What is SSL Certificate?
TL;DR
Security technology that encrypts data between your website and visitors (the "s" in "https"). SSL is a ranking factor, Google gives preference to secure sites. Beyond SEO, browsers mark non-SSL sites as "Not Secure," scaring away visitors. Most hosting providers offer free SSL through Let's Encrypt.
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Frequently Asked Questions About SSL Certificate
Do I need an SSL certificate?
Yes, absolutely. SSL is a ranking factor, browsers show 'Not Secure' warnings without it, and customers expect encryption. There's no reason not to have SSL, it's free through Let's Encrypt and included with most modern hosting.
How do I get an SSL certificate?
Most hosting providers offer free SSL through Let's Encrypt, check your hosting control panel. Many install it automatically. If not available, you can get free certificates from Let's Encrypt directly or purchase from certificate authorities.
My site has SSL but still shows 'Not Secure', why?
You likely have 'mixed content', some resources (images, scripts) loading over HTTP instead of HTTPS. Use browser developer tools to find mixed content, then update those URLs to HTTPS or use relative URLs.
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