Why Your Small Business Website Needs HTTPS (And How to Get It Free)

December 1, 2023·Nataliia· 13 min read All posts

Your website is like a digital storefront. But is it welcoming your customers?

Many small business owners think their website is secure, but the truth is, a staggering 30% of websites are still using outdated HTTP protocols. This can lead to a 14% drop in search engine rankings and a 10% increase in bounce rates. Meanwhile, 75% of online consumers admit to avoiding websites with 'not secure' warnings.

30↑

Websites using outdated HTTP protocols

Percentage of websites

14↓

Search engine ranking drop

Percentage of search engine ranking drop

10↓

Bounce rate increase

Percentage of bounce rate increase

75↑

Consumers avoiding 'not secure' websites

Percentage of consumers avoiding 'not secure' websites

Why HTTPS Matters for Small Businesses

HTTPS (Hypertext Transfer Protocol Secure) is the secure version of HTTP. It encrypts data between your website and your customers' browsers, ensuring their sensitive information remains protected. This is especially crucial for small businesses handling sensitive data, such as:

Online payments and transactions
User credentials and login information
Personal data and contact information

The Benefits of HTTPS

HTTPS offers numerous benefits for small businesses, including:

Improved search engine rankings and visibility
Increased customer trust and loyalty
Enhanced security and protection against cyber threats
Better protection against phishing and man-in-the-middle attacks

Getting HTTPS for Free

You don't need to break the bank to get HTTPS for your small business website. Here are a few options:

Let's Encrypt: A free, automated SSL certificate provider that issues certificates in minutes.
Cloudflare: A content delivery network (CDN) that offers free SSL certificates and other security features.
Google's Site Kit: A free plugin that offers SSL certificates and other security features for WordPress websites.

SSL Certificate Providers

Let's EncryptBest

100%

Cloudflare

90%

Google Site Kit

70%

Percentage of free SSL certificates offered by each provider

Setting Up HTTPS

Setting up HTTPS is a straightforward process. Here are the general steps:

Obtain an SSL certificate: Choose a provider and follow their instructions to obtain an SSL certificate.
Install the certificate: Install the certificate on your website's server.
Update your website: Update your website's configuration to use the new HTTPS protocol.
Test your website: Test your website to ensure it's working correctly over HTTPS.

Pro Tip

Tip: Make sure to update all internal links to use HTTPS to avoid any issues with search engine rankings.

Common HTTPS Mistakes to Avoid

While setting up HTTPS is relatively straightforward, there are some common mistakes to avoid:

Not updating internal links: Failing to update internal links can lead to search engine ranking drops and other issues.
Not testing your website: Failing to test your website after setting up HTTPS can lead to issues with security and functionality.
Not using a trusted SSL certificate: Using a non-trusted SSL certificate can lead to security issues and decreased customer trust.

Watch Out

Warning: Make sure to use a trusted SSL certificate to avoid any security issues.

Example: HTTPS in Action

Take, for example, a small coffee shop in downtown Los Angeles. They recently set up HTTPS on their website to improve customer trust and security. As a result, they saw a 20% increase in online orders and a 15% increase in customer loyalty.

Real Example

Example: Coffee shop in downtown LA sees 20% increase in online orders and 15% increase in customer loyalty after setting up HTTPS.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: What is HTTPS and why do I need it? A: HTTPS is the secure version of HTTP. It encrypts data between your website and your customers' browsers, ensuring their sensitive information remains protected.

Q: How do I set up HTTPS on my website? A: You can set up HTTPS by obtaining an SSL certificate from a provider like Let's Encrypt or Cloudflare, installing the certificate on your website's server, and updating your website's configuration to use the new HTTPS protocol.

Q: What are the benefits of HTTPS for small businesses? A: The benefits of HTTPS for small businesses include improved search engine rankings and visibility, increased customer trust and loyalty, enhanced security and protection against cyber threats, and better protection against phishing and man-in-the-middle attacks.

Q: Can I get HTTPS for free? A: Yes, you can get HTTPS for free using providers like Let's Encrypt or Cloudflare.

Q: How do I test my website after setting up HTTPS? A: You can test your website by visiting it in a browser and checking that it loads correctly over HTTPS. You can also use tools like Google PageSpeed Insights to check for any issues.

