Optimize Your Squarespace Website for SEO & GEO/AI Search in 2025
SquareSPACE SEO
Optimize Your Squarespace Website for SEO & GEO/AI Search in 2025
To optimize your Squarespace website for both traditional SEO and GEO/AI-search results in 2025, focus on a strategy that leverages both classic ranking techniques and the unique requirements of leading AI search engines like ChatGPT, Gemini, Perplexity, and Google AI Mode.
Why AI-Driven SEO Matters
The rise of AI-powered search platforms is changing how users discover businesses online. For the first time since 2015, Google's market share has dropped below 90% due to AI alternatives like ChatGPT and Gemini, meaning it's crucial to adapt your website for AI-driven search visibility.
Step 1: Nail Traditional SEO Fundamentals
AI search engines rely heavily on traditional search rankings to source information. Over 52% of sources cited in Google AI, for example, are also found on page one of classic search engines. For Squarespace sites, this means:
Conduct exhaustive keyword research and naturally incorporate those keywords into your target pages.
Write authoritative content that demonstrates expertise and experience, forming the basis that AI engines reference when making recommendations.
Build backlinks from reputable industry websites to enhance your domain authority.
Ensure your site navigation is intuitive and user-friendly for both humans and search engines.
Use tools (like SEO Space) to audit and improve your technical SEO.
Do not block AI crawlers on your website; ensure settings let AI bots crawl and index your site for optimal visibility.
Step 2: Meet AI Search Engine Criteria
Go beyond traditional SEO—ask AI search engines directly what criteria they use to recommend products or services in your niche. For example, “What do you look for when recommending a Squarespace designer?” Apply the resulting checklist to your website, ensuring all recommended attributes are present as plaintext on your site for easy crawling.
Step 3: Audit and Shape AI Brand Perception
Regularly query AI search engines to see what information they have about your brand. Compare this to your SEO checklist and make adjustments where necessary by editing source content or reaching out to third parties for updates. Prioritize:
Updating your Google Business Profile with comprehensive, keyword-rich descriptions and soliciting user reviews.
Ensuring your presence and reputation on niche review platforms.
Keeping entries accurate and positive in directories such as Yelp, Crunchbase, and TripAdvisor.
Reflecting your brand message across social media profiles.
Step 4: Expand Brand Mentions
AI engines rely on brand mentions across diverse online platforms, including articles, reviews, and industry “best of” lists. Identify and pursue opportunities in directories and niche lists where your Squarespace business should appear. Sometimes this involves simply reaching out; other times, listing fees apply—but these efforts directly fuel AI recognition and ranking.
Step 5: Boost Brand Sentiment With Reviews
AI trusts the voices of real customers. Display genuine, positive reviews as plain text on your site (not just embedded third-party widgets) so AI can easily parse and understand sentiment.
Consistently gather and showcase reviews on Google and relevant industry platforms.
Share your review links with customers and build this into your ongoing business processes.
Engage with users on forums like Reddit, which often gets cited by AI engines, and strive to deliver exceptional service that generates enthusiastic feedback.
Optimizing your Squarespace website for today's SEO means covering both the fundamentals and being proactive with AI-specific criteria and brand visibility. Adapt these steps to become the recommended expert in your niche—both by traditional search platforms and by the growing AI-driven search engines of 2025.
Feeling overwhelmed and don’t know where to start? I can help! At M81 Creative, we offer Squarespace SEO & GEO website audits. Reach out to us today and book your consultation to get started.
Marlo Biasutti, RGD
CEO/Creative Director
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