About this episode
In this episode, we dive deep into the findings of an extensive study analyzing five hundred and eighty-three local Calgary business websites that are currently holding positions in Google’s top ten results. We move beyond subjective opinions and industry myths to look at the hard facts: which technology actually helps a business rank higher in our specific local market? By investigating the structural DNA of these high-performing sites, we reveal several surprising trends that challenge traditional SEO wisdom for Alberta business owners. One of the most striking revelations from the research involves the battle between major content management systems. While WordPress remains the most common choice, the study found that Squarespace sites actually outperform them in the most competitive spots. Specifically, forty-seven percent of Squarespace sites analyzed were sitting in the coveted top three positions, compared to just thirty-six percent for WordPress-based resources. Meanwhile, the data highlights significant ranking hurdles for Wix users. While many Wix sites successfully reach the first page, fifty percent of them are trapped in the bottom positions, and only a tiny eight percent manage to reach the top three spots on the page. We also break down the impact of various page builders within the WordPress ecosystem. The analysis shows a clear advantage for the native Gutenberg editor, which consistently leads to better average search positions than popular heavyweights like Elementor or Divi. This shift suggests that Google is increasingly rewarding the leaner, faster code associated with native editors. Furthermore, we debunk the common myth regarding Domain Rating for local search. The research proves that a high authority score is not a requirement for success in Calgary, as numerous websites with a Domain Rating lower than five are currently capturing the top spots in their respective niches. Finally, we address the technical gaps and the future of search accessibility. With eighty percent of local companies currently failing to implement proper caching, there is a massive opportunity for savvy business owners to gain a competitive speed advantage. We also discuss the importance of AI bot accessibility, noting that the few businesses choosing to block crawlers like GPTBot are currently ranking worse than those who maintain an open architecture. For the full study, including all methodology and visual charts, please visit: https://visibilitydrip.ca/blog/web-design/best-performing-cms-websites-calgary/