Ninja Space Content Blog

This is pretty important to consider when you are starting a website or a blog. If you're an e-commerce website or collecting proprietary and personal information directly through your website like your visitor's driver's license number, credit card information, etc., then an SSL (Secure Sockets Layer) Certificate is mandatory to protect your visitors and customers. However, if you're creating a very informative website and not asking for any information from your user for a credit card transaction from your website, then I don't think you need to spend the extra $70 - $150 a year for it.

For example, if you're creating a website for your coffee shop that you're opening in Darlington, South Carolina, where you're going to be the only Alita's Coffee Shop in the whole town and just want to have a website that lists your hours, address, pictures of your coffee shop and your menu items, and you're not selling anything like a t-shirt and not collecting a credit card number or important payment information from the website via an online form or something like that, then you don't really need it. 

It's been said to me by a Godaddy rep that Google's algorithm is factoring in whether a particular website has an SSL cert in their rankings. If your Alita's Coffee Shop is like one of 3 coffee shops in a particular area, I don't think you're going to be worried about rankings. Your website is going to show up on that first page when they google "Alita's Coffee Shop Darlington SC". Of course, you'll have to index it in the search engine first in order to ensure it's going to be properly indexed. But no, in this instance, I don't think you'll need an SSL certificate for Alita's Coffee Shop in Darlington, SC where you're listing information only. See how much this simple website costs to build without an SSL certificate.

I also want to note that important government websites, large corporations with websites and banking websites all have at least an SSL certificate (plus other security protection). If your website evolves into more than a simple and basic website, and you need to keep up with your competition in search rankings, then definitely consider getting one. 

How about for a website that's integrating affiliate ads and they will eventually have to purchase with a credit card from an Amazon affiliate link, for example? 

I can see where this gets confusing. If you have a blog or website that's only providing content and information and they are not inputting their credit card number and other credit card information, etc. directly on your website and all of that is on Amazon's secured website on an Amazon.com domain (not yours), then you still really don't need it. However, if you have the capital and generate enough money to spend on an SSL certificate, then totally go for it. However, when you're just starting out and haven't completed your content yet, then don't purchase it quite yet.

I also want to note that many affiliate programs do have strict rules when deciding to let you join their network. One of them could be that they would require you to have an SSL certificate in order for you to become their partner. If you feel that this particular affiliate program is that important to you and you'd need to have that SSL certificate to solidify that business relationship, then that is really up to you. I hope the sales from that particular affiliate company will make up for the cost of an SSL certificate every year.

What is the most cost-effective way to run an e-commerce website on a tight budget?

If you don't care about having a domain and just want to find a really cost-effective and convenient way to have an e-commerce site, you should totally look into Weebly. They offer you an e-commerce solution that is connected with SQUARE and this makes selling your merchandise online a lot easier. Meet Weebly’s New Suite of eCommerce Tools. It's a website, e-commerce and marketing solution, all in one. Their e-commerce links as default are secured with https.

Recommended Reads:
See all of my recommended domain and hosting companies to purchase your domain and find hosting solutions under the Domain and Hosting page.

Read about a free new SSL service that I've recently discovered after encountering an index problem!

I went to Kaiser Permanente yesterday because the travel department recommended that I get the Hepatitis A shot before I go to Costa Rica in a week in a half because Central America has a lot of people with this particular virus.

I happily went in the morning and discovered a long line already at 8:30AM on a Wednesday morning. Anyway, after 45 minutes later, my name got called and they gave me one shot. They said I can't take the second shot (last shot) until 6 months later but that this one shot should work for me in the short term.

After the pinch in my left arm, my arm felt instantly sore which is typical. That was the only side effect I felt until today. Today, I feel lethargic, sluggish and have a bit of a headache. I'm not sure if it was coincidental but I can't point a finger to anything else except for that.

Did you experience the same?

Everytime that I'd go to the local Korean tofu house and order my tofu soup, I feel like I'm eating like a king because it comes with all of this yummy kimchee and ban-chan.

I love Convoy Tofu House. I always feel like a king, or I mean a queen.

Here is how the stadium looks at night. It's really pretty

I've been doing Insanity for almost 2 months now and have only been able to do it 3-4 days a week. With working 40 hours a week, being married and owning a dog, I somehow find it hard to fit in a 6 day work out. Nonetheless, I know I am getting leaner. The thing is, I have lost 0 lbs. I'm a bit unmotivated but I know I am looking better so I'll continue to do it as much as I can, whenever I can. Working out is better than not working out at all.

I've read online somewhere that when you start a new work out that is intense, you start to retain water weight. For some people, it could take up to 2 months. I think I am one of those. All of my life, I've always done lighter cardio work outs like jogging and rollerblading. Since this is focusing more on strengthening my core, my muscles are probably still not used to being worked out like this. I sweat like crazy every time I do Insanity so something has to be working.

I'm going to hang in there and I encourage you all to hang in there too because you can't give up! I'll be starting on my last 30 days soon (at my rate, it means it'll take me 2 months to finish the last 30 days) and I know it's going to get harder.

After your body gets used to your work out routine, you'll lose the water weight and see the true loss in time. Keep it up.