What Are "Core Web Vitals" and Why Should You Care?

Google uses a set of performance metrics called Core Web Vitals to help determine which websites offer a smooth, user-friendly experience. These metrics directly influence your SEO rankings, bounce rate, and whether visitors actually stay long enough to engage with your business.

Think of them like the roadworthiness test for your website: Is it fast? Is it stable? Is it responsive on mobile?

Your website's performance on these metrics can make or break your online presence. A slow site doesn't just frustrate visitors—it actively hurts your ability to be found and trusted online.



The 2025 Data That Changes Everything

According to the latest Core Web Vitals performance analysis from Search Engine Journal, the performance gap between platforms is staggering.

Duda leads the pack with 83.63% of websites achieving good Core Web Vitals scores.

WordPress? Only 43.44%.

That's not a small difference—it's a massive performance gap. More than half of WordPress sites are failing basic speed and user experience tests, which means millions of businesses are unintentionally making poor first impressions.



WordPress—the most popular CMS in the world—scored dead last. That should tell you something.



Why Duda Wins (& WordPress Struggles)

The performance difference comes down to two critical factors: architectural approach and built-in optimization.

WordPress relies heavily on a plugin ecosystem. Every feature you want—contact forms, image galleries, security measures, SEO tools—typically requires a separate plugin. While this flexibility sounds appealing, each plugin adds code, creates potential conflicts, and slows down your site. It's like trying to run a marathon while carrying multiple backpacks.

Duda takes an all-in-one approach. Built specifically for web professionals and digital marketers, the platform handles performance optimization, security, mobile responsiveness, and essential features natively. No plugin juggling, no compatibility issues, no mystery slowdowns.

This streamlined architecture is why Duda sites consistently deliver fast load times with fewer technical headaches.

Why This Performance Gap Matters for Your Business

Most of our clients don't have dedicated web teams. They're running accounting practices, mortgage brokerages, health clinics, and consulting firms. They need their website to load quickly, look professional, and help potential clients contact them—without the ongoing stress of technical maintenance.

Here's what website performance directly impacts:

• First Impressions: Recent studies consistently show that over half of mobile users abandon sites that take longer than 3 seconds to load. Your website speed literally determines whether people stick around to learn about your services.
• Search Engine Rankings: Google explicitly uses Core Web Vitals as ranking factors. A faster site doesn't just provide better user experience—it helps you appear higher in search results.
• Conversion Rates: When visitors can quickly find what they need and easily navigate your site, they're more likely to contact you, book appointments, or request quotes.
• Professional Credibility: A slow, clunky website suggests your business might be equally unreliable. Fair or not, people make snap judgments based on their first digital interaction with you.



Our WordPress Experience: Why We Made the Switch

At The Caper, we've managed hundreds of websites since 2016. We've seen the full spectrum of what works—and what doesn't—in real-world business applications.

Our WordPress experience taught us that:

• Maintenance is constant. Plugin updates can break functionality overnight, often when you least expect it.
• Performance is unpredictable. The same theme and plugins can perform differently depending on hosting, other plugins, and mysterious compatibility issues.
• Clients feel helpless. Making simple updates often requires technical knowledge or expensive developer time.
• Hidden costs accumulate. "Free" WordPress becomes expensive when you factor in premium plugins, security services, performance optimization, and ongoing maintenance.

We're not anti-WordPress—it's a powerful platform with its place in the ecosystem. But for small service businesses focused on growth rather than web development, it often creates more problems than it solves.



The Duda Advantage for Service Businesses

Switching to Duda has transformed how we deliver websites for clients. Here's what we can now guarantee:

✅ Responsive design that actually works across all devices

✅ Integrated SEO tools without plugin conflicts

✅ Built-in lead capture forms that connect to email marketing

✅ Automatic security updates without breaking functionality

✅ 99.9% uptime with managed hosting included

✅ Client-friendly editing that doesn't require technical skills

✅ Fast-loading sites that pass Google's performance tests

This isn't just about technical specs—it's about removing barriers between your business and your potential clients.



What Fast Website Performance Means for Your Marketing

You can invest in beautiful design, compelling copy, and strategic SEO—but if your site loads slowly, you're undermining all that effort.

When your website performs well:

• Google rewards you with better search rankings
• Visitors stay longer and explore your services
• Contact forms get completed instead of abandoned
• You feel confident sharing your web address

When it doesn't:

• Potential clients bounce before seeing what you offer
• Search engines downrank your content
• Marketing investments deliver lower returns
• You avoid promoting your own website

We want every client to feel proud of their online presence and confident that their website supports their business goals rather than sabotaging them.



Why Duda Powers Our "Seen & Heard" Packages

At The Caper, our Seen & Heard packages help service businesses build consistent online visibility through strategic content, smart automation, and professional web presence.

But here's the critical connection: If your website isn't fast, clear, and mobile-friendly, even the best content strategy won't convert visitors into clients.

That's why Duda forms the foundation of our:

• Serious Social packages—supporting businesses that need blog-integrated websites for content marketing and lead generation
• Marketing Magic programs—our comprehensive, multi-channel growth strategies
• DIY resources—even our educational materials benefit from Duda's reliability and speed

Your technology should amplify your marketing efforts, not undermine them.

The Bottom Line: 

Your Website Should Work as Hard as You Do

If your current website loads slowly, confuses visitors, or requires constant technical attention, you're fighting an uphill battle. Every day your site underperforms is a day you're potentially losing clients to competitors with better online experiences.

You deserve a website that:

• Loads fast on every device
• Looks professional and builds trust
• Updates easily without technical drama
• Supports your marketing instead of sabotaging it
• Grows with your business rather than holding it back

The 2025 performance data makes it clear: platform choice matters more than ever. With Google increasingly prioritizing user experience in search rankings, having a fast, reliable website isn't just nice to have—it's essential for business growth.

Ready to stop fighting your website and start using it as a growth tool? Book a Digital Deep Dive and let's explore what's possible when your online presence actually works for you.

Your future clients are searching for your services right now. Make sure they can find you—and stick around long enough to get in touch.