Founder of Goodspeed
Images and media files make up a significant portion of a website’s total page weight, directly affecting how fast your site loads. If your Framer website features high-resolution images and rich media, failing to optimise them can lead to sluggish performance, high bounce rates, and poor SEO rankings.
Framer provides a sleek, no-code interface for building visually stunning websites, but speed can take a hit if you upload uncompressed images or use the wrong file formats. Since Google prioritises fast-loading pages, you need image optimisation for a faster loading Framer website to improve both user experience and search visibility.
For hands-on support, explore our Framer speed optimisation services—built to double load speed and boost conversions.
This guide focuses strictly on images and asset handling in Framer. You’ll learn how to choose the right formats, compress files effectively, and structure assets properly to keep your site fast and visually appealing.
1. Why Image Optimisation Matters in Framer
Optimising images isn’t just about reducing file sizes—it’s about improving page load speed, user experience, and SEO performance. Since 53% of mobile users abandon a page if it takes longer than three seconds to load, unoptimised images can be a silent killer of engagement and conversions.
1.1 Impact on Load Time & User Experience
The speed of your website shapes first impressions. Research shows that sites on Google’s first page load in 1.65 seconds on average, setting a clear benchmark for performance-focused websites. Large, uncompressed images can quickly increase page weight, making Framer sites sluggish—especially for mobile users.
Take The Nations’ website, for example. After Goodspeed optimised the images and assets, their site saw a significant improvement in load times, leading to better user engagement and reduced bounce rates. This demonstrates how a well-executed image strategy can create a frictionless browsing experience.
If you're unsure where to begin, start with a comprehensive performance audit for your Framer website to uncover major asset issues.
1.2 SEO & Performance Benefits
Google’s ranking algorithm considers page speed a key factor, making image-heavy websites vulnerable to lower search visibility. If your Framer site loads slowly, it may not only frustrate users but also struggle to rank well.
When Formula Bot migrated to Framer, it implemented strategic image optimisation, leading to a 75% faster load speed and an increase in Google rankings from 6th to 2nd place. This case proves that even simple optimisations—like compressing images and choosing the right formats—can have a direct impact on search rankings.
Additionally, Framer’s built-in pre-rendering enhances Framer performance, providing a technical advantage for SEO strategies.
For a complete view of how SEO and speed intersect, read our best practices for on-page SEO that enhance Framer performance.
2. Pre-Upload Preparation
Before uploading assets into Framer, it’s essential to prepare files correctly. Using the right format, compressing images effectively, and naming files strategically can drastically improve performance.
2.1 Choosing the Right File Format
Using the appropriate file type ensures that your images retain quality while keeping file sizes low.
Here’s how to select the right format:
JPG or WebP – Ideal for photographs and complex images. WebP offers smaller file sizes without noticeable quality loss.
PNG – Best for images requiring transparency but should be used sparingly as PNG files tend to be larger.
SVG – Perfect for icons and vector graphics, as they remain sharp at any resolution with minimal impact on load time.
Since mobile pages load 70.9% slower than desktop on average, ensuring lightweight assets across all devices is critical. A WebP image, for instance, can reduce file size by up to 30% compared to PNG or JPG, making it an optimal choice for balancing quality and speed.
2.2 Compression Tools & Techniques
Even with the right formats, images must be compressed before uploading to Framer. Compression reduces file size without compromising visible quality, keeping your site fast and responsive.
Tools like TinyPNG, Squoosh, and Photoshop’s “Save for Web” allow you to shrink image sizes efficiently.
Aim for:
Under 100 KB for hero images, when possible, to prevent unnecessary page bloat.
A balance between compression and quality, ensuring images still look crisp on high-resolution screens.
A well-optimised image strategy helped Formula Bot achieve an “A+” Google Lighthouse rating, demonstrating how proper compression directly boosts performance metrics.
Additionally, PageSpeed Insights confirms that compressed images significantly improve site load times, which in turn enhances speed optimisation.
2.3 Naming & Organising Files
Framer websites benefit from structured file management, particularly when handling large numbers of assets.
A well-organised naming convention:
Improves SEO – Descriptive filenames (e.g., modern-office-hero-image.jpg) help search engines understand image content, improving rankings.
Enhances workflow efficiency – Categorising images in folders (e.g., /hero-images/ or /icons/) ensures easy updates and prevents duplicate uploads.
As covered in our guide on improving Core Web Vitals in Framer, Google’s Largest Contentful Paint (LCP) metric accounts for 25% of a site’s Performance Score, meaning efficiently organised and optimised images contribute to a better Core Web Vitals assessment.
