WordPress is the most popular web content management system (CMS), powering over 40% of all websites. However, WordPress sites can also need faster performance and loading speed, affecting user experience, SEO, and conversions.
One of the ways to improve your WordPress site speed is to convert it from HTTP to HTTPS. HTTPS is a secure protocol that encrypts the data between your browser and your website, preventing hackers from intercepting or tampering with it. HTTPS also has several benefits for your WordPress site, such as:
- Security: HTTPS protects your site and users from cyberattacks, especially if you handle sensitive information such as login credentials, credit card details, or personal data.
- Trust: HTTPS shows a padlock icon and a green address bar in most browsers, indicating that your site is secure and trustworthy. This can increase user confidence and loyalty and reduce bounce rates and cart abandonment.
- SEO: HTTPS is a ranking factor for Google, which means that secure sites have an edge over non-secure sites in search results. Google also labels non-HTTPS sites as “Not Secure” in Chrome, which can deter users from visiting them.
- Performance: HTTPS can improve your site speed by enabling HTTP/2, a newer and faster HTTP protocol version. HTTP/2 supports features such as multiplexing, compression, and server push, which can reduce latency and bandwidth usage.
How to Convert Your WordPress Site from HTTP to HTTPS
Converting your WordPress site from HTTP to HTTPS may seem daunting, but it is not as hard as you think. Here are the steps you need to follow:
- Get an SSL certificate: An SSL certificate is a digital document that verifies your site’s identity and enables HTTPS encryption. You can get an SSL certificate from various sources, such as your web host, a third-party provider, or a free service like Let’s Encrypt.
- Install and activate your SSL certificate: Depending on your source, you may need to install and activate your SSL certificate manually or automatically. You can use plugins like Really Simple SSL or SSL Insecure Content Fixer to help you with this process.
- Update your WordPress settings: Once you have your SSL certificate installed and activated, you need to update your WordPress settings to use HTTPS instead of HTTP. You can do this by going to Settings > General and changing your WordPress Address (URL) and Site Address (URL) from http:// to https://.
- Redirect HTTP traffic to HTTPS: To ensure that all your visitors access your site via HTTPS, you need to redirect all HTTP requests to HTTPS. You can do this by adding some code to your .htaccess file or using a plugin like Redirection or Simple 301 Redirects.
- Check for mixed content errors: Mixed content errors occur when some elements of your site (such as images, scripts, or stylesheets) are still loaded over HTTP instead of HTTPS. This can cause security warnings and break some functionality on your site. You can use tools like Why No Padlock or JitBit SSL Checker to scan your site for mixed content errors and fix them accordingly.
Converting your WordPress site from HTTP to HTTPS is one of the best ways to boost your site’s speed and performance. Not only does it enhance your site security and trustworthiness, but it also improves your SEO and user experience.
If you want to learn more about how to speed up your WordPress site, check out these
Useful Links
https://wordpress.org/documentation/article/optimization/
https://gtmetrix.com/wordpress-optimization-guide.html
