Installing an SSL certificate is not the simplest task. Several issues can arise along the way to securing your website. In this article, we’ve prepared a checklist that describes the installation process step by step.

Before Migrating Your Website

Depending on your server, certificate, and issuer, the SSL implementation process may vary slightly. The steps leading to certificate installation can be divided into three stages. The first stage involves preparing your website before you start the actual installation.

1. Make all changes on a test server first. This helps you avoid unforeseen errors on your live site.
2. Always create a backup of your website before making any changes to the server.
3. Check the links on your site. If you encounter any errors (e.g., 404), fix them before installing the SSL certificate.
4. Analyze your organic traffic. Google Search Console and Google Analytics are particularly helpful for this.
5. Prepare all links pointing to your site for the upcoming address change (https).

The Migration Process

Your site is now ready to begin the migration process. After implementing the changes during the preparation stage, it’s recommended to create another backup. While it may be tempting to skip this step, it can lead to unpleasant consequences down the road. Now it’s time to install the SSL certificate. The implementation can differ slightly depending on your hosting provider, so be sure to review your host’s documentation thoroughly for a smooth and efficient process.

1. Verify certificate compatibility for all URL variants of your website.
2. Apply your changes to the live server. This is the time to implement all updates made during the preparation stage, including theme/template adjustments, modifications to the robots.txt file, and setting up 301 redirects.
3. Implement a redirect to the site using the https format, ensuring that all visitors recognize the site as secure.
4. Test your https redirects. Check all address variants—without www, with www, with https, without https, and both with and without a trailing slash.
5. Make sure none of your internal links still use the http format. If necessary, adjust them to avoid 301 errors.
6. You can verify the status of your SSL certificates using appropriate tools, such as the “SSL Test” service. A site with a properly implemented SSL certificate is indicated as “TRUSTED” or receives an “A” rating.
7. Add a note about your migration in Google Analytics to help you monitor any changes in traffic following the SSL implementation.

After Migrating Your Website

After migrating your website, the process of implementing an SSL certificate is essentially complete. However, there are still a few things to check to ensure everything is functioning correctly.

1. Check if the lock icon is displayed in the address bar on all subpages. If not, you may be experiencing a “mixed content” error. Make sure all content on your site is loaded from secure URLs.
2. Update all ads, affiliate links, and any other links pointing to your site or its subpages.
3. Monitor your site’s traffic and watch for any drops.
4. If you have any questions regarding certificate installation, you can always contact our specialists.