# SEO Research Report: Article Ideas for Josh Mercer & Mara Solheim

**Date:** 2026-01-10
**Researcher:** @spy
**Status:** Complete

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## Executive Summary

Research identified 12 high-opportunity article topics across both niches. Developer tools (Josh) show strong volume around Cursor IDE and Claude Code comparisons. Creative AI tools (Mara) have exceptional opportunities in AI video generation, particularly CapCut and image-to-video workflows. All recommendations have KD under 40 and volume 500+.

## Research Objective

Find 4-6 article ideas each for two independent blog authors launching personal Hashnode blogs:
- **Josh Mercer**: AI coding tools, developer workflows
- **Mara Solheim**: AI image/video generation, creative workflows

## Methodology

**Tools Used:**
- DataForSEO Keyword Suggestions (11 queries)
- DataForSEO Keyword Ideas (2 queries)
- Perplexity (landscape research)

**Keywords researched:** cursor ide, claude code, ai coding assistant, windsurf ide, cursor vs copilot, midjourney prompts, ai video generator, flux ai, leonardo ai, runway ml

**Estimated cost:** $0.40-0.50

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# Josh Mercer: AI Developer Tools (6 Article Ideas)

## Article 1: Cursor IDE Setup Guide

| Metric | Value |
|--------|-------|
| **Primary Keyword** | cursor ide |
| **Search Volume** | 18,100/month |
| **Keyword Difficulty** | 35 |
| **Search Intent** | Informational/Navigational |

**Article Title:** "Cursor IDE: The AI Code Editor That Actually Gets It Right (Setup + First Impressions)"

**Content Angle:** Practical first-time setup guide with honest review. Cover installation, initial configuration, and first week experience. Focus on what worked and what frustrated him as a fullstack developer working on real client projects.

**Target Audience:** Developers curious about AI-native code editors, VS Code users considering switching, freelancers evaluating productivity tools.

**Author Fit:** Perfect for Josh's "I tried X so you don't have to" style. He can share real experiences from using it on client projects, including the learning curve and initial confusion.

**Secondary Keywords:**
- cursor ide review (880/month)
- cursor ide free (1,300/month)
- cursor ai code editor (1,000/month)

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## Article 2: Claude Code Installation Guide

| Metric | Value |
|--------|-------|
| **Primary Keyword** | install claude code |
| **Search Volume** | 8,100/month |
| **Keyword Difficulty** | 22 |
| **Search Intent** | Transactional/Informational |

**Article Title:** "How to Install Claude Code: Complete Setup Guide for Mac, Linux & Windows"

**Content Angle:** Step-by-step installation guide covering all platforms. Include common errors, troubleshooting tips, and initial configuration. Show what the first session looks like with practical examples.

**Target Audience:** Developers who heard about Claude Code and want to try it, devs moving from Cursor/Copilot, terminal-native developers.

**Author Fit:** Josh's practical style shines here. He can document actual installation process, share the "gotchas" he encountered, and provide real terminal output examples.

**Secondary Keywords:**
- claude code download (2,900/month)
- how to use claude code (1,900/month)
- claude code vs cursor (4,400/month)

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## Article 3: Cursor vs GitHub Copilot Comparison

| Metric | Value |
|--------|-------|
| **Primary Keyword** | cursor vs github copilot |
| **Search Volume** | 1,000/month |
| **Keyword Difficulty** | 7 |
| **Search Intent** | Commercial Investigation |

**Article Title:** "Cursor vs GitHub Copilot: Which AI Coding Assistant Should You Use in 2025?"

**Content Angle:** Side-by-side comparison based on actual usage. Test both on the same project. Cover: code completion quality, context understanding, pricing, integration, and when each tool shines. Be honest about trade-offs.

**Target Audience:** Developers deciding between AI assistants, teams evaluating tooling, freelancers comparing cost vs value.

**Author Fit:** Josh's balanced, skeptical approach is perfect. He can show real examples from his projects without overhyping either tool. His "your mileage may vary" honesty builds credibility.

**Secondary Keywords:**
- cursor vs copilot (2,900/month)
- github copilot vs cursor (1,300/month)
- cursor ai vs copilot (390/month)

---

## Article 4: Windsurf IDE Review

| Metric | Value |
|--------|-------|
| **Primary Keyword** | windsurf ide |
| **Search Volume** | 3,600/month |
| **Keyword Difficulty** | 34 |
| **Search Intent** | Informational/Navigational |

**Article Title:** "Windsurf IDE Review: A Fullstack Developer's Honest Take After One Month"

**Content Angle:** In-depth review after sustained usage. Cover unique features (Cascade, Flows), compare to Cursor, discuss pricing model. Focus on real workflow improvements or frustrations.

**Target Audience:** Developers exploring AI IDE alternatives, Cursor users curious about competition, devs interested in "agentic" coding.

**Author Fit:** Josh's "I've been using X for a month, here's what I wish someone told me" format. His startup experience helps evaluate whether the features solve real problems or are just marketing.