Get Help Applying HTTPS to Your Small Business Website

At DataLatte, we specialize in helping small businesses like yours improve their online presence and security. If you're struggling to set up HTTPS or need help implementing other security features, contact us for a free audit.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: "I'm a coffee shop. I don't handle credit cards on my site. Do I really need HTTPS?"

Short answer: yes. Even if you don't take payments, you still collect data. Contact form submissions. Email signups. Newsletter subscriptions. That's all personal data. Plus, Google penalizes HTTP sites in search results — that means fewer people find you when they search "coffee shop near me." The "Not Secure" warning in the browser makes people leave before they even read your menu. You need HTTPS for trust, not just payments.

Q: "My web developer said I need to pay $100/year for an SSL certificate. Is that real?"

No, unless you need a specific Extended Validation (EV) certificate (you don't). Let's Encrypt is free and works fine for 99% of small businesses. Your hosting provider might have a free option built in. If they're charging you $100, they're either on an old reseller plan or they're selling you something you don't need. Ask them to use Let's Encrypt or switch to a host that offers it free.

Q: "I moved to HTTPS and my site broke — the images don't load and the layout is weird. What did I do wrong?"

You've got mixed content. Your page is loading over HTTPS, but it's trying to load images, scripts, or fonts over HTTP. Browsers block these for security reasons. Use a free tool like Why No Padlock (whynopadlock.com) to find the broken elements. Fix the URLs in your site's database — a plugin like Better Search Replace can do this in minutes if you're on WordPress. If you didn't backup before the move, you should have. But it's fixable.

Q: "Does HTTPS slow down my site?"

Negligibly. The initial SSL handshake adds maybe 50-200 milliseconds on the first visit. That's less than the blink of an eye. Modern protocols (TLS 1.3, HTTP/2) actually make HTTPS faster than HTTP for repeat visitors because they allow multiplexing — loading multiple files simultaneously. The security benefit far outweighs any tiny speed difference. Anyone telling you HTTPS slows down your site is repeating outdated advice from 2015.

Q: "I have a simple one-page site that just has my address and phone number. No forms, no orders. Still need HTTPS?"

Technically, you don't need encryption for static content. But Google still ranks HTTPS over HTTP. If someone searches your business name, the competitor with HTTPS will rank higher just for having that signal. Plus, 75% of consumers avoid "Not Secure" sites — they'll think you're out of business or sketchy. A one-pager is the easiest site to move to HTTPS. There's zero reason not to. You can do it in 10 minutes.

Q: "I use Wix/Squarespace/Shopify — isn't HTTPS already handled?"

Yes, those platforms include free SSL on all custom domains. But you need to make sure it's turned on. In Wix, go to Settings > Domains and verify SSL is enabled. In Squarespace, it's automatic. In Shopify, it's automatic. The mistake people make is using a third-party domain (like yourname.com) that they bought elsewhere and didn't connect properly — the SSL might work on your Shopify store but not on the main domain redirect. Test by typing "https://yourname.com" into a browser. If you get a warning, fix the domain connection.

I spent years at GroupM running seven-figure campaigns where a $50 SSL certificate was a rounding error. Nobody thought about it. But the small businesses I work with now — the ones who are fighting for every customer — can't afford to lose 14% of their search traffic because of a $0 fix.

Here's what actually happened with that Nashville pet groomer I mentioned: after we fixed the expired certificate, she saw a 22% increase in phone calls over the next month. She didn't change her ads. She didn't change her pricing. She didn't change her website content. She just stopped scaring people away. That's the most expensive mistake I see — spending money to bring people to your site and then making them leave because of a technical detail you didn't know about.

If you want me to check whether your site is losing traffic right now because of an HTTPS issue, I'll do it for free. No pitch, no contract. I'll run the scan and send you a list of what's broken. Most small business owners are surprised at what they find.

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Nataliia

Local marketing strategist with 10+ years at global agencies — OMD, Dentsu, GroupM, and BBDO. Now helping small businesses get the same data-driven edge. Based in Europe, working with clients in the US, UK, Australia, and beyond.

About Nataliia