ongoing test ?

I help WordPress sites go from slow 😭 to Core Web Vitals approved 😎

Is WordPress performance frustrating you? Exciting you? Sparking your curiosity? Are you driven to boost those PageSpeed scores?

I’m Adame. WordPress performance is my turf 💪👑🚀

Scroll down to get your WordPress performance condition dealt with 👀 

What is a good performance?

You can’t address WordPress performance without first defining what “good performance” actually means.

You’ve seen that type of “before and after” comparisons. 

Let's get you from red
To the green, yeaaaay

These are “lab results”, tests in a controlled setting. They’re a good starting point, but it doesn’t necessarily say that your website has a good performance.

This badge is what really matters: passing Core Web Vitals

You either get: 

You should be concerned when you see this
Tap yourself on the shoulder for a job well done!

To pass Core Web Vitals, a page needs to deliver a good experience for at least 75% of real-user visits, or “field results” for each of the three main metrics: LCP, INP, CLS.

This should be your ultimate goal, and nothing else

It’s not about scoring 100 in lab tests. It’s about real-user experience, measured statistically, with 75% of visits needing to meet the thresholds for each metric.

Get busy learning about Web Vitals now. 

Core Web Vitals

Web vitals you should make sure to sort out

Other important Web Vitals

Web vitals complementary to Core Web Vitals

Deprecated web vitals

Web vitals you should not care about

Best methodology to improve WordPress websites performance?

It depends on what performance work needs to be done. 

Curative approach

My six-step iterative process uses the DMAIC framework [Define, Measure, Analyze, Improve, and Control] for the first 5, and I add an [Iterate] step to restart the cycle whenever necessary.

Hover to check what each step does

1
Define
Define performance goals, problems to solve, constrains and limits
2
Measure
Measure the current performance accurately to establish a baseline
3
Analyze
Analyze data to find bottlenecks, main root causes, and opportunities
4
Improve
Implement solutions that tackle the identified root causes
5
Control
Validate the fixes' safety and performance gain over time
6
Iterate
Continuously monitor performance and restart the cycle as needed

Preventive approach

My four-step iterative process uses the PDCA framework [Plan, Do, Check], with the [Act] step traded for the above mentioned [Curative Approach].

Hover to check what each step does

1
Plan
Define layout and features, an explore performance-friendly options or solutions
2
Do
Add the component(s) and do the required performance adjustments if needed
3
Check
Monitor performance the performance impact over time
4
Act
Initiate the "Curative Approach" if further adjustments are needed

These methods aren’t rigid rules, but they’re shaped by years of hands-on performance work.

In web performance, DMAIC helps you focus on real, data-backed problems instead of guessing, while PDCA makes sure you start strong and improve steadily.

The payoff? Real, lasting improvements that bring measurable business value. It may take more time and effort, but it solves the root issues, not just the symptoms.

Best performance plugin to improve WordPress performance?

I reviewed 87 WordPress performance plugins with 143 unique features.

Most offer just 15–30 features each and often don’t play well together. 

No single plugin can solve every issue. If it existed, it would need to cover hundreds of features reliably.

If you had to pick one, choose one that meets my Performance Baseline for 2025, automates the hardest tasks, and can be customized beyond its capabilities.

WP Rocket is my #1. 

Cost vs. Improvement vs. Stability

Performance tools and services vary widely, but there’s a clear trade-off between cost, results, and stability.

The tool below can help you set realistic expectations and make smarter investment decisions based on what matters most to you.

Select two constraints to see the potential project outcome.

Cheat or not to cheat 🤔

It’s relatively easy to manipulate scores in PageSpeed Insights.

This can be done by hiding performance issues, tricking the audit into ignoring heavy elements, or even running the test on an almost empty page.

The result? Perfect metrics, glowing green galore across the board, and that satisfying feeling of a job well done! 

Screenshot shared by a customer after getting the site's performance done for $5

One would expect as a result to dominate conversions and sales and secure top rankings for every relevant keyword.

Nah, that ain’t happening if you cheat your way to improve performance.

Real-world performance metrics will never improve that way. Gua-ran-teed. 

A different reality will set in.

Performance after 3 months

The following sums up the difference between gaming the system for fake wins and doing the real work, fixing, and making sure there is a real performance gain.

Gaming the system

Can achieve all green
At best, stagnant, often, worsened
Fast to get done, typically 1 day
$5 to $150
Never improved, likely degraded
No improvement
Stagnant or worsened

Do things properly

Can achieve all green
Noticeable and lasting improvements
At least 1 month, ideally 6 months
$500+
Improved and lasting
Measurable improvement
Improved