Migrating your website to HTTPS is one of the most important things you can do as an online business owner. Without HTTPS, users cannot trust your website, and no one will buy anything from you. In this guide, we’ll explain what HTTPS means and why it’s so significant, then show you how to set up SSL certificates in Apache or Nginx with PHP7, helping to make your web traffic much safer and more secure.
An Introduction to HTTPS
HTTPS is the secure version of HTTP, the protocol over which data is sent between your browser and the website that you are connected to. HTTPS is important because it helps keep sensitive information safe as it travels across the internet. When you migrate your website to HTTPS, you make the web a safer place for everyone. You can do this by implementing an SSL certificate, which encrypts communications, so they cannot be intercepted or altered in transit. You can also use this opportunity to review your site’s security policies and ensure they’re up-to-date with current best practices.
Completing the Migration Process
The first step is to purchase an SSL Certificate. Once you have your SSL Certificate, you will need to activate and install it on your web server. After the SSL Certificate is installed, you will need to update your site’s codebase to reference the new HTTPS URLs. Finally, you will need to test your site to ensure that everything is working correctly.
Back up your Data
Before you begin the process of migrating your website from HTTP to HTTPS, it is important that you first back up all of your data. This includes both the files on your website and your database. You can use an FTP client or a web hosting control panel to download all of your files. For your database, you will need to export it as a .sql file. Once you have all of your data backed up, you are ready to begin the migration process.
Important Considerations
When you’re ready to migrate your website from HTTP to HTTPS, there are a few important things to keep in mind. First, you’ll need to purchase an SSL certificate. You’ll also need to make sure that your website’s hosting supports SSL. Once you’ve taken care of those technical details, you’ll need to update your website’s links and resources to point to the new HTTPS address. Finally, don’t forget to update your Google Analytics settings and submit your new sitemap to search engines! By taking these steps, you can help create a safer web world for everyone.
Checklist
- Check your web hosting account to see if you have an SSL certificate. If not, you’ll need to purchase one.
- Once you have an SSL certificate, you’ll need to update your site’s code so that all pages redirect from HTTP to HTTPS.
- You’ll also need to update any hard-coded links on your website so that they use the https:// protocol.
- After your site is migrated to HTTPS, be sure to test everything to make sure there are no errors.
- Once everything is working correctly, it’s time to update your Google Analytics settings and submit a new sitemap to Google Search Console.
Tools Section
To migrate your website to HTTPS, you’ll need a few tools. The first is an SSL certificate. You can either buy one or make one for free by using Let’s Encrypt. Next, you’ll need to update your site’s codebase to reference the new HTTPS URLs. Once that’s done, make sure to update your DNS records to point to the new HTTPS site.
Jim is a digital marketing consultant, author, and instructor. He has more than 4 years of practical experience with SEO and digital marketing. Jim holds an MSc Degree in eCommerce and has consulted with Fortune 50 companies in different industries. He blogs regularly about SEO and Digital marketing, and his work has been referenced by leading marketing websites.
