How to Fix Site Not Served Over HTTPS in SureRank

 If SureRank shows: “Site is not served over a secure HTTPS connection”, your website is currently using an unsecured connection (HTTP) instead of a secure one (HTTPS).

This guide will help you understand the issue, why it matters, and exactly how to fix it—whether you can manage it yourself or need help from your hosting provider.

What’s the Problem

When your website is not using HTTPS:

• Data is not encrypted: Information sent between your site and visitors (like form submissions, passwords, or payment info) can be intercepted.
• Browser warnings appear: Modern browsers show security alerts on HTTP sites, which can scare visitors away.
• SEO impact: Google favors HTTPS websites in search results; without it, your SEO may be negatively affected.
• SureRank features may be limited: Certain features, like XML sitemaps, structured data, automatic indexing, and Open Graph detection, may not function correctly without HTTPS.

Why HTTPS Matters

• Protects your visitors: HTTPS encrypts all data, preventing unauthorized access.
• Builds trust: Visitors see the padlock in the address bar, signaling a safe site.
• Improves SEO: Google treats HTTPS as a ranking factor; sites with HTTPS are more likely to rank higher.
• Ensures compatibility: Many marketing, analytics, and SEO tools require HTTPS to function properly.

How to Fix It

Step 1 – Determine How to Add SSL

HTTPS requires an SSL certificate. Depending on your hosting setup, you can either install it yourself or ask your hosting provider to do it:

Option A – Add SSL Yourself:

1. Log in to your hosting account.
2. Locate the SSL/TLS or Security section in your control panel.
3. Enable or install the SSL certificate (many hosts offer free certificates via Let’s Encrypt).
4. Wait for confirmation that the certificate is active.

Option B – Contact Your Hosting Provider:

• If your hosting plan does not allow self-installation or you are unsure, reach out to your hosting support.
• Ask them to activate an SSL certificate for your domain.
• Confirm that the SSL certificate is installed and active before proceeding.

You can use the following email template to contact your hosting team.

Email Template 

Step 2 – Update WordPress to Use HTTPS

Once SSL is installed:

1. Go to Settings > General in your WordPress dashboard.
2. Update both WordPress Address (URL) and Site Address (URL) to start with https:// instead of http://.
3. Save changes.

This ensures your site’s core URLs now load securely over HTTPS.

Step 3 – Update Existing Content to HTTPS

Many pages and resources may still load over HTTP, causing “mixed content” warnings. To fix this:

• Install a plugin like Really Simple SSL or Better Search Replace.
• Replace all internal links, images, and scripts from http:// to https://.
• Test your pages to ensure no insecure content remains.

Step 4 – Test Your HTTPS Setup

Before re-running SureRank checks:

• Open your website in a browser and look for the padlock icon in the address bar.
• Use online tools such as Why No Padlock to confirm all resources are loaded securely.
• Make sure there are no warnings about insecure content.

Step 5 – Re-run Site SEO Analysis

• After making changes, Re-run Checks in SureRank.
• The warning should disappear. Site is served over a secure HTTPS connection.

Summary

Securing your website with HTTPS:

• Protects your visitors’ data.
• Builds trust and credibility.
• Improves SEO and ensures SureRank features work properly.
• It can be done either by yourself (if your host supports SSL) or with help from your hosting provider.