How important is https if I am not a merchant and don't allow registrations?

[Wilson Grant Fisk]

You didn't read anything he said. And most of the stuff you said is wrong.

OP:
It isn't a main ranking factor, and Google can identify sites that need an SSL and sites that don't.

If you don't require any sensitive information to be sent from your server, don't get one. Google also identifies that you don't need one.

However, if you do need one, and you don't have one. Google will give you the "Dangerous Page" red screen, then the user will have to go through themselves.

It isn't a ranking factor that will make any difference at all.

Unless anyone can prove me wrong of course? Anyone got any proof of SSL making a difference?

It has been a ranking signal since 2014 and only grows more important

https://webmasters.googleblog.com/2014/08/https-as-ranking-signal.html

Two identical sites, one with https one without, then the one with, should rank higher.

 

[MikeyMikey13]

It has been a ranking signal since 2014 and only grows more important

https://webmasters.googleblog.com/2014/08/https-as-ranking-signal.html

Two identical sites, one with https one without, then the one with, should rank higher.

Did they ever post an update to this? It says it effects less than 1% of quires.

And I mean, yeah G said it is. But really for the average webmaster we aren't going to see a difference. I've had sites with both and they haven't made any noticeable difference, ever.

 

[tanhayiaan]

Not important but it does appear to be the way forward. Get it if you can.

 

[danparks]

When you are using any payment gateway like PayPal then it's compulsory to have the SSL installed on your website.

That's not true.

When you send site visitors to PayPal to make a payment, your site isn't collecting any financial information - PayPal is. And PayPal is SSL. I have sites with a shopping cart that sends buyers to PayPal. These sites of mine aren't SSL, and they work fine.

 

[Wilson Grant Fisk]

Did they ever post an update to this? It says it effects less than 1% of quires.

And I mean, yeah G said it is. But really for the average webmaster we aren't going to see a difference. I've had sites with both and they haven't made any noticeable difference, ever.

Yeah, it has only been a small factor up until recently but they are pushing it and it will be more important. I would say it is better to have it rather than not.

https://www.sangfroidwebdesign.com/search-engine-optimization-seo/google-https-ranking/
https://www.semrush.com/blog/https-just-a-google-ranking-signal/
https://www.seroundtable.com/google-https-ranking-factor-23745.html
https://www.searchenginejournal.com...actors-according-seo-industry-studies/184619/
https://mainehost.com/google-starts-giving-ranking-boost-secure-httpsssl-sites/
https://moz.com/blog/half-page-one-google-results-https
https://majordigital.com/news/ssl-certificate-improve-seo
https://www.sistrix.com/blog/spread-of-https-pages-within-the-google-serps/

Google likes to give out mixed messages about https, but personally all my sites have it, whether they need to or not. It can also make visitors to your site feel more secure.

 

[Setox]

There are news that google chrome will start warn users when they visit non https sites.

 

[MatthewGraham]

Even if there's no technological reason for you to have it (no forms filled out, etc.), users are dumb. They don't actually understand encryption and why HTTPS is used; they just see a green lock. People are paranoid about buying things online, which means that even if it's not actually making your specific site more secure, you can still improve your conversion rate by adding it.