Not secure, says the browser. Your customer leaves.

A customer clicks your website link. Before the page even loads the browser shows two words next to the address. Not secure.

Some browsers show a full warning page instead. Your connection is not private. Go back.

Most people will go back. They do not know what it means. They only know it sounds dangerous. And they were about to share their phone number or pay you.

The fix is small. It is called an SSL certificate. It is what turns http into https in your address and shows the small lock sign.

In plain words it locks the line between the customer's phone and your website. What they type cannot be read by anyone on the way.

Most hosting companies now give it free. Often it is missing only because nobody turned it on. Or it was turned on once and then it expired.

How to fix it

1. Open your site on your phone. Look at the address bar. If you see a lock or https you are fine. If you see Not secure it needs fixing.
2. Ask your hosting company to turn on SSL. Many give a free certificate that renews on its own. It is usually one button in the hosting panel.
3. Send all visitors to the https version. Your developer can set this so even old http links open the safe version.
4. Fix the mixed pages. If one image or form on a page still loads over http the warning can stay. Your developer can find and fix these.
5. Note the renewal date. If you use a paid certificate put the expiry date in your calendar. When it expires the warning comes back that same day.

Mistakes to avoid

• Thinking SSL is only for websites that take payment. Every contact form needs it
• Telling customers to ignore the warning
• Changing to https and forgetting to update the link on Google and Instagram
• Letting a paid certificate expire to save a small amount

Google has said https is one of the things it looks at when it ranks pages. So this one fix helps with trust and with search.

Check your site once a month in a private window on your phone. It takes ten seconds and you see exactly what a new customer sees.

What to do in the next 7 days

• Day 1: Open your website on two different phones and look for the lock sign.
• Day 2: Log in to your hosting panel or ask your developer if SSL is on.
• Day 3: Turn it on and make every http link open the https version.
• Day 4 to 7: Open every page once, fill your own contact form and check that no warning comes.

Is your website showing Not secure? Send us the link and we will fix it. Message us on WhatsApp

Have you ever closed a website because the browser said Not secure? Tell us in the comments.