Website verification has become increasingly important over the past few years as consumers grow more concerned about interacting with legitimate, trustworthy sites online. Various website verification tools and services have emerged to help provide users with greater confidence and security when browsing the web. As we move into 2023, several notable shifts in website verification methods, priorities, and best practices have developed.
Rise of HTTPS adoption
Website verification trends include accelerating adoption of HTTPS security across all types of websites. Google has led this push, prioritizing sites with HTTPS in search results and marking HTTP sites as ‘not secure’ in Chrome browsers. While most major sites have migrated to HTTPS due to these factors, there is still room for growth. There are around 33% of sites on the internet today still operate under HTTP. However, that number is dropping rapidly as Google plans to make HTTPS a ranking factor shortly. For any site owner, obtaining an SSL certificate and enabling HTTPS should be a top priority for 2023.
HTTPS as an SEO signal
While HTTPS provides improved security through SSL encryption, it has become much more than that recently. Google has indicated that HTTPS acts as a positive ranking signal for SEO. There are a few reasons why secured sites get a boost in search results. For one, HTTPS helps affirm legitimacy and trustworthiness as a verified secure site. HTTP sites face more phishing potential and risks, so Google wants to surface safer HTTPS sites. Additionally, switching to HTTPS shows site owners are investing in best practices overall, which likely extends to other optimization techniques. While not a direct ranking factor yet, migrating to HTTPS leads to a slight SEO advantage and is a good idea.
Web authority metrics growing in importance
Another notable shift in website verification and reputation monitoring is the increased focus on web authority metrics. Metrics like Domain Authority and Page Authority from Moz have become more prominent lately. These scores measure the strength and trustworthiness of a given domain or page based on backlink profiles, genuine engagement signals, and other factors. A site with a high authority score is established in the industry and is well respected. As search engines increasingly fight disinformation and low-quality content, authority scores are one way they identify credible sources to surface in results. For site owners, regularly checking your domain authority and improving low page authority scores through earned backlinks and engagement should be a priority. Developing authority over time is also a powerful verification signal. More information can be found here 먹튀사이트.
Complete business listings and verified profiles
Having complete, consistent listings and profiles of a business across key sites has also emerged as an important website verification tactic. This includes having properly filled out listings on Google My Business, Facebook, Yelp, Apple Maps, and any other relevant directories. It also means maintaining up-to-date, accurate profile information on LinkedIn, Twitter, Instagram, and other social media platforms. The more complete and optimized your NAP (name, address, phone) details and business descriptions are across listings, the more legitimate your site appears across the web. Inconsistent, conflicting information raises red flags so be sure your data matches on all key sites. Verified check marks on profiles also help confirm validity. Maintaining robust, mistake-free listings through platforms should be a regular website verification habit.