---
slug: placeholder-ai-images
title: "AI Placeholder Images — Capture 30K Monthly Searches"
status: inbox
created: 2026-01-02
source: research
priority: high
---

# Idea

## Discovery

**Source:** DataForSEO keyword research + Reddit community analysis
**Evidence:** 
- 31,000+ monthly searches for placeholder-related terms
- Zero AI-generated placeholder services exist
- Direct user quote from r/ClaudeAI: "right now my instructions are to just do placeholder image in various sizes... I am wondering if there is an mcp that can create or fetch these images"

## Why This Matters

This is a **blue ocean opportunity**. The entire placeholder image market (placehold.co, picsum.photos, etc.) returns random stock photos or gray boxes. Nobody offers AI-generated, context-aware placeholders.

Banatie's Live URLs feature can capture this entire market with proper positioning.

## Keyword Targets

### Zero/Low Difficulty (Target First)
| Keyword | Volume | KD |
|---------|--------|----| 
| image placeholder dark | 4,400 | 2 |
| app placeholder image | 1,900 | 2 |
| profile placeholder image | 720 | 0 |
| ios placeholder image | 590 | 0 |
| dummy photo image | 720 | 5 |

### High Volume Cluster
| Keyword | Volume | KD |
|---------|--------|----| 
| placeholder image | 14,800 | 18 |
| image placeholder | 14,800 | 17 |

## Content Strategy

### Option A: Documentation Section
Create `/docs/placeholders/` with subsections:
- Dark mode placeholders (4,400 vol)
- Profile/avatar placeholders (2,500 vol)
- Size-specific placeholders (1,000 vol)
- Mobile app placeholders (1,200 vol)

### Option B: Dedicated Landing Page
Create `/placeholder-images` targeting core 14,800 vol cluster:
- Position Live URLs as "AI Placeholder Service"
- Interactive examples with common sizes
- Code snippets for HTML/CSS/React

### Option C: Both (Recommended)
- Landing page for awareness/SEO
- Docs for conversion/usage

## Competitive Advantage

| Competitor | What They Do | Our Advantage |
|------------|--------------|---------------|
| placehold.co | Gray boxes | Real AI images |
| picsum.photos | Random stock | Context-aware |
| placekitten | Random cats | Prompt-based |
| via.placeholder | Gray boxes, slow | Fast CDN + AI |

## Implementation Notes

For Live URLs to capture this market:
1. Support common sizes: 200x200, 600x400, 1200x630, etc.
2. Enable dark mode generation via URL param
3. Allow category hints: `/live/profile-avatar/200x200`
4. Consider pre-generated cache for instant loading

## Full Research

See: `research/keywords/placeholder-niche-deep-dive-2026-01-02.md`