# Keyword Research: AI Web Development + Images
**Date:** 2026-01-09
**Budget Used:** ~$3.50 of $15
**Focus:** Developers coding with AI tools (Claude Code, Cursor, vibecoding) who need image generation

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## 🏆 TOP 20 KEYWORDS BY OPPORTUNITY

### TIER 1: MUST TARGET (High Vol + Low KD)
| Keyword | Vol | KD | SERP Status | Priority |
|---------|-----|----|----|----------|
| placeholder images | 14,800 | 32 | ✅ VALIDATED | 🔥🔥🔥 |
| test images | 6,600 | 9 | ⚠️ Mixed intent | 🔥🔥 |
| marketing images | 2,900 | 19 | Not analyzed | 🔥🔥 |
| social media images | 1,900 | 14 | Not analyzed | 🔥🔥 |
| advertising images | 1,600 | 4 | Not analyzed | 🔥🔥 |
| midjourney alternative | 1,300 | 3 | Not analyzed | 🔥🔥 |
| ~~banner images~~ | ~~27,100~~ | ~~21~~ | ❌ Wrong intent | ~~SKIP~~ |

### TIER 2: STRONG OPPORTUNITIES (Medium Vol + Low KD)
| Keyword | Vol | KD | Priority |
|---------|-----|----|----------|
| promotional images | 880 | 17 | ⭐⭐ |
| how to use cursor ai | 880 | 14 | ⭐⭐ |
| lorem picsum | 880 | 15 | ⭐⭐ |
| saas landing page | 720 | 3 | ⭐⭐ |
| hero image website | 720 | 17 | ⭐⭐ |
| blog images | 720 | 7 | ⭐⭐ |
| dummy images | 720 | 16 | ⭐⭐ |

### TIER 3: NICHE WINS (Lower Vol but Ultra-Low KD)
| Keyword | Vol | KD | Priority |
|---------|-----|----|----------|
| ecommerce images | 480 | 10 | ⭐ |
| cursor ai alternative | 480 | 12 | ⭐ |
| placeholder image generator | 480 | 32 | ⭐ |
| github copilot tutorial | 320 | 14 | ⭐ |
| hero section examples | 260 | 4 | ⭐ |
| claude code images | 210 | 44 | ⭐ UNIQUE |

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## 🔍 SERP ANALYSIS RESULTS

### ✅ "placeholder images" — PRIMARY TARGET
**Volume:** 14,800 | **KD:** 32

**Top Competitors:**
1. placehold.co — Simple SVG/PNG placeholders
2. picsum.photos — Random photo placeholders (Lorem Picsum)
3. placehold.net — Similar to placehold.co

**Why Banatie Wins:**
- AI-generated (contextual, not random)
- Live URLs (placeholder → production)
- Prompt-based control
- "AI placeholder images" in Google's related searches

**Action:** HIGH PRIORITY content

### ❌ "banner images" — SKIP
**Volume:** 27,100 | **KD:** 21

**Problem:** Wrong intent
- SERP dominated by stock photo sites (Unsplash, Adobe, Freepik)
- Users want to FIND images, not GENERATE
- No opportunity for Banatie

**Action:** Archived

### ⚠️ "test images" — SECONDARY
**Volume:** 6,600 | **KD:** 9

**Problem:** Mixed intent
- Lorem Picsum #1 (good signal)
- But stock sites pollute SERP
- Better to capture via "placeholder images"

**Action:** Include as H2 in placeholder content

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## 📊 LONG-TAIL QUESTIONS ANALYSIS

### Results Summary
| Category | Keywords Tested | With Data | Null |
|----------|-----------------|-----------|------|
| Claude Code + Images | 6 | 2 | 4 |
| Vibecoding + Images | 4 | 0 | 4 |
| Generic AI + Images | 6 | 0 | 6 |
| Component + Images | 4 | 0 | 4 |

### Only Keywords With Data
| Keyword | Volume |
|---------|--------|
| can claude code generate images | 20 |
| claude code image generation | 10 |

### Key Insight: The Gap Problem
- Long-tail question keywords = mostly ZERO volume
- People search for SOLUTIONS ("placeholder images") not PROBLEMS ("how to get images for vibe coding")
- SEO for question keywords = low ROI

