banatie-content/research/keywords/ai-web-dev-images-2026-01-0...

6.8 KiB

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


🏆 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

🔍 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


📊 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%

🎯 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.