3. Uploading Images & Assets in Framer
Once your images are properly formatted and compressed, the next step is to upload them efficiently in Framer. Using the right upload methods, asset variants, and loading strategies ensures that your website maintains fast performance and a seamless user experience.
3.1 Best Practices for Adding Images
Uploading images in Framer seems simple—just drag and drop. However, incorrectly sized or excessively large files can negatively impact site speed. Follow these best practices:
Use exact image dimensions – Don’t upload oversized images expecting Framer to resize them. Instead, match the image dimensions to its actual display size.
Use WebP for maximum efficiency – WebP images can reduce file size by up to 30% compared to JPG and PNG without noticeable quality loss.
Optimise background images – Instead of full-size backgrounds, consider using CSS overlays or gradients for lighter load times.
A 1-second load time can yield 2.5-3x higher conversion rates, reinforcing the need for a speed-first approach to image uploads. PageSpeed Insights confirms that properly compressed and sized images are essential for maintaining optimal load speeds and Core Web Vitals performance.
3.2 Handling Asset Variants for Responsive Design
One common mistake is using a single large image for all screen sizes, which can slow down performance on mobile devices. Instead, Framer allows you to:
Upload multiple image sizes for different breakpoints (desktop, tablet, mobile).
Use SVGs for icons and simple graphics since they scale perfectly without adding unnecessary weight.
Test image responsiveness in Framer’s preview mode to ensure proper rendering on different devices.
Read more about this in Optimising Your Framer Template for Speed and Performance: Tips and Tricks.
3.3 Using Placeholders & Progressive Loading
To prevent slow-loading images from causing layout shifts, consider using:
Low-resolution placeholders – Load a lightweight version first, then replace it with the high-quality image once the page is ready.
Lazy loading – Lazy loading in Framer delays off-screen images from loading until they enter the viewport, reducing initial page load time.
Need expert help executing these best practices? Our Framer agency builds visually stunning, lightning-fast websites—without the need for a dedicated dev team.
4. Optimising Other Media Assets in Framer
Beyond images, other assets such as icons, GIFs, and small videos play a role in your website’s overall performance. Properly optimising these assets ensures that they enhance, rather than slow down, the user experience.
4.1 SVG & Icon Management
Icons are often overlooked when it comes to speed optimisation, yet they add up quickly in total page weight. The best approach is to:
Use SVGs instead of PNG icons, as they are scalable, lightweight, and don’t pixelate.
Convert text-based icons into web fonts when applicable, reducing the number of separate image requests.
4.2 GIFs & Small Animations
GIFs may seem like a quick solution for adding movement, but they are notoriously large in file size. Instead, use:
MP4 or WebM files, which offer better compression and smoother playback.
CSS animations, which are much lighter than frame-based GIFs.
Also, reducing JavaScript-heavy visuals is key—see code optimisation techniques for Framer that help enhance performance across the board.
Keeping assets in check over time is just as important—use our Framer maintenance checklist to stay ahead of performance issues.
5. Common Mistakes with Framer Assets
Even with the best tools, improper asset handling can still slow down your site. Here are the most common mistakes to avoid.
5.1 Uploading Full-Resolution Photos
Many users upload high-resolution images, assuming Framer will scale them down effectively. However, large images unnecessarily increase load times and waste bandwidth.
Resize your images before uploading—never upload a 3000px image if it only needs to display at 600px wide.
Google’s Largest Contentful Paint (LCP) metric accounts for 25% of a website’s performance score, so reducing image load time is crucial.
5.2 Overusing Background Videos & GIFs
Motion graphics can make your site feel dynamic, but excessive animations can slow performance.
For example, Goodspeed improved the Google Lighthouse scores of a Financial Services Framer site by focusing on lightweight media assets.
A good solution is to use short loops or static images instead of long GIFs.
5.3 Ignoring Mobile-First Optimisation
Most site visitors access websites on mobile devices, yet many Framer users still fail to optimise images for mobile speeds.
Mobile pages load 70.9% slower than desktop on average, reinforcing the need for mobile-first asset handling.
For more complex image handling and responsive breakpoints, our expert Framer developers can help customise your site’s performance strategy.
Streamline Your Framer Site’s Load Times
Optimising images and assets is key to site optimisation and improving Framer performance. By following best practices—choosing the right formats, compressing files, and leveraging Framer’s built-in tools—you ensure a faster loading Framer website without compromising design.
PageSpeed Insights confirms that structured asset handling improves performance. You can also improve asset delivery with smart caching strategies for Framer.
A strategic approach to image optimisation for a faster loading Framer website enhances both user experience and SEO, keeping visitors engaged and conversions high.
Need more help? Book a free consultation to optimise your Framer website speed.
Written By
Founder of Goodspeed
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