What is AIO (AI Optimisation) and How to Appear in Google Overview

SEOAIO

18 Sept

Artificial Intelligence is transforming the way websites are built, optimised, and discovered online—and Squarespace users are in a perfect position to take advantage. From smarter SEO to dynamic personalisation, AI tools can streamline your workflow while boosting visibility and conversions. This A–Z guide unpacks practical strategies for weaving AI optimisation into your Squarespace site, helping you stay ahead of the curve and get the most from your digital presence.

For businesses and creators using Squarespace, this shift introduces both challenges and opportunities. Traditional SEO (Search Engine Optimisation) remains vital, but now you also need AIO (AI Optimisation) — the practice of structuring, formatting, and presenting your website content in ways that AI search models can easily understand, summarise, and showcase.

This guide explains:

What AIO really means.
Why AI Optimisation matters for Squarespace users.
How Google’s AI Overview works.
Step-by-step strategies to increase your chances of being included.
How agencies like Squarely can help you stay ahead.

By the end, you’ll have a practical roadmap for ensuring your Squarespace site isn’t just discoverable, but also featured in Google’s AI-powered results.

What is AIO (AI Optimisation)?

AI Optimisation (AIO) is the process of tailoring your digital content so that Artificial Intelligence systems can interpret, summarise, and present it effectively.

While SEO is about ranking higher in traditional search results, AIO is about visibility in AI-powered search experiences, including:

Google AI Overview (summarised answers at the top of search).
Voice assistants (Siri, Alexa, Google Assistant).
Chatbots and AI-driven search engines (Perplexity, ChatGPT, Bing Copilot).

Key Differences Between SEO and AIO

SEO AIO Optimises for keywords, rankings, backlinks Optimises for structured answers, clarity, schema, and AI readability Goal: Get clicks to your site Goal: Get visibility in AI summaries (clicks may follow later) Relies on meta tags, titles, on-page content Relies on clear, conversational, structured Q&A content Works with search algorithms Works with AI models and natural language processing

AIO doesn’t replace SEO — it builds on it. You need both to compete in the AI-first era of search.

Why AIO Matters for Squarespace Users

Squarespace websites are known for beautiful design and ease of use. But AI search models care less about design and more about clarity, accessibility, and structured data. If your Squarespace site isn’t AIO-ready, you risk being invisible in AI-powered answers — even if you’re doing SEO well.

Here’s why AIO matters:

Google AI Overview is growing
Google is rolling out AI Overview in more regions. Instead of only showing links, Google now provides summarised answers at the top of the page — and users may never scroll further.
Brand visibility is changing
Even if users don’t click, being cited in an AI Overview gives your brand authority. People see your name as the expert source.
Squarespace sites have an advantage
Squarespace’s clean code, responsive design, and built-in SEO tools mean you already have a strong base. With AIO techniques layered on, your site is more likely to be “AI-friendly.”
Voice and AI chat usage is exploding
If someone asks their smart speaker, “Who is the best Squarespace designer in Australia?” — wouldn’t you want AI to answer with your brand?

What is Google AI Overview?

Google AI Overview is a search feature that provides an AI-generated summary of information at the top of results.

It uses Google’s Gemini AI model to pull information from multiple web pages.
It then creates a concise, conversational answer.
Citations (links to websites) are displayed below the summary, giving credit to sources.

Example

Search: “Is Squarespace good for SEO?”

Google AI Overview might show a paragraph explaining Squarespace’s SEO features (titles, descriptions, sitemaps), then cite 3–4 sources, each with clickable links.

For businesses, the goal is clear: be one of those cited sources.

How Does Google Choose Sources for AI Overview?

Google doesn’t publish exact criteria, but based on tests, AIO success depends on:

Clear and Direct Answers
Google prefers concise, factual explanations. If your Squarespace blog or FAQ has a clean, 2–3 sentence answer, it’s snippet-friendly.
Authority and Relevance
Websites that demonstrate expertise, trustworthiness, and topical focus are more likely to be chosen.
Structured Data and Schema
Pages with schema markup (FAQ, How-To, LocalBusiness) make it easier for AI to parse content.
Conversational Formatting
AI models mimic natural language. Content written in Q&A style or plain language is more likely to be used.
User-Friendly Formatting
Lists, tables, headings, and bullet points make content “digestible” for AI.

How to Optimise Your Squarespace Site for AIO and Google Overview

Here’s the step-by-step roadmap to making your Squarespace site AIO-ready.

1. Research AI Overview Opportunities

Not every query triggers an AI Overview. Focus on questions in your niche that do.

Tools to use:

SEMrush / Ahrefs: Look at keywords that trigger snippets.
AnswerThePublic: Find questions people ask about your niche.
Google Search: Manually test queries like “How to [task] in Squarespace.”

Tip: Focus on question-based searches (“how,” “what,” “why,” “can you”) — these are most likely to appear in AI Overview.

