Link Between SEO and Website Security
This article was published on April 11, 2025
Categorized in: SEO
Most of us know that SEO includes the standard activities, such as making sure the website’s technical elements are sound, such as site speed, content marketing, keyword research, a good backlink portfolio, and more. However, many of us may not realize that security actually impacts SEO, as well. There are a few reasons for this, and this has become just as important to SEO as the other, more conventionally understood SEO tasks. Here’s a deeper dive at the link between SEO and website security.
If Your Website is Compromised it Impacts SEO
Have you ever searched for information online, only to notice that a certain site that may have been returned in the results is showing an alert that the website may have been compromised? It happens, and when websites that have been deemed as insecure make it into the results, they likely don’t get clicked. If the security error persists, search engines would probably stop displaying it in the results. It takes a long time after the search engines notice a security issue on a website not actually convince them that the security issue is lifted. In the meantime, the negative impact to the SEO has taken root.
This is why it is so important to monitor your website security. If you monitor and stay diligent, you would hopefully find and deal with a security breach before the search engines figure it out. You need real time monitoring, and there are excellent services out there that monitor and address any security concerns.
Make Sure You Have an SSL Certificate
These days, it is pretty common to have an SSL certificate for a website, so that the URL reads https instead of http. Well, it is more than just common, it is considered to be the best practice to take the extra step of obtaining one of these certificates. Websites that don’t have an https are marked by most browsers as “insecure”, for example, and they are programmed to block access. It is also possible that having an “https” domain could be a ranking factor.
Obtaining a security certificate for the domain is an extra step, but it is worth it. You don’t want to lose traffic because a browser blocked your website address. You don’t want to lose organic traffic by not having one, either. You could be returned further down in search results if you choose not to have one.
Secure Websites Build Trust with Your Audience
In general, it is important to note that you want your audience to feel safe. They won’t feel safe with your brand unless they know that they won’t experience difficult security issues by visiting your website. They want to trust you, your information, and your products and services. Showing lack of security can really harm their perceptions of you.
If you want to be considered worthwhile in their eyes, and if you want their trust, you should take website security seriously. It will help not only build trust, but also help your SEO too.
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About the Author: Brick Marketing President, Nick Stamoulis
Nick Stamoulis is a digital marketing expert and President of Brick Marketing. With 25+ years experience, he specializes in solving complex digital marketing challenges through SEO, content marketing, social media, PPC, email marketing, SEO for AI (GEO) and conversion optimization.
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