FECs need to protect customer data. In this article, we share what an SSL Certificate is, why you need one, and how you can get one for your website!
Today's consumer is very wary about Internet security and the use of personal information. That's why every company should prioritize protecting customer data.
In this article, we're going to share one way you can help protect your customer's information: by obtaining an SSL Certificate for your FEC website.
This is especially important if you're an owner or operator of a family entertainment center that uses an online party booking software.
An SSL (or "secure sockets layer) certificate "creates a secure encrypted connection between the web server and the web browser," according to Entrepreneur.
If you don't have an SSL certificate, you'll simply see "HTTP" (Hypertext Transfer Protocol) before your website URL.
If you're one of the 63.4% of people using Google Chrome as a browser, you may notice the words "Not Secure" in the address bar of some websites you visit, which is also an indicator of no SSL certificate.
If your website has an SSL certificate however, you'll see "HTTPS" before your website URL, which indicates that your website is secure.
Entrepreneur states that, "Without HTTPS, any data passed is insecure. This is especially important for sites where sensitive data is passed across the connection, such as E-commerce sites that accept online card payments, or login areas that require users to enter their credentials."
To learn more about the specifics of SSL Certificates, here's a good resource. To get the "low-down" on the types of SSL certificates you can get, check out this post.
Imagine a guest walking into your indoor play center for the first time and immediately seeing a sign that says, "Not Safe."
How much time do you think they would they spend there?
Not much time at all!
Your website is the first impression your guest has of your facility. So, seeing the words "Not Secure" anywhere on your website is going to create poor impression.
If you offer online party booking, it's incredibly important that you protect your customer's data. Anything you can do to build trust with your customers—especially online—is something to put on the high priority list.
If you're looking to increase online party bookings, obtaining an SSL certificate is one of the best ways to communicate how much you value your customer's business and safety.
Not only will an SSL certificate help protect customer data and keep online interactions private, it can also improve your search ranking!
If you want to be ranked ahead of your competition over valuable keywords like "roller skating parties" or "birthday party ideas," having an SSL Certificate on your website will automatically give you an advantage over the competition.
A good starting point is to check with your web host to see if they offer a free SSL Certificate. HubSpot has a great article that shares 10 of the best free SSLs, but check out the instructions below for some of the major hosting platforms out there:
If you have trouble with it and would like to have it done for you, Siteground is a host that offers a free SSL and website transfer with their Premium Features.
Now that you know a little bit about what an SSL Certificate is,
why you need it for your family entertainment center's website,
and how to get one, you're well on your way to delivering a better online customer experience—and making the Internet a more secure place!
Do you have an SSL certificate? Do you plan on getting one? Let me know in the comments below!
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