What is an SSL Certificate?
Imagine sending a letter in the mail. If you seal the envelope, no one can read your message while it’s in transit. That’s what an SSL certificate does for information on the internet. It locks your data, so only the person or website you’re communicating with can see it.
When a website has an SSL certificate, you’ll see a little padlock in the address bar of your browser. This means your connection to the site is secure.
Why Should Your Website Have An SSL Certificate?
1. To Protect Your Visitors Personal Information
When accessing your site, they may enter sensitive information like their name, password, or credit card number. An SSL certificate encrypts (scrambles) this information so hackers can't steal it.
2. To Show That Your Website is Trustworthy
Websites with SSL certificates have been verified as legitimate. If your visitors see the padlock, they can feel more confident that the site is not a scam trying to steal their information.
3. To Avoid “Not Secure” Warnings
Web browsers like Chrome or Safari now warn users when a website doesn’t have an SSL certificate. If you visit a site without one, you might see a big red “Not Secure” message. This warning can scare visitors away, even if the website isn’t trying to do anything shady.
4. To Improve Search Engine Rankings
Search engines like Google prioritize secure websites. That means sites with SSL certificates are more likely to show up higher in search results, making them easier to find.
5. To Build Customer Confidence
When people know their information is safe, they’re more likely to trust and do business with a website. This can mean increased listeners for your station!
How Do I Know If My Website Has an SSL Certificate?
Look for these signs:
A padlock icon in the address bar.
A web address that starts with https:// (the “s” stands for secure).
Sometimes, a green bar or label that says "Secure."
How Do I Enable My SSL Certificate?
If your domain has been registered through Radio.co, please sign in to your Website Builder (Add Ons > Website Builder), then click the Pencil icon. Once done, on the next page click 'Edit Site'.
On Weebly, click Settings and scroll to the SSL section. If the SSL certificate is already enabled, it'll show 'Enabled' in green text. If it's not yet been enabled, it'll show 'Not Enabled'. In this case, click 'Enable'.
The SSL certificate should enable within a few minutes, but you may need to refresh the tab for the changes to show.
If after 15 minutes the SSL certificate isn't enabled (or shows as still being configured), it's normally because the domain has been registered externally and the A Records need configuring. If you own the domain with another registrar, please sign in to their service and ensure the A records are pointed to Radio.co (guide here).
If the domain is registered with Radio.co and the SSL certificate won't configure, please contact support at help@radio.co.