2. Optimise for Direct Answers

Squarespace makes it easy to format content. Structure your blog posts, FAQs, and service pages with:

H2 / H3 headings phrased as questions.
Example: “How do I add a contact form in Squarespace?”
Short answers directly beneath headings.
2–3 sentences, clear and factual.
Detailed explanation after the summary.
Expand for readers while still providing that quick answer upfront.

3. Use Schema Markup

Squarespace doesn’t auto-generate advanced schema, but you can add it:

FAQ Schema: Perfect for Q&A pages.
How-To Schema: Great for tutorials (e.g., “How to connect Squarespace to Google Analytics”).
LocalBusiness Schema: For local service providers.
Review Schema: For testimonials and star ratings.

Add schema via:

Code blocks in Squarespace.
Header injection in page settings.
Or by hiring experts (Squarely specialises in this).

4. Write Conversational Content

AI models love natural language. Write like you’re explaining to a friend:

❌ Don’t: “Squarespace SEO settings allow metadata configuration.”
✅ Do: “Squarespace lets you edit SEO titles and descriptions, so you can tell Google exactly what your page is about.”

Tip: Read your content aloud. If it sounds robotic, reframe it more conversationally.

5. Create FAQ Pages

FAQ pages are AIO goldmines.

Example FAQ structure for a Squarespace designer site:

Is Squarespace good for SEO?
Can I sell products on Squarespace?
How much does a Squarespace website cost?

Each answer should be:

Direct and concise.
Optimised with schema.
Expanded with supporting detail.

6. Build “How-To” Content

Tutorials are frequently pulled into Google Overview.

Examples for a Squarespace blog:

How to add custom fonts in Squarespace.
How to connect Squarespace to Mailchimp.
How to create a membership site in Squarespace.

Format with numbered steps or bullet lists, and (if possible) include screenshots.

7. Optimise Metadata

Squarespace allows you to edit SEO titles and descriptions. AI Overview sometimes pulls from these fields.

Tips:

Keep titles descriptive but natural.
Use meta descriptions to summarise the page in conversational sentences.
Include question-based phrases.

Example: “Wondering if Squarespace is good for SEO? Here’s what you need to know about optimisation, features, and tips to boost rankings.”

8. Improve E-E-A-T Signals

Google considers Expertise, Experience, Authoritativeness, and Trustworthiness.

For Squarespace sites:

Add author bios to blog posts.
Display testimonials or case studies.
Include clear contact details.
Link to reputable sources when citing data.

9. Optimise for Voice Search

Many AI Overview queries overlap with voice search. To prepare:

Write in natural language.
Use long-tail keywords (“best Squarespace SEO tips for small businesses”).
Provide short, snappy answers that smart assistants can read aloud.

10. Monitor and Refine

Use Google Search Console to track:

Queries that generate impressions but no clicks.
Keywords tied to “rich results.”
Pages gaining visibility in AI summaries.

Regularly refresh your Squarespace content to maintain authority.

Example Squarespace Scenarios for AIO Success

Example 1: Local Business Website

A Squarespace hair salon creates an FAQ page with schema. Google pulls their answer into AI Overview for “best hair salon in Sydney.” Even without a click, the brand gets exposure.

Example 2: E-commerce Store

A candle shop writes a blog: “How to make soy candles at home.” Their step-by-step guide gets summarised in AI Overview, boosting credibility and clicks to product pages.

Example 3: Service Provider

A Squarespace designer answers: “Is Squarespace good for SEO?” Their direct answer appears in Google AI Overview, establishing them as an authority.

How Squarely Can Help

Optimising a Squarespace site for AI Overview visibility takes technical skill and strategy. That’s where Squarely steps in.

Keyword and AIO Research
Squarely identifies questions and queries your ideal customers are asking that trigger AI Overview.
Schema Markup Implementation
We generate and integrate custom schema (FAQ, How-To, LocalBusiness, Reviews) into your Squarespace site.
Content Structuring
Our team formats your site content — headings, summaries, and FAQs — for AI readability.
Conversational Copywriting
We refine your messaging into clear, conversational, answer-first language.
Local SEO Enhancement
For service businesses, Squarely boosts map pack visibility and review integration — both critical for Zero Click and AI Overview.
Ongoing Monitoring
Search is evolving fast. We track your AI Overview placements, adjust strategy, and keep you ahead.

Final Thoughts

AIO (AI Optimisation) is the next evolution of SEO. For Squarespace users, it means going beyond rankings and preparing your site to be part of AI-driven answers.

By structuring your content for clarity, adding schema markup, and writing in natural language, you increase your chances of being cited in Google AI Overview. Even without a click, you gain brand visibility, trust, and authority.

And with a partner like Squarely, you don’t just adapt to search changes — you lead. We make Squarespace sites AIO-ready, helping businesses thrive in the new era of AI-powered search.