Hello SEO experts ! HTTPS or HTTP ?

cmghostbuster · Nov 14, 2017

The story is like this..

I've bought a few domains, each with 30 DA and 41 PA and various tf and ct.
After that i have installed on all of them some SSL certificates.
Then i've bought some SEO packages and built some links to them.

The problem is that i never thought that if i build links to the https:// version of the website will show different values in MOZ and majestic metrics when i check for https or http versions. So what can i do in this case to have a stronger website and all the linkjuice in one single version of the website. I've read that 301 redirects also is not a very good way to do things because you can loose rankings.

Do you guys think i should give up on https protocols? And if i give up on them will my new created backlinks wich redirects to https:// version will add value to the http:// version?

I will highly appreaciate some advice. Thank you.

thetrustedzone · Nov 14, 2017

google in 2017 added https as ranking factor ... but i don't think it's strong factor ... maybe seo experts could answer better than me since i'm not "expert" .

cmghostbuster · Nov 14, 2017

thetrustedzone said:
google in 2017 added https as ranking factor ... but i don't think it's strong factor ... maybe seo experts could answer better than me since i'm not "expert" .

Yeah i know that back in 2015 matt cutts said that is a ranking factor but now i know that is almost equal to zero..i say almost. But it looks good on a website and if adds a little value to it then its awesome. The problem is that i already built the links to that version instead of http:// ... so maybe could clarify better ...

samrichards · Nov 14, 2017

1. Start using Ahrefs, they have an option to show metrics/stats for http+https

2. If you use Wordpress and purchased Ssl just install "Really Simple Ssl" plugin and don't bother anymore about redirections.

safeSEOboost · Nov 14, 2017

Generally speaking it is recommended to use https for money sites, as google as made it clear they are looking into that, but not really needed for pbn (but is it a plus). Regarding linking, then yes you link to the https and redirect the http to the https, and it should be fine.

LuckyCharm007 · Nov 14, 2017

Add this code to your htaccess, below your #Begin Wordpress

Code:

<IfModule mod_rewrite.c>
RewriteEngine On
RewriteCond %{SERVER_PORT} !^443$
RewriteRule ^(.*)$ https://%{HTTP_HOST}%{REQUEST_URI} [L,R=301]
</IfModule>

This should 301 your http version to https and you should retain a good portion of your link juice.

cmghostbuster · Nov 14, 2017

samrichards said:
1. Start using Ahrefs, they have an option to show metrics/stats for http+https

2. If you use Wordpress and purchased Ssl just install "Really Simple Ssl" plugin and don't bother anymore about redirections.

The problem is that my website is in php version.

safeSEOboost said:
Generally speaking it is recommended to use https for money sites, as google as made it clear they are looking into that, but not really needed for pbn (but is it a plus). Regarding linking, then yes you link to the https and redirect the http to the https, and it should be fine.

It's all affiliated websites . So if i redirect http to https all the value and linkjuice from previous created backlinks before i bought the domain will transfer to the https:// version? Thanks

Webbers UX · Nov 14, 2017

cmghostbuster said:
Yeah i know that back in 2015 matt cutts said that is a ranking factor but now i know that is almost equal to zero..i say almost. But it looks good on a website and if adds a little value to it then its awesome. The problem is that i already built the links to that version instead of http:// ... so maybe could clarify better ...

Wouldn't say that it's equal to almost 0. The way I see it is it's free extra rankings (varies from case to case). Google prefers HTTPS over HTTP.

samrichards · Nov 14, 2017

thetrustedzone said:
google in 2017 added https as ranking factor ... but i don't think it's strong factor ... maybe seo experts could answer better than me since i'm not "expert" .

I have noticed that if the site which you are moving to https ranks on old shitty links you are gonna loose rankings after transition. After moving to https Google is somehow re-checking all your backlinks and based on your backlink portfolio you may loose some traffic. On the other hand, if you have strong backlinks you will probably benefit with Ssl. So play carefully with purchasing Ssl.

don chino · Nov 14, 2017

If you already have it, I would not remove SSL (https). After the announcement from Google that https was a ranking factor few years ago, a lot of websites moved to https and it didn't mean that their http links weren't taken into consideration by Google... G understands that a website has added SSL and it will still count your http backlinks, even if some seo tools don't show them. Use ahrefs, add your domain, and it will check both (http and https) options when showing results.

Make sure your http version has 301 permanent redirection to https and that canonical tags are correct!

cmghostbuster · Nov 14, 2017

LuckyCharm007 said:
Add this code to your htaccess, below your #Begin Wordpress

Code:

<IfModule mod_rewrite.c> RewriteEngine On RewriteCond %{SERVER_PORT} !^443$ RewriteRule ^(.*)$ https://%{HTTP_HOST}%{REQUEST_URI} [L,R=301] </IfModule>

This should 301 your http version to https and you should retain a good portion of your link juice.

