---
slug: placeholder-images-api
title: "Placeholder Images API: Modern Alternative to Lorem Picsum"
status: inbox
priority: HIGH
created: 2026-01-09
source: keyword-research
validated: 2026-01-09
---

# Idea — VALIDATED ✓

## Discovery

**Source:** Keyword research + SERP analysis — 2026-01-09
**Evidence:** 
- "placeholder images" = 14,800 monthly searches
- KD: 32 (medium difficulty)
- "AI placeholder images" in Google's related searches ← DIRECT VALIDATION
- SERP dominated by simple placeholder tools (beatable)

## SERP Analysis Results

### Top 3 Competitors to Beat:

**1. placehold.co (Rank #1)**
- Simple SVG/PNG placeholder generator
- URL-based: `placehold.co/600x400`
- Features: custom text, colors, formats
- Weakness: Static, no context, no real images

**2. picsum.photos / Lorem Picsum (Rank #2)**
- Random photo placeholders from Unsplash
- URL-based: `picsum.photos/600/400`
- Features: blur, grayscale, specific photos by ID
- Weakness: Random (not contextual), limited control, no AI

**3. placehold.net (Rank #7)**
- Similar to placehold.co
- Weakness: Same limitations

### SERP Features Present:
- People Also Ask (answer these in content!)
- Video results (YouTube opportunity)
- Related searches include "AI placeholder images"

## Why This Matters

PERFECT fit for Banatie:
1. **Developer intent** — 100% of SERP is dev-focused
2. **Beatable competitors** — simple tools, not giants
3. **"AI placeholder images"** in related searches = Google validates our angle
4. **Live URLs feature** — unique differentiator (placeholder → production)

## Banatie Differentiation

| Feature | placehold.co | Lorem Picsum | Banatie |
|---------|--------------|--------------|---------|
| Real images | ❌ | ✓ (random) | ✓ (contextual) |
| AI-generated | ❌ | ❌ | ✓ |
| Prompt-based | ❌ | ❌ | ✓ |
| Live URLs | ❌ | ❌ | ✓ |
| API-first | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |

## Content Angle

**Primary:** "Placeholder Images API: Beyond Lorem Picsum"
- Problems with random placeholders
- Why AI-generated contextual placeholders are better
- Banatie as "placeholder that becomes production"
- Code examples: prototype → production workflow

**Secondary content:**
1. Comparison: "Lorem Picsum vs Banatie"
2. Target: "AI placeholder images" (related search)
3. Answer PAA: "What is a placeholder image?", "Where to get?"

## Keywords Cluster

| Keyword | Vol | KD | Priority |
|---------|-----|----|----------|
| placeholder images | 14,800 | 32 | PRIMARY |
| placeholder api | 880 | 28 | Include |
| lorem picsum | 880 | 15 | Comparison |
| dummy images | 720 | 16 | Synonym |
| test images | 6,600 | 9 | Secondary |
| placeholder image generator | 480 | 32 | Include |

## Outreach Opportunity

**loremipsum.io** ranks #5 with "15 Best Placeholder Image Generators"
→ Outreach to get Banatie listed after launch

## Next Steps

1. @strategist: Create brief with comparison angle
2. Include PAA answers in content structure
3. Plan YouTube video for SERP video results