What Is AIO and Why Your Squarespace Site Needs It
AI Search Is Changing How Customers Find You. Here's How to Keep Up.
If you've searched for anything on Google lately, you've probably noticed something different. Before you see the traditional list of blue links, there's often a paragraph or two at the top summarizing the answer to your question. That's Google's AI Overview, and it's just one example of how artificial intelligence is reshaping the way people find businesses online.
But Google isn't the only player. More and more people are skipping search engines entirely and asking ChatGPT, Perplexity, or other AI assistants directly. "Find me a therapist in Denver who specializes in anxiety." "What's the best Squarespace designer for healthcare websites?" "Who does SEO for real estate agents in Colorado?"
These AI tools don't just pull from Google results. They scan websites, evaluate content, and decide which businesses are worth mentioning. If your site isn't optimized for how AI reads and recommends businesses, you're invisible to a growing segment of potential customers.
That's where AIO comes in.
What Is AIO?
AIO stands for AI Optimization. It's the practice of structuring your website content so that AI-powered search tools can easily understand, evaluate, and recommend your business.
Think of it as the next evolution of SEO. Traditional SEO focuses on ranking in Google's organic search results. AIO focuses on getting mentioned, quoted, and recommended by AI assistants like ChatGPT, Google's AI Overviews, Perplexity, and whatever comes next.
The two aren't mutually exclusive. In fact, many of the same principles apply: clear content, logical site structure, relevant keywords, and authoritative information. But AIO adds a layer of strategy around how AI models specifically parse and prioritize content.
Why AIO Matters Right Now
This isn't a "maybe someday" trend. It's happening now.
A recent study found that nearly 40% of Gen Z prefers using TikTok and AI tools over Google for search. ChatGPT has over 200 million weekly active users. Perplexity is growing fast as people look for direct answers instead of endless links to scroll through.
For local and service-based businesses, this shift is significant. When someone asks an AI assistant for a recommendation, the AI doesn't show ten options. It typically gives one or two, maybe three. If you're not one of them, you don't exist in that interaction.
The businesses that figure out AIO early will have a serious advantage. The ones that wait will be playing catch-up in a year or two, wondering why their lead flow dried up even though their Google rankings look fine.
What Makes a Website AIO-Friendly?
AI models are looking for content that's clear, specific, and easy to extract information from. Here's what that looks like in practice:
Structured FAQs. AI assistants love FAQ sections because they mirror how people actually ask questions. "How much does a Squarespace website cost?" "Do you work with clients outside Colorado?" "What's included in your SEO packages?" These are the exact queries people type into ChatGPT. If your site answers them clearly, you're more likely to get cited.
Quotable credentials. AI models pull specific facts and figures when making recommendations. "Over 100 websites launched" is more useful to an AI than "extensive experience." "Squarespace Circle Member with 10+ years on the platform" is more citable than "expert designer." Put your credentials in plain language where AI can find them.
Clear service descriptions. Vague language like "we create beautiful digital experiences" doesn't help AI understand what you actually do. "Custom Squarespace website design for healthcare practices, real estate professionals, and service-based businesses" tells AI exactly who you serve and what you offer.
Logical site structure. AI crawls your site the same way search engines do. If your content is buried in confusing navigation or hidden behind vague page titles, AI won't find it. Clear hierarchy, descriptive URLs, and organized content all help.
Local signals. If you serve a specific area, make that obvious. Mention your city, region, and service area throughout your site. AI uses these signals when someone asks for local recommendations.
What Squarespace Is Doing About AIO
Squarespace recognized this shift early and built AIO tools directly into the platform as part of Refresh 2025. If you're on Squarespace, you already have access to features most website platforms don't offer:
AIO Scanner. This tool tracks how your site appears across AI-powered search engines like ChatGPT and Perplexity. It gives you a personalized visibility report and specific recommendations for increasing your chances of being mentioned.
SEO Scanner. While focused on traditional SEO, this tool audits your page titles, meta descriptions, and image alt text, then suggests optimized copy. Better metadata helps both Google and AI models understand your content.
AI-Powered FAQ Generation. Squarespace can now generate FAQ content based on your business, which you can then customize. This is one of the fastest ways to add AIO-friendly content to your site.
These tools aren't available on most competing platforms. If you're already on Squarespace, you have a head start. If you're not, this is one more reason to consider it.
Third-Party Tools: SEOSpace AI Visibility
Squarespace's built-in tools are a great starting point, but if you want to go deeper, SEOSpace offers one of the best third-party solutions for Squarespace SEO and AIO.
SEOSpace is a Chrome extension and dashboard built specifically for Squarespace. It's been around for years as the go-to SEO plugin for the platform, trusted by over 40,000 Squarespace users. But what makes it especially relevant now is their new AI Visibility Dashboard.
The AI Visibility Dashboard tracks where your site is appearing (or not appearing) in AI-powered search results from tools like ChatGPT, Perplexity, and Google Gemini. It shows you which topics your site is being cited for, how often you're mentioned, and what you can do to increase your visibility. It takes the guesswork out of AIO and gives you concrete data to work with.
SEOSpace also includes site-wide SEO audits, keyword rank tracking, and actionable recommendations tailored to Squarespace's specific settings and structure. If you're serious about both traditional SEO and AI discoverability, it's worth the investment.
You can try SEOSpace here and run a free scan on your site to see where you stand.
What You Can Do Today
You don't need to overhaul your entire website to start improving your AIO. Here are a few things you can do this week:
Add an FAQ section to your key pages. Think about the questions potential clients ask you most often. Write clear, direct answers. Put them on your homepage, service pages, or a dedicated FAQ page.
Audit your credentials. Are your years of experience, certifications, number of projects completed, and specializations clearly stated on your site? Make them specific and easy to find.
Review your service descriptions. Read them as if you were an AI trying to figure out what you do and who you serve. If it's not immediately clear, rewrite it.
Run Squarespace's AIO Scanner. If you're on Squarespace, use the built-in tool to see where you stand and what you can improve.
Think about the questions people ask AI. When someone types "best Squarespace designer for dentists" into ChatGPT, would your site give the AI enough information to recommend you? If not, that's your content gap.
How Agave Studio Approaches AIO
At Agave Studio, AIO is now part of every SEO engagement we do. We don't treat it as a separate service because it's not separate from how search works anymore. Traditional SEO and AI optimization are two sides of the same strategy.
For our clients, that means:
Structuring website content so AI models can easily parse and cite it
Writing FAQs that mirror how people query AI assistants
Making sure credentials, service areas, and specializations are clearly stated
Using Squarespace's AIO tools to monitor and improve visibility
Staying ahead of the curve as AI search continues to evolve
We've been doing SEO for Squarespace sites for years. AIO is the natural next step, and we're building it into everything we do.
The Bottom Line
AI search isn't replacing Google tomorrow, but it's already changing how a significant portion of potential customers find businesses. The shift is only going to accelerate.
AIO isn't complicated, but it does require intention. You need to think about how AI reads your site, what information it can extract, and whether your content positions you as a business worth recommending.
If you're on Squarespace, you have tools most platforms don't offer. If you're working with a designer or SEO provider who isn't talking about AIO yet, it might be time to ask why.
Agave Studio is a Denver-based Squarespace website design agency and Squarespace Circle Member with over 10 years of platform expertise and 100+ websites launched. We offer SEO and AIO services for healthcare practices, real estate professionals, service-based businesses, and more. Get a free SEO audit or explore our SEO/AIO packages.
