99 lines
2.9 KiB
Markdown
99 lines
2.9 KiB
Markdown
---
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slug: placeholder-images-api
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title: "Placeholder Images API: Modern Alternative to Lorem Picsum"
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status: inbox
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priority: HIGH
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created: 2026-01-09
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source: keyword-research
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validated: 2026-01-09
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---
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# Idea — VALIDATED ✓
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## Discovery
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**Source:** Keyword research + SERP analysis — 2026-01-09
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**Evidence:**
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- "placeholder images" = 14,800 monthly searches
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- KD: 32 (medium difficulty)
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- "AI placeholder images" in Google's related searches ← DIRECT VALIDATION
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- SERP dominated by simple placeholder tools (beatable)
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## SERP Analysis Results
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### Top 3 Competitors to Beat:
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**1. placehold.co (Rank #1)**
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- Simple SVG/PNG placeholder generator
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- URL-based: `placehold.co/600x400`
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- Features: custom text, colors, formats
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- Weakness: Static, no context, no real images
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**2. picsum.photos / Lorem Picsum (Rank #2)**
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- Random photo placeholders from Unsplash
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- URL-based: `picsum.photos/600/400`
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- Features: blur, grayscale, specific photos by ID
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- Weakness: Random (not contextual), limited control, no AI
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**3. placehold.net (Rank #7)**
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- Similar to placehold.co
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- Weakness: Same limitations
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### SERP Features Present:
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- People Also Ask (answer these in content!)
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- Video results (YouTube opportunity)
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- Related searches include "AI placeholder images"
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## Why This Matters
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PERFECT fit for Banatie:
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1. **Developer intent** — 100% of SERP is dev-focused
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2. **Beatable competitors** — simple tools, not giants
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3. **"AI placeholder images"** in related searches = Google validates our angle
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4. **Live URLs feature** — unique differentiator (placeholder → production)
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## Banatie Differentiation
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| Feature | placehold.co | Lorem Picsum | Banatie |
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|---------|--------------|--------------|---------|
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| Real images | ❌ | ✓ (random) | ✓ (contextual) |
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| AI-generated | ❌ | ❌ | ✓ |
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| Prompt-based | ❌ | ❌ | ✓ |
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| Live URLs | ❌ | ❌ | ✓ |
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| API-first | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
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## Content Angle
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**Primary:** "Placeholder Images API: Beyond Lorem Picsum"
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- Problems with random placeholders
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- Why AI-generated contextual placeholders are better
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- Banatie as "placeholder that becomes production"
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- Code examples: prototype → production workflow
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**Secondary content:**
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1. Comparison: "Lorem Picsum vs Banatie"
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2. Target: "AI placeholder images" (related search)
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3. Answer PAA: "What is a placeholder image?", "Where to get?"
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## Keywords Cluster
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| Keyword | Vol | KD | Priority |
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|---------|-----|----|----------|
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| placeholder images | 14,800 | 32 | PRIMARY |
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| placeholder api | 880 | 28 | Include |
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| lorem picsum | 880 | 15 | Comparison |
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| dummy images | 720 | 16 | Synonym |
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| test images | 6,600 | 9 | Secondary |
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| placeholder image generator | 480 | 32 | Include |
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## Outreach Opportunity
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**loremipsum.io** ranks #5 with "15 Best Placeholder Image Generators"
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→ Outreach to get Banatie listed after launch
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## Next Steps
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1. @strategist: Create brief with comparison angle
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2. Include PAA answers in content structure
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3. Plan YouTube video for SERP video results
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