What Is an SSL Certificate and Why Your Website Needs One | Trades Creative

house Joshua Palmer Jun 22, 2025

What Is an SSL Certificate and Why Does Your Website Need One?

If you're running a business website, especially as a tradesperson or service provider, having an SSL certificate is absolutely essential. In this quick guide, we’ll break down what SSL is in plain English, how to know if your site has one, and why it matters for your business and your website visitors.

What Is an SSL Certificate?

An SSL (Secure Sockets Layer) certificate is a digital certificate that encrypts the data transferred between your website and its visitors. In simple terms, it protects sensitive information like names, addresses, and contact details submitted through your website forms.

Think of it as a safety net that keeps customer data secure and hackers out.

How Can You Tell If a Website Has an SSL Certificate?

There are two easy ways to identify whether a website is SSL-secured:

  • A padlock icon appears next to the web address in the browser

  • The website URL begins with https:// instead of http://

These indicators show that the site is secure and data shared with it is encrypted.

Why Is an SSL Certificate Important?

Improves Your Google Rankings

Google prioritises websites that are secure. Sites with SSL certificates are more likely to rank higher in search results, giving you better visibility and more potential leads.

Without an SSL, your website could fall behind competitors in search engine rankings.

Builds Trust and Increases Conversions

Modern web browsers display warnings like “Not Secure” on websites that lack SSL protection. Here's what that looks like in popular browsers:

Google Chrome: Shows “Not secure” in the address bar

Mozilla Firefox: Displays a padlock with a warning

Apple Safari: Alerts users that the site is not secure

If a potential customer sees this warning, they’re far less likely to trust your business or submit their contact information. By having an SSL certificate, you create a safe and trustworthy environment that encourages users to convert into leads.

Final Thoughts: SSL Is Non-Negotiable

An SSL certificate isn’t a luxury — it’s a necessity for any modern website. It not only protects your customers, but it also boosts your Google rankings, builds trust, and increases the chance of generating new leads.

Need Help Setting Up an SSL Certificate?

At Trades Creative, we specialise in building secure, SEO-optimised websites for tradespeople. We include SSL certificates as standard with all our websites to keep you and your customers protected.

Got questions? Get in touch with our team today—we’re happy to help!