The Error of Not Having HTTPS on a Website: Loss of SEO, Customers, and Credibility

HTTPS – The Key to Survival in the Digital Race That Businesses Are Still Ignoring

In the era of digital transformation, where user experience and personal data are invaluable assets, building a website is not just about "having an online presence". It needs to be secure, fast, and easy to find on Google – and all of these start with a seemingly simple element: SSL certificate – HTTPS.

However, in reality, thousands of Vietnamese businesses are still overlooking this important factor. From small to medium-sized businesses, from trading companies to transportation services, many websites still display “Not Secure” on customer browsers. What's even more concerning is that most businesses are unaware that this seriously impacts SEO rankings, brand credibility, and online conversion rates.

Why? Partly due to a lack of awareness, but also due to the negligence of many website design agencies – who have sold websites as cheap as electronic business cards without providing proper and sufficient advice to their clients.

This article will help you gain a clearer understanding:

• Why HTTPS is not just about security, but a crucial element in SEO?
• The risks businesses face when ignoring HTTPS.
• Why cheap website design companies are pushing you into a “blind race” in the digital world?
• And what is the comprehensive solution to make your website a powerful business tool?

What Is Https And Why Is It More Important Than You Think?

HTTPS – Not Just a "Lock" on Your Browser

HTTPS stands for HyperText Transfer Protocol Secure – a secure version of HTTP. It is built on top of HTTP but adds an encryption layer using SSL/TLS to protect data transmitted between the user's browser and the website server.

Every time you enter your password, email address, or credit card number on a website, without HTTPS, that data could be stolen by hackers or malware. With HTTPS, the data will be encrypted so complexly that it is almost unreadable if intercepted.

✅ The truth: Google Chrome and modern browsers display the “Not Secure” warning if a website does not use HTTPS – even if you are not collecting user data!

HTTPS is a Key Factor in User Experience

Users are increasingly sensitive to security issues. A website without HTTPS gives an impression of unprofessionalism and lack of trust – especially for e-commerce businesses, professional services, or startups needing to build initial credibility.

A website with HTTPS:

• Displays a secure lock icon
• Avoids the “Not Secure” warning that undermines trust
• Reduces user exit rate (reduces bounce rate)
• Increases form completion rates, orders, and payments

HTTPS is an Officially Recognized SEO Factor by Google

Google confirmed in 2014 that HTTPS is a ranking factor for SEO, albeit small, but with long-term cumulative effects. In practice, websites with HTTPS are generally ranked higher because:

• HTTPS helps Google trust the website more, reducing the likelihood of spam.
• HTTPS is a requirement for accessing new technologies like HTTP/2, AMP, Progressive Web Apps (PWA) – which directly impact **SEO** speed and experience.
• Websites with HTTPS typically have higher user retention rates, leading to increased session time – an important SEO metric.

Without HTTPS – You Are Excluded From the Modern "Playing Field"

Imagine your business has a luxurious physical store with attentive staff, but the sign outside says “Unsafe Store – Leave Now!” – this is happening every day with thousands of business websites that don’t have HTTPS.

Without HTTPS, you might face the following consequences:

• Your website could be blocked by browsers or flagged with red warnings.
• Customer data may be at risk of being stolen.
• Google may lower your ranking or hide some advanced SEO features.
• Customers will leave before they even see your products/services.

HTTPS Isn’t Expensive, But Lack of Knowledge Is Costly

Sadly, many businesses in Vietnam still ignore HTTPS – not because they don’t want security, but because:

• They haven’t been properly advised by the website design agency.
• They are tempted by “cheap websites” but without technical support commitments.
• They think a website is just for “simple introduction,” so security isn’t necessary.
• As a result, they lose customers every day without even knowing it.

Many Businesses Are Going Down The Wrong Path By Falling For “cheap” Websites Without Https And Without Seo Optimization

Cheap Websites: The Sweet Trap That Leads to Failure From the Start

In a world where anyone can easily hire a website designer for just a few million VND, many businesses – especially in commerce, restaurants, transportation, and local services – have chosen the fast and cheap route.

