HTTPS and HTTP both exist! How to handle?

[dk8]

I was asked to do some SEO work for a website and learned that just 6 weeks ago, their webmaster added an HTTPS instance of the site. Their backlinks all point to HTTP and the 6 pages that are already ranking are all on the HTTP site. I'm afraid to rock the boat by redirecting the site from HTTP to HTTPS as we may lose rank.

What are some suggestions? If I just pull down the HTTPS will that hurt us? Would you just go ahead and redirect it? IF so, would you do each page individually or as a whole?

[Alick300]

Hi,

There should be no effect as long as your http pages 301 redirect to their https equivalents. For second part of your question see below thread.

https://moz.com/community/q/proper-301-redirect-code-for-http-to-https

Thanks

[benesmartin]

Hey there,

the sooner you'll redirect HTTP to HTTPS the better. You are going to have more backlinks and rankings in time so it would be definitely harder in the future.

Also, try to convince the 6 websites which already point to HTTP to change their links to HTTPS.

And then, of course, redirect each page individually, as you said.

Hope it helps, Martin