hypertext Transfer Protocol) – The foundation of online communication (how information is sent from a server to a browser).
  • HTTPS (Hypertext Transfer Protocol Secure) – HTTP but within an encrypted layer of security.

Why it’s important for our website to be HTTPS vs HTTP

  1. Avoid losing web traffic
  2. Avoid losing Google rankings
  3. Avoid losing conversions (email sign-ups, etc).

When you make the switch to HTTPS, don’t forget SEO. Make sure all old URLs 301 redirect to the new HTTPS URLs!

How to make the switch to HTTPS

    1. I switched my hosting to Siteground because they offered the SSL certificate and made the switch to HTTPS for me for free when I joined. I honestly believe Siteground is one of the best web hosting providers & they have awesome customer service.
    2. You can hire a web programmer to make the swithc for you.
    3. You can do it yourself

Do It Yourself 4-steps to convert to HHTPS

1. Buy an SSL Certificate It’s best to buy an SSL Certificate directly from your hosting company as they can ensure it is activated and installed correctly on your server. If you aren’t already using, Siteground for your hosting, this is the company I recommend.

2. Install SSL Certificate on your website Have your hosting company install the SSL Certificate. If you purchased from a third party, you’ll have to import the certificate into the backend of your site, which can be complicated.

3. Double-check internal linking is switched to HTTPS Before going live with the conversion, ensure every website link (internal) has the proper HTTPS URL. Going live with links that mix HTTP and HTTPS will confuse readers, impact SEO and cause some pages to load improperly.

4. Set up 301 redirects so search engines are notified Through a CMS plugin, you can automatically redirect all server traffic to the new secure HTTPS protocol.

Here are more website-related posts and podcasts you should take a look at:

 

Click here to learn about setting up hosting with SiteGround, then use the tutorial above for the additional steps to set up your blog.Design your own travel blog

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