If your address starts with http:// instead of https://, visitors see a Not secure warning — and half of them leave before reading a word. Here is what SSL is, without the fog.
What SSL does
It encrypts the data between the browser and the server. When someone sends a contact form, logs in or pays — the data travels sealed, instead of like a postcard anyone along the way can read.
Why you need it even without a store
- Trust — the padlock is the first thing they see; the warning is the first thing that repels them
- Google — HTTPS has been a ranking factor for years; a competitor with a padlock has the edge
- Forms — every site with a contact form sends personal data; without SSL that is negligence
- Browsers — Chrome and Firefox actively warn on every http site
Is a paid certificate better?
For 95% of sites — no. A free Let us Encrypt certificate encrypts exactly like an expensive one. The difference is extra company verification (EV certificates) required by banks and corporations. For a small business, free is exactly what you need.
With us
SSL is included in every plan, installs automatically and renews itself — no expiry, no panic, no surcharge. If your site is with us and has no padlock, call: we fix it in minutes.
A common issue: mixed content
You have SSL but the padlock is still not green? Some image or script still loads over http. That is an easy fix — just ask.