To be fair, Google has given quite a long time to all websites to compete for ranks and traffic. This also includes the HTTP websites. Since 2017 Google Chrome has been showing only a small percentage of its users the “non-secure” tag on these websites. However, that easy ride is about to end this year. According to a new update from Google, July 2018 is going to see the rise of Chrome Version 68. This will flag all HTTP websites for all Chrome users, irrespective of location and niche. It will noticeably warn all users before they enter a non-HTTPS secure domain.
The “Good news, bad news” update
This is bad news for all websites still relying on HTTP for security. Almost 60% of all web users still rely on Chrome for their daily browsing and updates. Therefore, HTTPS sites that rely on Google for a majority of their traffic can expect their traffic to increase in the recent future. However, sending out “unsafe” signals to almost 60% of the web users can dampen overall traffic flow and sales for any HTTP website significantly. Even Google experts are expecting to see a massive drop in traffic influx into the non-HTTPS domains. Not having the Secure Sockets Layer can mean the end of business and revenue for even the popular websites that do not use HTTPS.
The rise of the era of HTTPS
Here are a few stats from the last year that shows how serious Google and websites targeting Google Chrome users are about security as a part of user experience (UX) –
- Almost 70% of all sites for Chrome that enjoys traffic flow from Android and Windows devices now bear an SSL certificate.
- Over 81 of the 100 most popular websites now use HTTPS.
- Over 80% of the websites that Chrome OS and iOS users visit on a regular basis are now HTTPS secure.
Google is dead serious about security now
The progress has been spectacular since the first word about SSL certificates got out. Over the last few months, Chrome has been making it incredibly easy for all users to migrate to HTTPS. There are several tools like Lighthouse from Chrome that make the migration process easier. Lighthouse is an automated tool software program that can help you improve your website within minutes. You can think of this as an auditing tool that works by explaining which elements of your site need more work. Running Lighthouse on the ChromeDevTools is quite easy. Introduction of tools like this one is making the migration to HTTPS from HTTP a lot easier for even the newest of the new website owners, without any experience in SEO or website management.
Take a hint: it is time to make the switch
HTTPS uses a generous slathering of SSL to protect the data that goes back and forth between the sender and the receiver by scrambling it. Unscrambling of the data requires a certain “code” that prevents interceptors from cracking the message. According to the experts, this can prevent any “Man in the Middle” (MITM) attack on the data that can delay, alter or stop the message from going through. Migrating to HTTPS can be a little tricky for websites that use a few canonical tags, but with the help of the right SEO guide, you can successfully migrate to better security as well.
- As of 2018, websites bearing the HTTPS badge will rank better on Google.
- Your website will experience the better flow of organic traffic as compared to your HTTP days.
- This will mean lesser expenses for paid advertising and sponsorships since your HTTPS status will boost your rank against your HTTP competitors.
- You will enjoy more visits from mobile users, who pay more attention to SSL certificates as compared to your desktop users.
- Research shows that HTTPS websites enjoy higher CTR, higher conversion rates and better ROI.
- Most importantly, your website will receive tech updates that will help it stay SEO friendly in the coming days as well.
The time to slap an HTTPS certificate on your website is not long gone. You may have been working with your old security version for the last few years, but the enactment of the new Chrome Version 68 can obliterate your current traffic in a few minutes. 2018 is going to be the end of HTTP and the websites that refuse to embrace the new updates from Google. It is finally time to shrug off your dormancy and work towards getting that SSL certificate for your website right away.