### Strategy
1. ❌ Don't target question keywords standalone
2. ✅ Target solution keywords ("placeholder images")
3. ✅ Use questions as H2s within solution content
4. ✅ Answer PAA questions in main content

---

## 📊 KEY STRATEGIC INSIGHTS

### 1. IMAGE KEYWORDS = GOLD MINE
Generic "[category] images" keywords have:
- HIGH volume (1k-27k)
- LOW competition (KD 4-21)
- LOW advertiser interest (competition index 0.01-0.20)

### 2. AI + CATEGORY = AVOID
Pattern confirmed across all blocks:
- "ai [category]" = HIGH competition, LOW volume
- "[category] images" = LOW competition, HIGH volume

**Position as:** "images for developers" not "AI image generator"

### 3. PLACEHOLDER IMAGES = PERFECT FIT
- 14,800 monthly searches
- Direct developer intent
- Beatable competitors (Lorem Picsum, placehold.co)
- Natural fit for Banatie's "Live URLs" feature
- "AI placeholder images" in related searches = VALIDATION

### 4. CLAUDE CODE > CURSOR FOR IMAGES
- "claude code images" = 210 vol (exists)
- "cursor ai images" = 0 vol (doesn't exist)

**Position Banatie as:** "images for Claude Code developers"

### 5. VIBECODING TREND
- 10 → 135,000 searches in 3 months
- Zero image-related queries = content gap
- Opportunity to own "images for vibecoding" before competition

### 6. COMPETITOR LANDSCAPE SHIFTING
| Competitor | Trend |
|------------|-------|
| fal.ai | 📈 +175% |
| runware | 📈 +529% |
| midjourney alternative | 📉 -84% |
| stable diffusion api | 📉 -64% |

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## 🎯 FINAL PRIORITY MATRIX

### ✅ DO NOW (Validated)
1. **"Placeholder Images API"** — 14,800 vol, KD 32, perfect intent
2. **"Midjourney Alternatives"** — 1,300 vol, KD 3, declining volume (urgent)
3. **"Advertising Images"** — 1,600 vol, KD 4, quick win

### ⏳ DO NEXT (Need SERP validation)
1. "Marketing Images" — 2,900 vol, KD 19
2. "Social Media Images" — 1,900 vol, KD 14
3. "Blog Images" — 720 vol, KD 7

### ❌ SKIP
1. ~~"Banner Images"~~ — Wrong intent (stock photos)
2. ~~Long-tail questions~~ — No volume

---

## 📁 FILES CREATED

### 0-inbox/ (Content Ideas)
| File | Status | Priority |
|------|--------|----------|
| placeholder-images-api.md | ✅ Validated | HIGH |
| advertising-images-guide.md | New | MEDIUM |
| midjourney-alternatives-developers.md | New | URGENT |
| test-images-development.md | Deprioritized | LOW |
| banner-images-guide.md | ❌ Archived | SKIP |

### research/keywords/
| File | Content |
|------|---------|
| ai-web-dev-images-2026-01-09.md | This file (main research) |
| serp-analysis-2026-01-09.md | SERP deep dives |

---

## Research Complete ✓

**Total Budget:** ~$3.60 of $15 (24%)
**Keywords Analyzed:** 250+
**SERP Analyzed:** 3 keywords
**Validated Opportunities:** 3
**Archived Ideas:** 1

---

## 🛒 PRODUCT PHOTOGRAPHY EXPANSION

**See full report:** `product-photography-2026-01-09.md`

### Top Product Photography Keywords
| Keyword | Vol | KD | Priority |
|---------|-----|----|----|-------|
| product shots | 720 | 21 | 🔥🔥 |
| ecommerce photography | 880 | 32 | 🔥🔥 |
| ai product photos | 320 | 23 | 🔥 |
| amazon product images | 140 | 9 | 🔥 |
| white background product photos | 50 | 5 | ⭐ |

### Key Insight
Original seed keywords had ZERO volume:
- "generate product color variants" = null
- "bulk product image generation" = null
- "product mockup api" = null
- "automate product photography" = null

**People search for END results, not automation solutions.**

### Recommendation
Product photography is SECONDARY to placeholder images:
- Placeholder: 14,800 vol
- eCommerce photography: 880 vol

Target product photography AFTER placeholder images content is live.
