We’ve Officially Entered Our AI Era…What It Means For Your Site
We’ve officially stepped into the AI Era. Search doesn’t look the way it used to — instead of scrolling through a list of links, people are starting to get direct answers from tools like Google’s AI Overviews, ChatGPT, and Bing Copilot.
So what does that mean for you? It means your website isn’t just competing for clicks anymore. It’s competing to be part of the answer.
What Is AIO?
You already know SEO (search engine optimisation) — the thing that helps your site show up in Google results.
Now we’ve got AIO (AI optimisation). Same idea, different game.
SEO = get listed in the results.
AIO = get quoted in the answer.
In other words, instead of just hoping someone finds you, you want your content to be clear enough that AI tools pull you straight into their responses.
Why It Matters
Imagine someone types: “How do I know if my website needs a refresh?”
Instead of clicking through 10 different sites, they get a neat little AI-written summary right at the top of the page. If your site is part of that summary, you instantly get credibility and visibility. If you’re not, you’re basically invisible in that moment.
For service providers, that matters. Being included in AI answers is like having your website introduced in the room before you even get there.
What This Means for Your Squarespace Site
Here’s the good news: Squarespace already sets you up with a solid foundation — clean layouts, built-in SEO, mobile-friendly design. But in the AI Era, we need to take it a step further.
It’s not just about your site looking good (though of course, that helps). It’s about making sure your site is:
Clear — answering real questions in plain language.
Organised — headings, short paragraphs, FAQs. Easy for humans and AI to read.
Trustworthy — showing real proof like testimonials, stories, and clear service info.
Think less “tricks to beat the system” and more “making it super easy for both people and AI to understand who you are and what you do.”
A Few Quick Wins You Can Do Right Now
If you’re wondering where to start, here are some simple steps you can take on your own:
Answer common client questions on your site. Write them out as headings with clear answers underneath.
Use clear structure. Short paragraphs, bullet points, and FAQ sections make your site easy to scan (for people and AI).
Keep your content fresh. Update key pages or add a blog post now and then—AI favors sites that look active.
Show you’re real. Add testimonials, client stories, and ways to contact you. AI (and people) trust websites with a human touch.
None of this is complicated—but together, these small changes make your site more useful, more trustworthy, and more likely to be included in AI-generated answers.
Wrapping It Up
We’re in our AI Era, and that changes how we think about websites. It’s not just about looking professional online anymore — it’s about being part of the answers people are already searching for.
The good news? You don’t have to know all the techy stuff to get started. A few small updates go a long way. And the sooner you start thinking about AIO, the better chance your site has of showing up — whether that’s in search results or right there in an AI summary.