**Secondary Keywords:**
- windsurf ide review (480/month)
- windsurf ai (2,400/month)
- windsurf vs cursor (1,600/month)

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## Article 5: Best AI Coding Assistants Comparison

| Metric | Value |
|--------|-------|
| **Primary Keyword** | best ai coding assistant |
| **Search Volume** | 1,300/month |
| **Keyword Difficulty** | 38 |
| **Search Intent** | Commercial Investigation |

**Article Title:** "Best AI Coding Assistants in 2025: I Tested 5 Tools So You Don't Have To"

**Content Angle:** Comprehensive comparison of Cursor, Claude Code, GitHub Copilot, Windsurf, and Codeium. Create a decision matrix based on use case (frontend, backend, fullstack, freelance, team). Include pricing comparison.

**Target Audience:** Developers new to AI assistants, tech leads evaluating tools for teams, freelancers optimizing workflow.

**Author Fit:** This is Josh's signature listicle format. His hands-on testing credibility and balanced perspective make him ideal for recommendation content.

**Secondary Keywords:**
- ai coding assistant (4,400/month)
- ai coding tools (1,900/month)
- best ai code editor (720/month)

---

## Article 6: Claude Code Tutorial for Beginners

| Metric | Value |
|--------|-------|
| **Primary Keyword** | how to use claude code |
| **Search Volume** | 1,900/month |
| **Keyword Difficulty** | 28 |
| **Search Intent** | Informational |

**Article Title:** "How to Use Claude Code: A Practical Tutorial for Your First Real Project"

**Content Angle:** Beginner-friendly tutorial using Claude Code on an actual project, not a demo. Show the workflow, effective prompting, and common pitfalls. Include code examples and real outputs.

**Target Audience:** Developers who installed Claude Code but don't know where to start, terminal-hesitant devs, Cursor users trying Claude Code.

**Author Fit:** Josh's teaching style works perfectly. He can share his actual learning curve, mistakes he made, and the "aha moments" that made it click.

**Secondary Keywords:**
- claude code tutorial (1,000/month)
- claude code examples (590/month)
- claude code commands (480/month)

---

# Mara Solheim: Creative AI Tools (6 Article Ideas)

## Article 1: CapCut AI Video Generator Guide

| Metric | Value |
|--------|-------|
| **Primary Keyword** | capcut ai video generator |
| **Search Volume** | 14,800/month |
| **Keyword Difficulty** | 11 |
| **Search Intent** | Informational/Transactional |

**Article Title:** "CapCut AI Video Generator: I Made 10 Videos to Show You What's Actually Possible"

**Content Angle:** Hands-on exploration of CapCut's AI video features. Create different video types and show real results. Be honest about quality, limitations, and when it works best. Include before/after examples.

**Target Audience:** Content creators exploring video, marketers needing quick video content, creators who know CapCut for editing but not AI features.

**Author Fit:** Perfect for Mara's "I tried this so I can tell you if it's worth it" approach. Her genuine excitement when something works, balanced with honest frustrations, builds trust.

**Secondary Keywords:**
- capcut ai (22,200/month)
- capcut image to video (6,600/month)
- capcut text to video (5,400/month)

---

## Article 2: AI Image to Video Generation

| Metric | Value |
|--------|-------|
| **Primary Keyword** | ai image to video generator |
| **Search Volume** | 5,400/month |
| **Keyword Difficulty** | 18 |
| **Search Intent** | Transactional |

**Article Title:** "AI Image to Video: I Tested 5 Tools and This Is What Actually Works"

**Content Angle:** Comparative review of image-to-video tools (Runway, Pika, Luma Dream Machine, Kling, CapCut). Use the same source images across all tools. Show real outputs, rank by quality, discuss pricing and use cases.

**Target Audience:** Digital artists wanting to animate their work, marketers creating dynamic content from static images, creators exploring new formats.

**Author Fit:** Mara's visual background and hands-on testing style make this ideal. She can show her actual experiments and genuine reactions to the results.

**Secondary Keywords:**
- image to video ai (4,400/month)
- photo to video ai (2,900/month)
- ai animate image (1,600/month)

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## Article 3: Leonardo AI Complete Guide

| Metric | Value |
|--------|-------|
| **Primary Keyword** | leonardo ai image generator |
| **Search Volume** | 4,400/month |
| **Keyword Difficulty** | 31 |
| **Search Intent** | Informational/Navigational |

**Article Title:** "Leonardo AI: The Image Generator I Keep Coming Back To (Complete Guide)"

**Content Angle:** In-depth exploration of Leonardo AI features, including the new image-to-video capabilities. Cover free vs paid tiers, best models for different styles, and practical workflow tips. Show her actual creative process.

**Target Audience:** Creators looking for Midjourney alternatives, designers exploring AI tools, beginners wanting a more accessible platform than Stable Diffusion.

**Author Fit:** Mara's UX background helps explain the interface, and her creative enthusiasm makes the exploration engaging. She can share specific settings and prompts that work.

