If you look at the address bar in your browser right now, you’ll probably see a small padlock icon next to the website address. That padlock means the site is using HTTPS. If it’s missing, or if you see a warning that says “not secure”, that’s a technical SEO problem worth sorting out.

So what is HTTPS? It stands for HyperText Transfer Protocol Secure. It’s the secure version of HTTP, the protocol that governs how data is sent between a browser and a website. The “secure” part comes from encryption: when a site uses HTTPS, the data passing between the visitor and the server is encrypted, meaning it can’t be easily intercepted or read by a third party.

Why does it matter for your visitors? If someone fills in a contact form, enters their email address, or makes a purchase on your site, you want that information to be protected. HTTPS is the baseline standard for that. Without it, sensitive data is being sent in plain text which is a real risk, particularly for any site handling payments or personal data.

Why does it matter for SEO? Google confirmed HTTPS as a ranking signal back in 2014, and it’s only become more important since. Sites without it are at a disadvantage in search results. Beyond rankings, Google Chrome actively flags HTTP sites as “not secure,” which doesn’t exactly inspire confidence in visitors.

How do you set it up? You’ll need an SSL certificate installed on your site. Many hosting providers include this for free these days, often through Let’s Encrypt. Once it’s installed, you’ll want to make sure your site properly redirects all HTTP traffic to HTTPS, and that there are no mixed content issues where some elements on the page are still loading over HTTP.

It’s one of the more foundational technical SEO fixes, and the good news is it’s usually not complicated to sort out.

Not sure if your site’s technical setup is up to scratch? Get a free audit from Pollinate Marketing: we’ll check the basics and a lot more besides.