Originally published September 26, 2017. Updated October 16, 2026.
Yes, your business website should use HTTPS with a valid certificate. Even a small site can have a contact form, a booking link, or information that visitors expect to reach through an encrypted connection.
The confusing part is often the sales pitch. Do you need to buy an expensive certificate? Does HTTPS make the whole website safe? Let’s separate the connection from the rest of the website.
Key Takeaways
- HTTPS encrypts the connection; it doesn’t certify that a business or its content is trustworthy.
- People still say SSL, although modern connections use TLS.
- A properly configured free certificate can support HTTPS.
- Installation, renewal, redirects, and mixed content all need checking.
Written by Dotty Scott
Founder of Premium Websites, Inc.
Empowering small businesses to go from Invisible to Invincible.
Table of Contents
What Does an SSL Certificate Do?
SSL is the familiar name people use when discussing website certificates. Modern HTTPS connections use TLS, the newer protocol. The certificate helps a browser establish an authenticated, encrypted connection to the server.
That protects data in transit between those endpoints. It doesn’t remove malware, fix a vulnerable plugin, or decide whether the person receiving a message will handle it responsibly. Cloudflare’s SSL and TLS explanation covers the connection in more detail.
Do You Need to Pay for a Certificate?
Not automatically. Let’s Encrypt issues free domain-validated certificates, and many hosts can install and renew them for you. Paying for a certificate may buy different validation, support, management, or contractual features. It doesn’t make every paid option a stronger form of encryption.
My earlier article suggested that taking payments necessarily required a paid certificate upgrade. That was too broad. Discuss your payment setup and any contractual requirements with the relevant provider rather than choosing a certificate solely by price.
What Should Your Host Handle?
Ask your host to confirm the certificate covers the names people actually use, such as your main domain and its www version. It should also explain who manages renewal and how renewal failures are detected.
The Let’s Encrypt setup guide recommends using a hosting provider that supports its service when possible. You shouldn’t need to keep a calendar reminder as the only protection against an expired certificate.
Why Can an HTTPS Page Still Have Problems?
A page can use HTTPS while referring to an old image, script, or other resource over HTTP. That mixed content can create warnings or prevent resources from loading. An expired certificate, a hostname mismatch, or an incomplete setup can cause different connection problems.
Have the cause investigated. Don’t tell visitors to bypass a browser warning, and don’t turn off certificate checks to make an error disappear. Test the actual page, including forms and embedded services, after the correction.
What to Check After Installation
These checks help you confirm the setup works for visitors. They aren’t a complete security audit.
| Check | What you want to confirm |
|---|---|
| Certificate | Valid and covers the intended domain names |
| Renewal | Managed renewal and a way to detect failures |
| Old HTTP URLs | Reach the intended HTTPS destination |
| Page resources | No unexpected insecure-content errors |
| Visitor tasks | Forms, booking links, and payment handoffs still work |
What If You Use Cloudflare?
When Cloudflare sits between a visitor and your host, there are two connections to consider. Cloudflare’s Full (strict) documentation describes encryption to the origin with certificate validation.
Ask your provider to verify the appropriate configuration for your site and origin certificate. Don’t assume a certificate at the visitor-facing edge means the connection to the host has been configured correctly. Changing nameservers isn’t a necessary step for every HTTPS installation.
What HTTPS Doesn’t Protect
An encrypted connection can carry misleading content or send information to a compromised site. Keep WordPress, themes, and plugins maintained, use appropriate account protection, and know how backups are restored.
For contact forms, collect only what you need and review where submissions go. HTTPS is one part of that process. It doesn’t make ordinary email or every downstream system appropriate for sensitive information.
Keep It Working
After a hosting move, domain change, redesign, or new form integration, test again. Open the pages people use, follow a few internal links, and confirm forms still reach the intended destination.
Ask your provider to include HTTPS and renewal checks in ongoing care. The aim is a working connection your visitors don’t have to think about.
Get Help With the Setup
If you’re unsure who manages your certificate, start with your hosting provider. Ask whether HTTPS installation, renewal, and troubleshooting are included in your plan.
My managed WordPress hosting service explains the care I offer. You can also schedule a Discovery Call to discuss your existing setup.
Common Questions
Is SSL the same as TLS?
SSL is the older protocol name, but people often use it when referring to modern TLS certificates and HTTPS.
Does a free certificate mean my site is less secure?
Price alone doesn’t determine connection security. Correct configuration, supported protocols, and renewal matter.
Does HTTPS guarantee a higher Google ranking?
No. A working encrypted connection isn’t a promise of rankings, traffic, or a secure website overall.
Read the rest of the posts in this series: The Honest Truth about Your Website
- Is Your Website Actually Working? (Or Just Sitting There Looking Pretty)
- Why the Phone Isn’t Ringing (And It’s Probably Not What You Think)
- The Truth About AI-Built Websites (What They Don’t Tell You Before You Click Generate)
- The Truth About Wix, Squarespace, and DIY Website Builders
- What a Good Web Designer Actually Does (And Red Flags That Say Run)
- Why Your Competitor Shows Up on Google and You Don’t
- What Is Schema Markup (And Why You Should Care)
- Does Your Business Show Up in ChatGPT? Here’s How to Find Out