**Secondary Keywords:**
- leonardo ai pricing (1,600/month, KD 10)
- is leonardo ai free (480/month, KD 21)
- leonardo ai models (320/month)

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## Article 4: Runway ML Video Generation

| Metric | Value |
|--------|-------|
| **Primary Keyword** | runway ai video generator |
| **Search Volume** | 22,200/month |
| **Keyword Difficulty** | 34 |
| **Search Intent** | Informational/Navigational |

**Article Title:** "Runway AI Video Generator: Everything You Need to Know Before You Start"

**Content Angle:** Comprehensive Runway guide covering Gen-3 Alpha, pricing, best practices, and realistic expectations. Show what different credit amounts can actually produce. Include practical examples from her own projects.

**Target Audience:** Creators considering premium AI video tools, video editors exploring AI integration, content creators with budget for quality tools.

**Author Fit:** Mara's honest approach works perfectly for evaluating a premium tool. She can share whether the cost is worth it, with real examples proving her points.

**Secondary Keywords:**
- runway ml pricing (720/month, KD 9)
- runway gen 3 (880/month)
- runway video ai (1,300/month)

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## Article 5: Canva AI Video Features

| Metric | Value |
|--------|-------|
| **Primary Keyword** | canva ai video generator |
| **Search Volume** | 49,500/month |
| **Keyword Difficulty** | 16-25 |
| **Search Intent** | Informational |

**Article Title:** "Canva's AI Video Features: What's Actually Useful and What's Just Hype"

**Content Angle:** Honest evaluation of Canva's AI video tools. Many users already have Canva subscriptions - help them understand what's possible without additional tools. Compare quality to dedicated AI video platforms.

**Target Audience:** Existing Canva users curious about AI features, small business owners, social media managers, non-designers creating content.

**Author Fit:** Mara's accessibility focus and honest approach are perfect. She can help non-technical creators understand what they can realistically achieve without premium tools.

**Secondary Keywords:**
- canva ai features (3,600/month)
- canva text to video (2,400/month)
- canva ai image generator (8,100/month)

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## Article 6: Midjourney Prompts That Actually Work

| Metric | Value |
|--------|-------|
| **Primary Keyword** | midjourney prompts |
| **Search Volume** | 1,900/month |
| **Keyword Difficulty** | 35 |
| **Search Intent** | Informational |

**Article Title:** "Midjourney Prompts: What I Learned After 1000+ Generations (With Examples)"

**Content Angle:** Deep dive into prompt engineering based on extensive personal experimentation. Cover structure, style keywords, negative prompts, and v6-specific techniques. Include before/after prompt refinements with actual outputs.

**Target Audience:** Midjourney users wanting better results, creators frustrated with inconsistent outputs, designers integrating AI into workflow.

**Author Fit:** This is Mara's expertise zone. She can share her actual prompt evolution, mistakes, and breakthroughs. Her "I learned this the hard way" honesty resonates with readers.

**Secondary Keywords:**
- best midjourney prompts (390/month)
- midjourney prompt examples (480/month)
- midjourney v6 prompts (320/month)

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# Summary & Prioritization

## Josh Mercer: Recommended Publishing Order

| Priority | Article | Volume | KD | Rationale |
|----------|---------|--------|----|-----------|
| 1 | Cursor vs GitHub Copilot | 1,000 | 7 | Lowest KD, quick win |
| 2 | Install Claude Code | 8,100 | 22 | High volume, achievable KD |
| 3 | How to Use Claude Code | 1,900 | 28 | Natural follow-up |
| 4 | Cursor IDE Setup | 18,100 | 35 | Highest volume in set |
| 5 | Windsurf IDE Review | 3,600 | 34 | Emerging topic, less competition |
| 6 | Best AI Coding Assistants | 1,300 | 38 | Pillar content, links to other articles |

## Mara Solheim: Recommended Publishing Order

| Priority | Article | Volume | KD | Rationale |
|----------|---------|--------|----|-----------|
| 1 | CapCut AI Video Generator | 14,800 | 11 | Excellent volume/KD ratio |
| 2 | Canva AI Video Features | 49,500 | 16 | Massive volume, very low KD |
| 3 | AI Image to Video | 5,400 | 18 | Low KD, comparison format |
| 4 | Leonardo AI Guide | 4,400 | 31 | Growing platform, less saturated |
| 5 | Runway AI Video | 22,200 | 34 | High volume, establishes expertise |
| 6 | Midjourney Prompts | 1,900 | 35 | Deep expertise content, pillar piece |

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## Key Strategic Notes

1. **Josh's quick win**: The "Cursor vs GitHub Copilot" article (KD 7) is an excellent first post to establish ranking presence.

2. **Mara's massive opportunity**: The Canva and CapCut articles have exceptional volume/KD ratios. These should be priority #1-2.

3. **Cross-linking potential**: Both authors can create internal link structures - Josh links between IDE/coding assistant articles, Mara links between video tool articles.

4. **Timing consideration**: Claude Code is trending heavily right now. Josh should prioritize those articles while search volume is elevated.

5. **Differentiation**: The low-competition keywords suggest these niches have room for quality content. Both authors' authentic, hands-on voices will stand out against generic listicles.

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## Data Sources

All keyword data from DataForSEO Labs (Google Keyword Suggestions, Keyword Ideas) - January 2026.
