In a push to make the web more secure, in July 2018 Google enforced changes for websites without a valid Secure Sockets Layer (SSL) Certificate. They announced that if sites did not have a valid SSL Certificate after July 2018 it would:
1) Rank your page lower on searches or block it altogether!!!
AND
2) Display a "Not Secure" message in the address bar in Chrome.
“What is SSL?” I hear you say.
SSL is used to encrypt data being sent to and from your website to keep customer data and information secure. It is especially important if you’re asking customers to fill in sensitive data on contact forms (Names, address, emails, phone numbers, DOB), or drastically more important if you have an ecommerce site with transactional data.
When was the last time you checked your website? Quick, jump on Chrome and check your website now, but remember to come back here and keep reading when you’re done.
Did you already notice this ominous message, but not know what to do about it?
The truth is, from the viewpoint of an unsuspecting bystander, these two simple words, “Not Secure”, group your website with other sites run by malicious hackers, software pirates, internet scammers, and others involved in criminal activity... Not a good look for your honest reputation you’ve worked so hard to protect all these years, is it?
If your site is not compliant with Google’s new rules, this is probably already having an impact on your business that you may not be aware of. You might have slipped off the front page of Google, or worse yet, not come up at all anymore. And those customers that do still manage to find your page, they might have less confidence in selecting you as a result of not feeling secure.
Essentially, all the hard work you may have done regarding SEO, Google AdWords, Blogs, Backlinks, Testimonials etc. could all be undone, literally overnight.
Did you know that more than 50% of web activity in Australia is done using Google Chrome?
That’s right, so, this IS having a major impact for many businesses, small and large, across the world. With small businesses reporting that the second largest lead channel for new business is Google searches, second only to word of mouth. The money being lost is insurmountable in many cases.
The good news: It’s not difficult to fix and depending on your situation can be done very quickly. While you are at it, it could also be a good time to revamp your website, give it a new coat of electronic paint, make it more appealing for people viewing your site on a mobile, and get ready for the new year ahead.
Upgrading your site is often much quicker and cheaper than most people think. It all depends on how complex your website is, but for most small businesses a small site with a few pages and a contact form can be done within a few days for under $1000, so there is no reason to delay.
If you have a larger functional ecommerce site, then it makes even more sense to make sure your ducks are in a row in order to protect your investment and your business model.
Customer Consulting Group help small and medium businesses fix this simple, but very serious, problem with their websites. We also minimise the manual effort involved in converting website visitors to customers by implementing lead nurturing & sales automation systems as an additional service. We even implement chat bots to take things to the next level so you can deliver an interactive 24/7 service to your prospects and clients. Having a sophisticated website with these additional capabilities often gives visitors an impression that you are much larger then you really are but you’ll be surprised how easy and cost effective this can be.
Contact us to get help your business back on track.