Graphic of a lock inside a web browser window.

HTTPS or Hypertext transfer protocolย secure, is the secure version of HTTP. HTTP is the primary protocol used on the web toย send data between a web browser and a website.

Websites that use HTTPS useย encryptionย to ensure secureย data transfer. This is especiallyย important when users sendย sensitive data. Like whenย loggingย into a bank account, health insurance provider, or email service.

When we are talking about SEO, we already knowย Google gives a slight ranking boost to HTTPS URLs. It has been this way since 2015.

How do you make sure your website is using HTTPS? Let me explain below.

The quickest and easiest way to check if your website is using HTTPS is to visit your website from a web browser. In the address bar of that browser, you will either see a lock icon that is locked ๐Ÿ”’, or unlocked ๐Ÿ”“. Some browsersย shows the lock at the end of the address.

Screenshot of a browser address bar showing a lock icon.

While other browsers show the lock at the beginning of the address. There are othersย thatย will signalย you by using a red or green address bar, or give you a warning.ย If you do not see this lock on your website, then youโ€™ll want to fix this as soon as possible.

Verify HTTPS byย using a Tool

Another easy way to make sure your website is using HTTPS is to use a 3rd party tool. There are several tools available on the web, hereย areย 3 that I recommend.

Testing your website is quick and easy. Just enter your website address (URL) and click test. The SSL test should only take a few seconds, and will give you a long list of information. Here isย 1 itemย to look for.

Make sure HSTS is enabled.ย HTTP Strict Transport Security (HSTS) is anย HTTP header. It tells theย browser to only connect to your site over HTTPS. In other words, it forces a modern browser to use secure connection.

Screenshot of an HSTS test result.

Enable HTTPS on Wix

Screenshot showing a Wix website with the lock disabled and with the lock enabled.

Wix is a website building platform that many businesses use today. By default all Wix websites have HTTPS enabled on their platform. Use the instructions linked below ifย your Wix website does not have HTTPS enabled.

About SSL and HTTPS on Wix

Having trouble? Visit theirย Troubleshooting Your SSL Certificateย page.

Enable HTTPS on Squarespace

In a similar fashion Squarespace websites are automatically protected with an SSL certificate. HTTPS is enabled by default on all Squarespace websites, so you donโ€™t need to take any action.

If you do see an error with your SSL certificate, visitย Troubleshooting SSLย for your site.

Enable HTTPS on Duda

Screenshot showing the SSL settings on a Duda website.

Unfortunately SSL and HTTPS are not enabled by default forย Duda websites. After publishing your website you will need to visit the site settings and enable HTTPS.

Duda requiresย your domainโ€™sย DNS settings setup correctlyย before enabling SSL. Once that is setup, you can thenย use these instructions to enable SSL under site settings.

Enable HTTPS on Weebly

Screenshot showing SSL certificate not enabled on a Weebly website.

Weebly also does not enable SSL by default. Forย visitors get an HTTPS connection when visiting your website, you will have to enable SSL. To enable SSL on a Weebly site you can follow their instructions onย How can I Enable SSL?

Their instructions are a little more complicated than most web buildersย and may require further troubleshooting and support. For rare instances where SSL is not working visitย Troubleshooting SSL Issues.

Links Instead ofย Instructions

Why did you provide links to their support pages instead of just writing the steps here? The reason I provide links to theirย documentation is because their sitesย change.

It is better to linkย to the troubleshooting guides provided by the web builder. This makes sure you are getting the most accurate information.

 

Too Complicated?

SSL and HTTPS are complicated. Having aย background in IT, I understand.ย Signed certificates for websites, email, and many other products are difficult to setup. Even with my experience, it is not an easy task.

If you have any questions, please feel free toย reach out and ask.