~ How to Install SSL Certificate | SSL Installation Guide
SSL is an important element for your website. Without an SSL you cannot be able rank on the top of Google when you are in an SEO Competition.
I have seen many people ignoring SSL Certificates. Although, none of my clients won’t do so as I consult them with the best possible guidance.
SSL is a Secure Sockets Layer and it provides security to your website.
An SSL is patched with your domain name and this is how you get to see an SSL. Check Below –
How to Check if your site is SSL Certificate Activated or Not?
~ How to Install SSL Certificate | SSL Installation Guide
Any reputed website will have a premium SSL Certificate.
To check whether a website has an SSL Certificate Activated or Not you should do the following –
Visit the respective site – and check the URL box as shown below
Once you visit the site, at the top left corner of the URL, you get to see a locked patch, identify that first.
If the site is not SSL Active, then the locked patch will be disabled.
You can also click on the locked patch, then a pop up will appear and this is what information you get to read, i.e. “Connection not secure”.
Websites having the SSL Certificate Patch enabled, will appear something like the below image,
The above image is of my website www.soumendranathsome.com that is SSL Activated.
You can check such websites by seeing the locked patch is enabled, and there is no red sign. The website is also secure and safe to visit.
Well, these were some practical examples of SSL Certificates before I talk about how to install SSL Certificates in this SSL Installation Guide. But for those, who don’t have technical clarity about SSL Certificates, I have got to mention few fundamentals for them as well.
What is an SSL Certificate?
~ How to Install SSL Certificate | SSL Installation Guide
What are the Drawbacks of Not Having an SSL Certificate?
~ How to Install SSL Certificate | SSL Installation Guide
Running a website without an SSL Certificate will hardly be seen in serious businesses.
This kind of attitude is there among those who are either not serious about the business they are doing, or still uneducated about what’s an SSL Certificate is, or their major source of revenue is not coming from their online business. I have also met people who are not so aware of their ORM i.e. Online Reputation Management and they don’t maintain it. Such people do not use an SSL Certificate. By the way, once they get to understand the importance of the same, they don’t give any second thought to pay for it.
There are several drawbacks to not having an SSL Certificate for your domain.
- Google will flag your web site.
- Important information are going to be hacked.
- Hacking becomes easy.
- Users will select your website as a shady site.
- Your web site can’t technique payments if you wish it.
- You lose traffic.
- You site doesn’t open on multiple browsers.
- It negatively impacts the SEO.
- Doing digital marketing and online ads becomes challenging.
What are the Benefits of Having an SSL Certificate?
~ How to Install SSL Certificate | SSL Installation Guide
SSL Certificates are definitely purchased for a reason.
Here is what you get when your domain uses an SSL Certificate.
- SSL protects sensitive information.
- SSL affirms your business identity and improves customer trust.
- Better search engine ranking.
- SSL helps you satisfy PCI/DSS requirements.
- SSL protects your online payment information.
- Your site is safer from hacking and thefts.
- Google doesn’t mark you flag.
- You expect better traffic throughout overseas.
How to Buy an SSL Certificate for Your Domain?
~ How to Install SSL Certificate | SSL Installation Guide
SSL Certificates can be bought from different platforms that sell Domains and Hostings.
While buying Domains you can book your SSL Certificate as well. If you are going for Namecheap then you get SSL Certificate free for one year.
Booking for most of the other servers you get to pay for it.
Here are quite a few platforms from where you can book your SSL Certificate.
- Namecheap
- GoDaddy
- Bluehost
- Hostinger
- Entrust Datacard
- Network Solutions
- DigiCert
- Sectigo
- SSL.com
- GlobalSign
- GeoTrust
- RapidSSL
To buy an SSL Certificate from Namecheap you can follow the below process.
Hover over to the Security Tab.
Click on SSL Certificates.
You will get to see different versions of SSL Certificates and their packages.
You can filter the same on the basis of years.
For beginners, a PositiveSSL is more than enough to start with. Depending on the type of your website, you can select your SSL and its yearly subscription. Anyone you want to select, click on Buy Now.
Here you can make the payment by confirming your order, and filling up the form.
You can make payments by Credit Cards, PayPal etc. PayPal is considered the best as cards sometimes bounce, especially if it is a debit card and it is a Rupay card. But your amount won’t be deducted if it bounces.
Once you book the SSL you can now add it to any of the domains that you own.
One SSL Certificate can be used for multiple domains, but not more than one at a time. In that case, you have to deactivate your SSL Certificate from one domain and install and activate it for the other domain.
How to Activate New SSL Certificate for your Domain? SSL Installation Guide
~ How to Install SSL Certificate | SSL Installation Guide
If you have purchased a new SSL Certificate on SSL, then here is how you can activate it within few mins.
Go to your Namecheap cPanel.
Write SSL in the search box of Namecheap. You get to see the below options.
Select this one shown below – SSL/TLS
Once you see the above panel, you have to click on Manage SSL Sites at the bottom right. Shown below.
Manage SSL Sites will show you multiple information and data about your site’s SSL. Here you can browse your available SSL Certificates, select the domain on which you want to install. Once you select a domain from the dropdown – click on Autofill and proceed to Install Certificate CTA. Here is a snap of the same page.
*If you don’t have available SSLs then you will not get any SSL Certificates available.
For any difficulties, you should always connect their customer service centre. You get that option just above the footer of the site.
How to Install SSL Certificate and Activate it on Namecheap? | SSL Installation Guide
~ How to Install SSL Certificate | SSL Installation Guide
To activate your already activated SSL in one domain to another domain follow the below process.
Go to the cPanel of your Namecheap Hosting.
Find out the Namecheap SSL Plugin, shown below and click on that.
Locate the SSL that you own in any domain from which you want to deactivate it and activate it to the other one.
You get to see a lot of options above as I have several domains and subdomains.
For you, options might be two to three depending on how many domains you have on this server.
Now, locate the SSL Certificate of the domain that you want to replace. Anc clicks on Install.
Next, choose your desired domain from the drop-down, click ‘Yes, replace’ and click ‘Install’ again.
Select the desired domain/subdomain that you want to select for SSL Certificate Activation.
Click on Yes Replace, and Install Again.
Then click on “Sync”
It might request you one hour to activate the same after it approaches your request to Sync, but usually, it activates within five to ten mins.
Note – There are multiple processes to install an SSL certificate on Namecheap. The above-mentioned ones are easier.
Also check,
How to update the PHP of your WordPress from cPanel when it’s outdated?
How to shift SSL Certificate from one Domain to another Domain?
Thanks for reading.
Check more insightful blogs on www.insightcaja.com.
I am Soumendra, an Online Marketing professional and Content Pro, helping businesses to grow online with digital marketing.
To let you know, I train people on Online Marketing, Digital Advertising, Content Creation, Digital Marketing Analytics courses, SEO and the entire arena of Digital Marketing.
You can connect with me in need.
Book a free consultation.