But what’s the truth?

• These websites often don’t have HTTPS, or if they do, it is improperly installed, leading to the “Not Secure” warning.
• They have beautiful designs but suffer from slow loading speeds, lack mobile compatibility, and aren’t SEO optimized.
• They don’t have image copyrights, and copy-pasted content, making them susceptible to Google penalties.
• Most importantly: they don’t provide a strategic plan for building an online brand from the start.

The result? You invest in a website to “get online like everyone else,” but customers never find you on Google. Even returning customers won’t trust you when accessing the site because the browser shows the “Not Secure” warning.

Irresponsible Website Design Agencies: The Root Cause

Many website design agencies today only sell source codes, not real “digital solutions for businesses.” They don’t care about **SEO** effectiveness, user experience, or customer data security. Some common signs of this include:

It’s Not Just a Technical Mistake – It’s Irresponsibility for the Future of Your Business

A business website is not just a tool; it is the digital face of the entire brand. When the design agency fails to fully advise, doesn’t implement HTTPS, or doesn’t prioritize long-term customer benefits, they are compromising the business’s future for short-term gain.

Businesses think “having a website is enough,” but in reality, that website is damaging their credibility and their ability to develop sustainably.

A Real Example: A Trading Business That Doesn’t Know What HTTPS Is

In our work at MIMA, we once encountered a company specializing in providing building materials that spent nearly 20 million VND on a website from a company in Hanoi. However:

• Website had no HTTPS.
• The domain was incorrectly set, and it could not be accessed via https://.
• It did not appear on Google even when searching for the correct brand name.
• Google Analytics was not installed, so they didn’t know who was visiting their website.
• When they reported the issue, the agency said “having HTTPS costs extra.”

➡️ 20 million down the drain. The website was beautiful, but no one knew about it. No one found it. No customers were generated.

One Wrong Step – The Entire Strategy Falters

A company invests money in digital marketing, Facebook ads, SEO, Google Ads, but the website lacks HTTPS, loads slowly, and isn’t mobile optimized – which means a large part of their budget is being wasted on a fundamentally flawed system from the start.

📉 A mistake made during website development will cause much larger losses than the cost of rebuilding it.

Https And Its Close Relationship With Seo Strategy & Revenue Conversion From The Website

HTTPS – The Starting Point in Every Sustainable SEO Strategy

In the **SEO** ecosystem, Google increasingly prioritizes user experience (UX) and website reliability. Every factor, no matter how small – from page load speed, mobile design, to HTTPS – is a piece of the search ranking puzzle.

Google has confirmed:

“We want to encourage all websites to switch to HTTPS because it provides a better experience for users.”

This means: HTTPS is the minimum requirement for you to be "trusted" by Google and have a chance to perform better on search result pages.

HTTPS Improves Important SEO Metrics

HTTPS Enhances Sales Conversion & Online Contact

For businesses in e-commerce, tourism, real estate, B2B services, etc., a website is not just a place for information but a tool for closing sales and gathering leads.

Without HTTPS:

• Registration forms will be flagged as "Not Secure" by browsers
• Customers are hesitant to leave their phone number/email
• Conversion rates drop dramatically (especially with online payments)

With HTTPS:

• Users feel secure entering information
• Website appears more professional and trustworthy
• Better conversion – a key factor in digital marketing campaigns

Technical SEO Cannot Be Effective Without HTTPS

Modern SEO is not just about keywords – it also includes foundational techniques such as:

• SSL Certificate
• Redirect 301 from HTTP → HTTPS
• Proper URL structure
• Compatibility with Search Console, Google Analytics
• Integration with CDN and enhanced security

If your website lacks HTTPS, you can’t implement effective technical SEO.

HTTPS and User Behavior Data

Google cares about how users interact with websites. HTTPS ensures that this behavior data is transparent and seamless. Without HTTPS:

• Google Analytics doesn’t fully record data (due to improper redirects)
• Search Console reports coverage or indexing errors
• You’ll lack the data to make marketing decisions

➡️ Over time, this leads to a loss of control over your entire online conversion campaign.

