Better Google rankings with HTTPS

Google has now decided to factor HTTPS into their indexing of websites. Now, sites using HTTPS will be ranked higher than HTTP sites in the Google index.

This change provides an opportunity for websites using HTTP to improve their site’s security while achieving a higher index by switching to HTTPS. To understand why HTTPS is now a part of Google’s search results ranking index, you need to know what HTTPS is and what using it does for a website (besides improve it’s ranking).

What is HTTPS and Why Switch?

Seeing HTTPS at the beginning of a web address lets a user know the website provides a secure connection. A small picture of a lock appears by the website’s URL and alerts the user that they are safe. They feel more comfortable submitting information to a website using encryption like this. Google represents this user preference now with higher ranking for HTTPS sites, encouraging sites to beef up their security and switch from the vulnerable HTTP. Switching a site from unprotected to secure adds user trust and a higher index rank.
The standard Hypertext Transfer Protocol (HTTP) of a website is improved for security purposes within a Transport Layer Security or Secure Sockets Layer to create HTTPS. This security is in place to guard an HTTPS website user and protect their information. When a website user enters their information on a site that uses HTTPS, the information is safely transported from their computer to the website and server in a connection that is protected with encryption. This encryption is what keeps the data exchanged between user and website safe.

How This Effects Businesses when changing your url to HTTPS:

When a business changes their website to HTTPS, it will see a rise in ranking within search results thanks to the new Google algorithm. In addition to the improvement in rank, their website’s users will have more protection when sharing information. For now the algorithm is low strength to allow for website URL adjustment from HTTP to HTTPS, but businesses that switch immediately will see the rise before their slower competitors.

Google will check sites to see if they have correctly transitioned to HTTPS. Businesses must include HTTPS in site maps and make sure that their HTTPS site does not redirect or lead their users to an HTTP link.

With site that has been changed to HTTPS the search results will rank it higher and it’s users will have more protection and a greater trust of the business.

If you are interested in getting your site optimized and moved to a secure url to get better google rankings with https , call us for an appointment.

Will buying a .co url domain name help or hurt my SEO?

There has been a lot of hype about the .co TLDs, there are many people posting that Google will accept them as the new .com, although it’s the TLD for Colombia. Will Google treat the .co as generic like .com or .net or as a local TLD?  Does google index .co domain names?

Here is Google’s Matt Cutt’s take on it.

So, yes even though .co url’s are originally meant for Columbia, the web developer community and the sellers of URLs have pushed this to a new cyber squatter frenzy.  There is no advantage or disadvantage to using .co URLs it is all a matter of how much quality content and authoritative value your site adds to web.

What to do if you bought a .co URL and you are not in Columbia?

Log in to your analytics on google, and set up your account.  You will receive a small snippet of code and once you validate your website, you can then easily change your configuration in settings so that the .co url will point to the United States.  The google analytics is where you can target your site to the United States.

Seo and Local SEO

There are many factors that determine where websites rank on Google searches, one of the most recent changes refers to websites being mobile friendly. You can read more here.

 

Is your Website mobile phone friendly? Are you loosing clients because Google doesn’t list your website because it isn’t mobile friendly?

Reputation Crew™ does Mobile website design and mobile website conversions for your website.

We can change your website to a mobile friendly design that allows you to sail past your competition.

Google searches and the web itself is a dynamic and constantly changing environment.  In different articles, Mobile traffic is estimated to be as high as 50% in some marketplaces and more than PC searches.  Google rolled out it’s mobile friendly algorithm update on April 21, 2015 which boosts mobile search ranking s for websites that are mobile friendly.

Mobile can be a Competitive advantage for your company or service if it is implemented correctly. Companies that embrace the shift faster and supply customers and Google what they want will benefit the most.

Website Mobile Friendly Checker on Google click here .  Reputation Crew™ has different programs based on your type of website where we can make your site mobile friendly in as little as 24 hours.