In recent years, Google has been encouraging website owners to make the switch from HTTP to HTTPS. This is due to the fact that HTTPS provides a more secure browsing experience for website visitors. In addition, Google has confirmed that HTTPS is a ranking signal, giving websites that use HTTPS a slight advantage in search engine rankings.
Making the switch from HTTP to HTTPS, however, is not as simple as just purchasing an SSL certificate. There are several SEO considerations that website owners need to take into account to ensure that their website maintains its search engine rankings after the switch.
Here are some of the things that website owners need to do for their SEO when switching from HTTP to HTTPS:
1. Implement 301 Redirects
One of the most important things that website owners need to do when switching from HTTP to HTTPS is to implement 301 redirects. A 301 redirect is a permanent redirect that tells search engines that the URL has permanently moved to a new location.
By implementing 301 redirects, website owners can ensure that any links pointing to their old HTTP URLs are redirected to the new HTTPS URLs. This will prevent any potential loss of traffic or rankings due to broken links.
2. Update Internal Links
After implementing 301 redirects, website owners need to update all internal links on their website to point to the new HTTPS URLs. This includes updating any links in the navigation menu, header, footer, and content.
By updating internal links to HTTPS, website owners can ensure that visitors are accessing their website using a secure connection. This will help to improve user trust and may result in higher engagement and conversions.
3. Update External Links
In addition to updating internal links, website owners also need to update any external links pointing to their website to HTTPS. This includes links from social media profiles, directory listings, and other websites.
Updating external links to HTTPS will help to ensure that visitors are accessing your website using a secure connection, which can improve user trust and may result in higher engagement and conversions.
4. Update XML Sitemaps
Website owners also need to update their XML sitemaps to include the new HTTPS URLs. This will help search engines to crawl and index the new URLs more efficiently.
5. Update Google Search Console
Finally, website owners also need to update their Google Search Console account to reflect the switch to HTTPS. This includes adding the new HTTPS property and verifying ownership of the website.
Once the HTTPS property has been added and verified, website owners can submit the updated XML sitemap and monitor any crawling and indexing errors that may occur during the switch.
In conclusion, switching from HTTP to HTTPS is an important step for website owners who want to improve their website’s security and search engine rankings. By following these SEO considerations, website owners can ensure that their website maintains its search engine rankings after the switch.