Mistakes to Avoid While Installing SSL on Your Website

Whether you're running a personal blog or managing an online store, SSL helps keep the data between your site and your visitors safe from prying eyes. On top of that, it gives your SEO a boost and shows people they can trust your site. Still, even though it's so important, a lot of folks trip up during the installation. One small mistake can lead to broken pages, those annoying mixed content warnings, or even take your site offline temporarily.

If you're about to install SSL or are wondering if you did it right, here are some common mistakes to avoid and what to do instead.

1. Getting the Wrong Type of SSL Certificate

Not all SSL certificates are created equal. One of the most common mistakes is picking the wrong type. Here's a quick breakdown:

Single Domain SSL: Protects just one domain (e.g., example.com).

Wildcard SSL: Covers one domain and all its subdomains (e.g., *.example.com).

Multi-Domain SSL (SAN): Secures multiple, unrelated domains under one cert.

EV (Extended Validation) SSL: Offers higher trust levels with visible company name in the address bar.

If you're running multiple subdomains, don't go for a single-domain cert. If you own multiple websites, a SAN certificate might be the cost-effective choice. Choosing the wrong type could mean going through the process all over again or leaving parts of your site unsecured.

2. Skipping the CSR Validation Step

Every SSL certificate requires a CSR (Certificate Signing Request), a block of encrypted text you generate on your server. It contains key details about your domain and business.

A frequent mistake is rushing this step, misentering domain names, or skipping necessary details like the common name (CN). If the CSR doesn't match your certificate, installation will fail. Always double-check your CSR before submitting it to the Certificate Authority (CA).

Pro tip: Make sure your private key is stored safely during this step. If you lose it, your certificate is basically useless.

3. Installing SSL Without Redirecting HTTP to HTTPS

After installing the certificate, many forget the crucial next step - redirecting HTTP traffic to HTTPS. Without this, visitors who type in http://yourdomain.com won't benefit from SSL security unless they manually switch to HTTPS.

Use a 301 redirect in your .htaccess file (for Apache servers) or server configuration (like nginx.conf) to automatically guide all traffic to the secure version of your site. This ensures consistent encryption, helps with SEO, and avoids duplicate content issues.

Also Read: HTTP vs HTTPS - Differences Explained

4. Not Updating Internal Links and Resources

Just because your homepage is secure doesn't mean the rest of your site is. If you're loading resources (images, scripts, stylesheets) using http:// links, browsers will flag your site with mixed content warnings.

These errors are not only off-putting for visitors but can also break page functionality. Do a full search-and-replace to update all internal links and resources to use https://.

Better yet, use relative URLs where possible (/images/photo.jpg instead of http://example.com/images/photo.jpg) so you're covered regardless of the protocol.

5. Forgetting to Install Intermediate Certificates

SSL doesn't work in isolation, there's a chain of trust that leads from your certificate up to a root certificate authority (CA). Sometimes, site owners install only the primary SSL certificate and forget the intermediate certificate, which connects your cert to the trusted root.

Without it, browsers might not trust your certificate, showing security warnings to users, even if everything else is correct. Most CAs provide a bundled file with all the necessary certs. Always install the full certificate chain as recommended.

6. Letting Your SSL Certificate Expire

SSL certificates don't last forever. Most are valid for 90 days (in the case of free ones) or up to a year. Failing to renew on time means your site will suddenly throw up "Not Secure" warnings, potentially driving users away.

Set up automatic renewal if you're using services or set calendar reminders a few weeks before expiry. And remember to re-upload the renewed certificate to your server, it doesn't update itself.

7. Not Testing After Installation

You've installed the certificate, redirected traffic, and updated your links - great! But how do you know everything works?

Use tools like:

• SSL Labs' SSL Test
• Why No Padlock?
• Redirect Checker

These tools help you verify that the certificate is valid, your redirect rules are working, and you're not serving any insecure elements.

8. Neglecting CDN and Third-Party Services

If you're using a CDN (like Cloudflare or Amazon CloudFront), SSL setup involves extra steps. You'll need to install or enable the SSL cert on their end as well.

Similarly, third-party scripts, forms, or widgets should all load over HTTPS. One insecure element can compromise the security and trustworthiness of your page.

Final Thoughts

Installing an SSL certificate might seem technical, but it's one of the most important steps you can take for your website's trust, security, and visibility. Most mistakes come from rushing the process or skipping crucial steps. Take the time to plan your certificate type, validate properly, update your site thoroughly, and test everything.

A smooth SSL installation is more than just locking the padlock icon - it's about ensuring your visitors feel safe and your site performs at its best.