April 7, 2026 · 6 min read
Page speed is a modest ranking factor and a major conversion factor. For local businesses whose visitors are usually on a phone with one bar of signal, that second point dominates.
Images are almost always the problem
Unoptimized job-site photography is the single most common cause of slow local sites. Modern formats, correct sizing and lazy loading typically fix most of it.
Third-party scripts add up
Chat widgets, tracking pixels, review carousels and booking embeds each add weight. Audit them and keep only what earns its cost.
Test on real conditions
Your office wifi is not your customer's experience. Test on a throttled mobile connection, which is how most emergency service searches actually happen.