Conclusion

HTTPS is not just "a good choice," it is "a must" if you are serious about SEO, online marketing, and digital business development. Lack of HTTPS means you are entering a battle without armor – hard to win and easily vulnerable.

MiMa – Committed To Partnering With Businesses To Build Safe, Seo-optimized, Long-term Effective Websites

MIMA doesn’t just create websites – we lay the foundation for digital growth strategies

In a market full of website designers, where everyone can create a website but few truly understand SEO, user experience, and conversion, MIMA has defined its own path: creating websites that provide real business value for companies.

We don’t compete on cheap prices – we compete on responsibility, commitment, and measurable effectiveness.

What MIMA Always Puts First:

We Help You Avoid Mistakes That Thousands of Businesses Have Made

❌ We don’t let you buy a “business card website” just for the sake of it.
✅ We partner with you as a digital transformation strategy consultant

❌ We don’t let you struggle with technical jargon.
✅ We explain clearly and transparently every step, focusing on effectiveness

❌ We don’t create websites without HTTPS or improperly configured.
✅ We check – install – set up HTTPS redirects for you, no worries

MIMA’s Featured Services for Commerce, Service, Transport, and Tourism Businesses:

• SEO-optimized business websites
• Optimize speed and mobile experience
• Free & lifetime HTTPS/SSL configuration
• Build attractive landing pages for conversion
• Long-term content & keyword strategy consultation
• Website management, maintenance, and post-project partnership

Your Website Is Not Just a Product – It’s a Business Tool

At MIMA, each website is not a “project delivered and done,” but a sales platform, brand introduction, and long-term conversion driver. And everything must start with a solid foundation – HTTPS and a properly configured SEO website.

Summary & Advice – Https Is A Must For Every Serious Business In The Digital Transformation Journey

If you are overlooking HTTPS, you are going against the trend of digital development

In the increasingly competitive digital world, every touchpoint with customers must be secure, fast, and trustworthy. A website without HTTPS is like a store without a locked door – no matter how beautiful it is, customers won’t dare to enter.

If you are a business in commerce, services, transportation, or any industry using the internet to reach customers, then:

• HTTPS is the basic requirement to start the game.
• Lack of HTTPS means you’re excluding yourself from Google’s ranking.
• And worse, you lose trust from the customers who have found you.

3 Questions to Ask Yourself Right Now

• Has your website been correctly installed with HTTPS?
• Have you received clear advice on security, SEO, and effectiveness from your website design agency?
• Does your website truly drive conversions and reflect the professional image of your business?

If the answer is no or uncertain, it’s time to find a truly responsible partner.

Advice from MIMA: Don’t Repeat Common Mistakes Anymore

❌ Don’t choose website design just because it’s “cheap.”
✅ Choose a partner who understands what you want in the long run and is committed to effectiveness.

❌ Don’t let your website become a “forgotten business card.”
✅ Turn it into a sales channel that attracts potential customers every day.

❌ Don’t build a website and leave it unattended, without security, without HTTPS.
✅ Build a solid foundation – where every click is a new business opportunity.

Final Conclusion

HTTPS is not just encryption technology – it’s the key to trust, the foundation of SEO, and the first step in a serious digital growth strategy. And your business deserves a website that is not only beautiful but also secure – SEO optimized – and ready to create real value.

Let MIMA partner with you on that journey. Not just website design, we build comprehensive digital solutions with responsibility & commitment to the end.

CONTACT INFORMATION FOR MIMA

• MIMA SERVICES TRADING CO., LTD
• Business Registration Number: 0318672839 issued by the Department of Planning and Investment HCMC on 17/09/2024
• Content Responsibility Person: Nguyễn Văn Đồng
• Address: 31/3B Ấp 43, Đông Thạnh Commune, HCMC
• Phone (Hotline): 0909 035 333
• Website: https://mimadigi.com
• Email: info@mimadigi.com
• Bank Account: 333392345 at MBBank (Military Commercial Joint-Stock Bank) – West Saigon Branch
• Account Holder: MIMA SERVICES TRADING CO., LTD