Hi . I already have this code RewriteRule ^(.*)$ https://%{HTTP_HOST}%{REQUEST_URI} [L,R=301] on my htaccess but not this line RewriteCond %{SERVER_PORT} !^443$ .Thanks
I was reading a lot of stuff about 301 redirects and they are pretty tricky. Can do a lot of damage to a website if are not done well.

SkyrocketSEO · Nov 14, 2017

cmghostbuster · Nov 14, 2017

LukaB said:
Wouldn't say that it's equal to almost 0. The way I see it is it's free extra rankings (varies from case to case). Google prefers HTTPS over HTTP.

I've seen a lot of websites without SSL that ranks higher than websites with ssl and the values of those websites where relatively the same..But who knows..

samrichards said:
I have noticed that if the site which you are moving to https ranks on old shitty links you are gonna loose rankings after transition. After moving to https Google is somehow re-checking all your backlinks and based on your backlink portfolio you may loose some traffic. On the other hand, if you have strong backlinks you will probably benefit with Ssl. So play carefully with purchasing Ssl.

I think the same but its not the case. I've started with the website from 0 links indexed and all the links where now indexed with https:// version so i don't have what rankinks to loose. My only problem was to be able to use all the old backlinks power and linkjuice because maybe i can't rank higher with https than with http version of the website.

don chino said:
If you already have it, I would not remove SSL (https). After the announcement from Google that https was a ranking factor few years ago, a lot of websites moved to https and it didn't mean that their http links weren't taken into consideration by Google... G understands that a website has added SSL and it will still count your http backlinks, even if some seo tools don't show them. Use ahrefs, add your domain, and it will check both (http and https) options when showing results.

Make sure your http version has 301 permanent redirection to https and that canonical tags are correct!

I'm in a little difficulty here...can you add some advice how the code should look like? It;s ok like LuckyCharm007 said just to add this piece of code ?
<IfModule mod_rewrite.c>
RewriteEngine On
RewriteCond %{SERVER_PORT} !^443$
RewriteRule ^(.*)$ https://%{HTTP_HOST}%{REQUEST_URI} [L,R=301]
</IfModule>

Nargil · Nov 14, 2017

Ok so you bought domains that already have some kind of authority. I presume that vast majority of links on those domains were pointing to http version.

Why using https then? I do not see a good reason for this hype around https nowadays. If you compare the link loss lost due to redirect from http to https compared to "google value" from having ssl installed, then I can assure you that you will get more out of simply not having https installed.

Https is good for brand new domains, but if you have expired domain, go for http. Few years for now, most of the links on expired/auction domains will point to https version, but not now.

graham25s · Nov 14, 2017

https is so easily installed on digital ocean servers for example, it's as easy as clicking a checkbox to select let's encrypt, may aswell try to make it standard practice when your setting sites up.

cmghostbuster · Nov 14, 2017

Nargil said:
Ok so you bought domains that already have some kind of authority. I presume that vast majority of links on those domains were pointing to http version.

Why using https then? I do not see a good reason for this hype around https nowadays. If you compare the link loss lost due to redirect from http to https compared to "google value" from having ssl installed, then I can assure you that you will get more out of simply not having https installed.

Https is good for brand new domains, but if you have expired domain, go for http. Few years for now, most of the links on expired/auction domains will point to https version, but not now.

You are absolutely right

but now its too late...i already bought some links to the https:// versions...Stupid me...

Nargil · Nov 14, 2017

cmghostbuster said:
You are absolutely right but now its too late...i already bought some links to the https:// versions...Stupid me...

Keep it as it is. Shit has happened, turning it back would make it happen once more. Lesson learned. And not so much damage has been done anyway, so no worries.

Webbers UX · Nov 14, 2017

cmghostbuster said:
I've seen a lot of websites without SSL that ranks higher than websites with ssl and the values of those websites where relatively the same..But who knows..

Google has over 200 factors impacting its search results, there's a lot of variables. But HTTPS > HTTP

don chino · Nov 14, 2017

cmghostbuster said:
I'm in a little difficulty here...can you add some advice how the code should look like? It;s ok like LuckyCharm007 said just to add this piece of code ?
<IfModule mod_rewrite.c>
RewriteEngine On
RewriteCond %{SERVER_PORT} !^443$
RewriteRule ^(.*)$ https://%{HTTP_HOST}%{REQUEST_URI} [L,R=301]
</IfModule>

Google “redirect checker” and try with couple of those if it shows 301 redirect working. Don’t stress about adding https, it’s a good thing. Latest Chrome started to show warning for http sites when filling in forms etc. and G wants sites to shift to https. Check if your canonical tags also have https in case you have them.

cmghostbuster · Nov 14, 2017

LukaB said:
Google has over 200 factors impacting its search results, there's a lot of variables. But HTTPS > HTTP

Thanks

don chino said:
Google “redirect checker” and try with couple of those if it shows 301 redirect working. Don’t stress about adding https, it’s a good thing. Latest Chrome started to show warning for http sites when filling in forms etc. and G wants sites to shift to https. Check if your canonical tags also have https in case you have them.

Thanks.

Thank you all for your responses.

Hello SEO experts ! HTTPS or HTTP ?

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