Member Avatar for Coloradojaguar

It is a possibility that in the near future that sites which use encryption could get a search engine rank boost. Do you think that this potential change is a way to encourage more use of SSL/TLS encryption on web pages?

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Short answer: yes — but only a small, tiebreaker boost. Google’s August 2014 announcement made HTTPS a “very lightweight” ranking signal to encourage encryption, not a substitute for strong content or on‑page SEO. That’s why members like and who migrated didn’t see instant rank jumps. Google: HTTPS as a ranking signal. (developers.google.com)

Why move anyway: browsers and platform features make HTTPS effectively mandatory. Chrome began flagging HTTP pages as “Not secure,” which hurts user trust; many new web APIs and practical browser support for HTTP/2/3 require TLS; and free, automated certificates from Let’s Encrypt remove most cost/management objections. Those factors often deliver bigger business value than the small SEO signal alone. Chrome: marking HTTP non-secure, Why HTTPS matters (web.dev), Let’s Encrypt, HTTP/2 notes (Apache). (chromium.org)

Practical checklist (answers ’s “how do I change URL” and helps avoid common mistakes):

  • Obtain and automate a TLS certificate (ACME/Let’s Encrypt).
  • Configure modern TLS (TLS 1.2/1.3), enable ALPN for HTTP/2, and enable OCSP stapling.
  • Server‑side permanent 301 redirects: every http:// → https:// equivalent.
  • Update canonical tags, internal links, and sitemaps to HTTPS.
  • Verify HTTPS site properties in Google Search Console and submit the new sitemap.
  • Find and fix mixed‑content errors (use browser console or CSP upgrade-insecure-requests/block-all-mixed-content).
  • Consider HSTS only after everything is working; preload carefully (it’s hard to reverse). See Google’s site‑move guidance and MDN HSTS notes. (developers.google.com)

Expectations & troubleshooting: don’t expect an instant ranking miracle — Google’s signal is small and temporary ranking fluctuations are normal while crawlers reindex. The real wins are removed browser warnings, preserved referral data, and possible performance gains (HTTP/2/3). If issues appear, check redirect chains, robots/noindex, mixed content, Search Console coverage, and certificate renewal automation. (developers.google.com)

Further reading: Google’s migration guide (How to move a site with URL changes) and browser/security docs linked above.

Recommended Answers

All 12 Replies

Member Avatar for KristinaRoy

Coloradojaguar, I am agree with you. Matt Cutts pointed out about it but did not say clearly at present. I am guessing that security will be ranking factor in near future.

Member Avatar for Coloradojaguar

Now that the information that Google will improve ranks on sites that use SSL and are Https, has anyone added a SSL to their website and seen a rank improvement because of it?

Member Avatar for Kelly Burby

Well, can't exactly but I guess yes sites having SSL installed will be going to get more ranking boost rather than other's !

Member Avatar for Glenn Rodgers

I do not think so HTTPS is for the website security purposes.

Member Avatar for Kelly Burby

@Glenn yes you are correct its for user as well as website security purpose, its employes at the sites that stores users information, so I would say if you have a site which is only providing the information then there's no need to install SSL.

Member Avatar for sisindia

Secure pages are more authentic than normal webpages so Google algorithm giving minor ranking advantage.But its not very strong factor to get huge advantage. So if a webpage contains high quality content then its equivalant to secured page.

Member Avatar for Kelly Burby

Well, to some extent I would agree because content is always the king but what keep hitting me is, if content is always the king then what is the reason Google put concept of secured pages ??

Member Avatar for Base_1

Well, if that is the case then how do i change my url from http to https...?

Member Avatar for wikads

According to the recent Google update "HTTPS/SSL Update — August 6, 2014", ranking will boost to a lightweight initially and positive if proven changed

Member Avatar for mindstreak

https provide a better security for the website but i am not sure whether google would provide better ranking boost for this.There are a lof of high quality websites with "http" having better rankings than "https"

Member Avatar for ajuasin

I migrated my websites to https few weeks back. But I was not able to see any difference in ranking.

Member Avatar for Kelly Burby

Well, it doesn't works this way out because change in rakings isn't something that can be experienced after a week or two ! Keep fingers crossed I would say it may show change !

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