2.5 KiB
2.5 KiB
| slug | title | status | created | source | priority |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| placeholder-ai-images | AI Placeholder Images — Capture 30K Monthly Searches | inbox | 2026-01-02 | research | 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:
- Support common sizes: 200x200, 600x400, 1200x630, etc.
- Enable dark mode generation via URL param
- Allow category hints:
/live/profile-avatar/200x200 - Consider pre-generated cache for instant loading
Full Research
See: research/keywords/placeholder-niche-deep-dive-2026-01-02.md