How To Use Free SSL on BigCommerce

September 14, 2024

n today’s digital age, the security of online transactions is paramount. As e-commerce continues to dominate the retail landscape, ensuring your online store is secure has never been more crucial. But with so many options for paid certificates out there, how do you choose the right SSL certificate for your BigCommerce store? Kal, the CEO of Epic Design Labs, a renowned bigcommerce development agency, dives deep into this topic in his latest video.

Why SSL is Essential for Your E-Commerce Store

SSL (Secure Socket Layer) certificates play a pivotal role in ensuring the security of online transactions. It’s the encryption technology that encrypts the data between a user’s browser and the server, ensuring that sensitive information like credit card details remains confidential. When you verify your site has an SSL certificate, it displays a padlock in the user’ address bar, signaling to visitors that their data is safe.

In the video, Kal, a developer and store owner himself, guides viewers through the process of accessing private key files, using encryption and managing SSL certificate settings on BigCommerce. He emphasizes the importance of the padlock symbol, which assures customers of their data’s safety, potentially boosting trust and conversion rates.

BigCommerce Free SSL vs. Third-Party SSL

Kal presents viewers with a choice:

Opt for the free SSL certificate offered by BigCommerce.
Purchase a third-party SSL certificate that could set you back a few hundred dollars.

He candidly shares his perspective, stating that most customers don’t differentiate between the two as long as the padlock symbol is visible on server certificate. Drawing from his extensive experience with server side, Kal reveals that he and 100% of his clients prefer the bigcommerce free ssl certificate. Not only is it cost-effective, but it also serves its primary purpose efficiently.

Key Takeaways from the Video:

Here are the highlights:

(00:00) – Introduction to SSL certificates, explaining their role in securing your BigCommerce store by displaying a padlock icon in the address bar.
(00:31) – How to access SSL certificate settings in BigCommerce: Log in to manage.bigcommerce.com and view your installed or expired certificates.
(01:06) – The difference between free SSL certificates from BigCommerce and third-party paid certificates. Kal recommends the free option.
(01:42) – Step-by-step guide to installing the free SSL certificate, which can be applied in just a few minutes.
(02:50) – For faster setup, Kal suggests contacting BigCommerce support, who can quickly install the free SSL certificate for you.

By following this guide, you’ll have your BigCommerce store secured in no time. No need to spend extra on a third-party SSL certificate—Kal explains why the free option is more than enough for most ecommerce stores.

Full Transcript

(00:00)
Hey, let’s talk about SSL for BigCommerce!
First of all, my name is Cal. I’m a developer, a store owner, and just like you, I help people with their BigCommerce stores. In this video, I want to talk about SSL certificates, particularly the free SSL certificate.
If you’re not familiar with SSL certificates, they’re the thing that shows a padlock in your site’s address bar, letting everyone know it’s secure. This is great for building trust.

(00:31)
How to access your SSL certificate settings:
Go to manage.bigcommerce.com
Once logged in, click on SSL Certificates
Here, you’ll see all the domains that have SSL certificates installed. If you’ve been around for a while, you may also see some expired ones.
To apply a new certificate, click on Add New SSL Certificate and select your domain.

(01:06)
Choosing your SSL certificate:
You have a couple of options here:
BigCommerce’s free SSL certificate (the one I recommend).
Third-party SSL certificate (usually costs a couple of hundred dollars). They give you the control, but you need to figure it out on your own.
Now, some people or companies may make you feel like you need to buy a serious SSL certificate from a provider like Norton because it’ll make your store look more legit. But here’s my take: nobody cares as long as there’s a padlock on your site.
100% of my clients (and myself) use the free SSL certificate from BigCommerce, and it’s all you need.

(01:42)
Installing the free SSL certificate:
Click on Choose a Certificate
Select the Free SSL certificate
If you don’t have it installed already, this is where you’d apply it.
There are some additional SSL certificates you can purchase through BigCommerce, but honestly, you don’t need them. I don’t see them affecting your conversion rate in any significant way, so why spend the extra money?

(02:18)
Applying the certificate:
Once you click to apply the free certificate, it usually gets installed within 10 minutes.
Pro Tip: There’s an even faster way.
Just call BigCommerce support, give them your PIN, and ask them to install the free certificate for you. They’ll say yes, and within a couple of minutes, it’ll be done. Their support is great and reliable.

(02:50)
Final thoughts:
I highly recommend the free SSL certificate from BigCommerce. It’s quick to install, requires minimal effort, and it’s all you need for securing your store.

(03:20)
Leave a comment if you found this helpful or if you have any more questions about SSL certificates. If you know something I don’t, let me know! I’ll see you in the next video. Thank you so much!

About The Author

kal@epicdesignlabs.com

Kal Wiggins is the CEO of Epic Design Labs, specializing in ecommerce design and development. As an ecommerce store owner and seasoned developer, Kal shares practical tips and strategies to help fellow store owners grow their businesses.

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