New blog post, new opportunity to learn. Now it's the turn of users of the well-known WordPress , one of the most widely used and extended content management systems in recent years. Thanks to its ease, convenience and options of use, it has become an indispensable tool in the digital world and, by the way, a subject that must be addressed in the blog. It's about time! In this post we will explain how to use and install the SSL (Secure Socket Layer) certificate in our WordPress hosting plans; a certificate that serves to secure our website both internally and externally. With it we communicate that our environment is real and safe to enter personal data such as name, email or postal address. Such a backup not only guarantees the correct functioning of the site: reinforcing our image and attracting the consumer in the best way also go hand in hand. To get the SSL protocol and install https in WordPress there are different ways and below we present both the personalized ones (via external tools), as well as free ones thanks to the Línea Gráfica hosting offer.
Why is it important to have an SSL certificate?
Simply because Google loves websites that offer security (Google and everyone else, of course). Nowadays, having an SSL protocol is of vital importance to properly position yourself on the Internet, since it encourages you to browse with peace of mind. Does this mean that if I don't have it, Google will end up penalized? Nobody from the Big G will come to punish you if you ignore the issue, but while you decide or not, the competition will be taking most of the spotlight and that is never positive. In fact, in addition to improving visibility, this certificate helps to increase sales and subscriptions thanks to a trust environment worthy of the best site. Online companies the size of Amazon or Ebay did not think twice about adding the protocol to their website, so it is better not to stray too far from that trend, right?Install SSL certificate with Let's Encrypt
It's time to get down to business. To carry out the installation via Let's Encrypt we must check the status of the SSL protocol on our website. How do we do it? There are many tools, but if we have to highlight one, we'd go with the simplicity and clarity of the Digicert website. Access it, enter the URL and let the analysis show whether or not the SSL certificate is active on the site. (If so, go to the next section). Once it is clear that the certificate is not installed , it's time to rectify the situation.- Make a backup copy of your website. (Very important)
- Access your hosting's cPanel control panel.
- Go to the Security section and click on Let's Encrypy .
- Install the Let's Encrypt SSL certificate.
Change Wordpress from HTTP to HTTPS
With the SSL certificate installed on the Hosting, it is time to redirect from HTTP to HTTPS . There are two alternatives for this process: 1) via WordPress plugins (plugins for everything!) and 2) modifying the .htaccess file of our website. Although the latter requires a bit more experience, both paths are correct. Using the first option, we will focus on installing Easy HTTPS Redirection through the WordPress plugin search engine. As with any WordPress plugin installation, there is no problem and its installation will not be difficult. WordPress seems to be made especially for the absent-minded like me. Once we have it ready, we access its configuration in the following order:- We check the checkboxes Enable automatic redirection to the “HTTPS” and Force resources to use HTTPS URL
- We save changes and on the new page (after updating) we click on The Whole Domain . That's it! We now have the entire website loading in HTTPS.
- Finally, we need to make a change to the "wp-config.php" file via FTP Client in the WordPress installation so that the URL of our website always loads with HTTPS. To do this, we add these two lines to "wp-config.php":
define('WP_HOME',' https://miweb.com '); define('WP_SITEURL',' https://miweb.com ');
Install free SSL certificate with Línea Grafica
If you have your hosting hosted at Línea Gráfica, the implementation of this certificate is completely free and guided. At Línea Gráfica we care about your project as much as you do, which is why we help you choose the best SSL certificate under the GEOTRUST brand, an independent agency authorized to issue such digital certificates, offering the highest guarantee and maximum confidence for your clients. If your hosting is located elsewhere, there is nothing to worry about. Our experts will offer the best service on the market for only €14/year . (Yes, you read that right). Take advantage of our free 30-day WordPress hosting trial and start covering your website's needs in the best way!
