239 lines
6.1 KiB
Markdown
239 lines
6.1 KiB
Markdown
---
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slug: lorem-picsum-alternative
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title: "Beyond Lorem Picsum: AI-Powered Placeholder Images for Production"
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author: henry
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status: inbox
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priority: MEDIUM
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created: 2026-01-10
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source: seo-research-additional-opportunities
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---
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# Idea
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## Discovery
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**Source:** Additional SEO research for Henry — 2026-01-10 (from placeholder images research)
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**Evidence:**
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- "lorem picsum" = 880 monthly searches
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- KD: 15 (LOW — very achievable)
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- Search intent: Informational/Navigational
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- Target audience: Developers using placeholders, designers prototyping, fullstack developers building MVPs
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## Why This Matters
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Comparison opportunity:
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- 880 searches = solid volume
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- KD 15 = very low competition
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- Lorem Picsum = well-known placeholder tool
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- Natural comparison angle
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- Can demonstrate AI advantage
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## Content Angle
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**Title:** "Beyond Lorem Picsum: AI-Powered Placeholder Images for Production"
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**Henry's Approach:**
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- Technical comparison with Lorem Picsum
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- Show limitations of random placeholders
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- Demonstrate AI contextual images advantage
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- Production architecture for placeholder-to-production workflow
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- Real code examples from projects
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- Banatie integration naturally
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**Structure:**
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1. Opening: "Lorem Picsum works for quick prototypes. But there's a better approach for production workflows."
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2. What Lorem Picsum does well:
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- Simple API
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- Fast placeholders
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- Good for basic prototyping
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3. Limitations in production:
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- Random images (no context)
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- Placeholder → production friction
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- No customization
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- Client demos look generic
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4. AI placeholder approach:
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- Contextual images from prompts
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- Placeholder → production path
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- Client-ready from day 1
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5. Implementation comparison:
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- Lorem Picsum integration (baseline)
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- AI placeholder integration (Banatie)
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- Code examples for both
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6. Architecture: Prototype → Production:
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- Live URL pattern
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- Caching strategy
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- Migration approach
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7. Cost comparison:
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- Lorem Picsum: free but limited value
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- AI placeholders: cost but production-ready
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8. When to use each:
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- Quick internal prototypes: Lorem Picsum
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- Client demos: AI placeholders
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- Production MVP: AI placeholders
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9. Code repository reference
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10. Closing: "Lorem Picsum has its place. But AI placeholders change the workflow."
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## Why This Works for Henry
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Perfect for his expertise:
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- Technical comparison depth
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- Architecture and workflow focus
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- Production considerations
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- Real implementation examples
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- Honest trade-off analysis
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- Pragmatic recommendation
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## Keywords Cluster
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| Keyword | Vol | KD | Priority |
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|---------|-----|----|----------|
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| lorem picsum | 880 | 15 | PRIMARY |
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| lorem picsum alternative | — | — | Intent |
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| placeholder images | 14,800 | 32 | Related (link to) |
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| picsum.photos alternative | — | — | Variant |
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## Secondary Keywords
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- "placeholder image api"
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- "better than lorem picsum"
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- "lorem picsum vs"
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- "placeholder images for production"
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## Comparison Framework
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**Lorem Picsum Strengths:**
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- Simple API
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- Fast response
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- Free
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- Reliable uptime
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- Good for basic prototyping
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**Lorem Picsum Limitations:**
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- Random images (no context)
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- Can't customize content
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- Client demos look generic
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- Placeholder ≠ production
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- No prompt-based control
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**AI Placeholder Advantages:**
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- Contextual images
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- Prompt-based customization
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- Client-ready quality
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- Placeholder → production path
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- Better demos
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**AI Placeholder Trade-offs:**
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- Not free (but valuable)
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- Slightly slower generation
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- Requires API key
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- More complex setup
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## Content Format
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**Henry's Style:**
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- Side-by-side code comparison
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- Architecture diagrams
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- Real implementation patterns
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- Honest trade-off analysis
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- Production considerations
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- "Here's when to use each" framework
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## Technical Implementation
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**Lorem Picsum Integration:**
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```typescript
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// Simple but limited
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<img src="https://picsum.photos/600/400" />
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```
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**AI Placeholder Integration:**
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```typescript
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// Contextual and production-ready
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<img src={generateImage({
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prompt: "modern workspace with laptop",
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width: 600,
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height: 400
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})} />
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```
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**Comparison Points:**
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1. Setup complexity
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2. API integration
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3. Caching strategy
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4. Cost implications
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5. Placeholder → production path
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## Differentiation
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Most Lorem Picsum content:
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- Generic documentation
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- No alternatives discussed
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- No production depth
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Henry's angle:
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- Honest comparison (acknowledges Lorem Picsum value)
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- Production workflow focus
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- Architecture and cost analysis
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- Real implementation examples
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- When to use each approach
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- Banatie integration (natural, not forced)
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## Strategic Value
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**Why This Article Matters:**
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- KD 15 = very achievable
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- 880 searches = solid volume
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- Natural Banatie integration
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- Comparison format = high value
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- Can rank for "lorem picsum alternative"
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- Links to main "placeholder images" content (14.8k vol)
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## Banatie Integration
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Natural opportunities:
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- Use as AI placeholder example
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- Show live URL advantage
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- Demonstrate prompt-based control
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- Compare cost vs value
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- "I recently built..." disclosure style
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- Technical merit focus, not promotion
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## Honest Assessment
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Henry should acknowledge:
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- Lorem Picsum is excellent for quick prototypes
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- Not every project needs AI placeholders
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- Cost-value trade-off is real
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- Best tool depends on use case
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- Free ≠ always better
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## Notes
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- KD 15 = very achievable
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- 880 searches = solid volume
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- Comparison format = high reader value
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- Natural Banatie product integration
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- Links to larger "placeholder images" article
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- Honest trade-off analysis = credibility
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- Update as tools evolve
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## Internal Linking
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This article should link to:
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- Placeholder Images API (main article, 14.8k vol)
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- SaaS Landing Page tutorial (uses placeholders)
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- Other image generation content
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## Production Workflow
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Henry should show:
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- Prototype phase: Lorem Picsum works
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- Client demo: AI placeholders better
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- Production: AI images stay
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- Migration path: Lorem Picsum → AI
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- Cost-value at each stage
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## Publication Priority
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**MEDIUM PRIORITY** — KD 15 (low), 880 vol. Should come after main "Placeholder Images API" article (14.8k vol). Provides comparison angle and captures "lorem picsum" traffic.
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