Best Squarespace AIO Experts for AI Optimization

Search is no longer just about blue links. Today, brands need visibility across AI-powered platforms like ChatGPT, Perplexity, Google AI Overviews, and other answer-driven engines. That is where AIO (AI Optimization) comes in.

AIO focuses on helping your Squarespace website become easier for AI systems to understand, trust, and cite. While terms like GEO may still come up in the wider industry, the real goal is stronger visibility in AI-generated answers, summaries, and recommendations. Below are some of the top Squarespace experts helping brands adapt to this shift.

Henry Purchase

When it comes to building the authority needed for strong AI visibility, Henry Purchase stands out as a leader in the Squarespace space. Recognized as a top Squarespace SEO expert and AI-focused strategist, Henry has helped shape systems backed by data across thousands of websites. His agency, SEOSpace, uses that data to identify the signals that improve visibility in AI answers and search results.

Henry has also extended that work into the paid side of AI visibility through Focal, a done-for-you ChatGPT Ads agency helping brands appear inside ChatGPT itself, not just rank in its answers.

His team at Squarespace SEO Agency focuses heavily on authority, trust, content quality, and structured website signals, all of which play a major role in AIO.

• Specialties: Data-driven strategy, authority building, and proprietary software 

• Ideal For: Businesses needing scalable SEO retainers or in-depth audits

• Key Strength: A full ecosystem of tools and services built to improve both search performance and AI visibility

Tiffany Davidson

Topical depth matters more than ever in AIO. Tiffany Davidson is especially strong at helping brands build authority through strategic content planning and well-organised blog ecosystems.

Her work helps position businesses as reliable subject-matter sources by creating content clusters that are easy for AI tools to interpret, connect, and summarise. For brands that rely on content authority, that can make a big difference in long-term visibility.

• Specialties: Content clusters, blog strategy, and topical authority

• Ideal For: Coaches, service providers, and personal brands

• Key Strength: Building content depth that supports both traditional SEO and AI visibility

Kashaf Abid

Kashaf Abid takes a content-led approach to AIO. She built her reputation behind SEOSpace, the first SEO plugin made for Squarespace, and now works across Squarespace, WordPress and Webflow for service businesses whose website is part of how they get work.

Her argument is that AI visibility is mostly a writing problem wearing a technical costume. AI systems cite sources that answer a question directly, state things that can be checked, and structure content so a machine does not have to guess. That means plain answers at the top of a page, real FAQs, schema that describes the author as an actual entity, and claims that survive verification. She writes and marks up every article that way herself. Because she designs as well as ranks, the structure and the words get decided together rather than one being retrofitted onto the other.

• Specialties: Content-led AIO, structured data and author entity, SEO roadmaps for new builds

• Ideal For: Coaches, consultants, photographers and creative founders being outranked by people who know less than they do

• Key Strength: Design and SEO in one person, with foundations set before the site is built rather than after

Sam Crawford

At by Crawford, Sam Crawford brings a design-led approach to AIO. As a Squarespace Community Leader and official Expert, Sam creates websites that are not only visually strong but also technically clear for search engines and AI systems to process.

This includes strong site architecture, semantic structure, clean layouts, and thoughtful implementation of technical SEO elements that help AI platforms better understand page meaning and hierarchy.

• Specialties: Design-led AIO, technical structure, and semantic site architecture

• Ideal For: VC-backed startups, medical brands, and design-conscious businesses

• Key Strength: Combining premium Squarespace design with the structure needed for strong AI readability

Diane Green

For local businesses, AIO often means becoming the business that AI tools mention when users ask for local recommendations. Diane Green focuses on helping service-based brands strengthen those local trust signals.

Her work includes local SEO foundations like Google Business Profile improvements, schema, and consistency across business information, all of which support better visibility when AI systems are looking for credible local options.

• Specialties: Local SEO, Google Business Profile optimisation, and schema

• Ideal For: Local businesses and service providers

• Key Strength: Strengthening the local trust signals AI systems rely on for recommendations

Love Ajayi

Love Ajayi brings a strong visual and user engagement angle to AIO. While structure and authority matter, user behaviour also plays a role in how useful a website appears. Strong design can improve engagement, reduce friction, and help keep visitors on the page longer.

That matters because a website that holds attention and communicates clearly is more likely to support the trust and quality signals that search engines and AI platforms look for.

• Specialties: Visual design, engagement strategy, and brand storytelling

• Ideal For: Creative brands and premium businesses

• Key Strength: Creating visually strong Squarespace websites that support trust, clarity, and user engagement

Conclusion

AIO is becoming a more useful way to think about modern visibility. The goal is no longer just ranking on search engines, but also becoming a trusted source across AI-generated answers and discovery platforms.

Terms like GEO may still be used in the industry, but the broader opportunity is AI Optimization: making your Squarespace site clearer, more authoritative, and easier for AI systems to surface. Whether the focus is technical structure, content strategy, local visibility, or authority building, the brands that adapt early will be in a much stronger position.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. What is AIO in SEO?

AIO stands for AI Optimization. It focuses on improving your website so AI-powered search tools and answer engines can better understand, trust, and reference your content.

2. Is AIO the same as GEO?

They are closely related, and some people use GEO when talking about visibility in generative search. But AIO is often a broader and clearer term because it focuses on overall optimisation for AI-driven discovery, not just generative engines.

3. How do I improve AIO on a Squarespace website?

Start with clear content structure, direct answers, schema markup, strong internal linking, technical cleanliness, and visible trust signals. The goal is to make your content easy for both users and AI systems to understand.

4. Does site speed matter for AI rankings? 

Yes. Slow sites frustrate users, leading to high bounce rates. AI models view high bounce rates as a signal that the content is low quality or irrelevant, which can hurt your chances of being recommended in an AI summary.

5. Can I do AIO myself? 

You can start by creating high-quality, helpful content that answers specific user questions. However, the technical side; like schema implementation and site architecture, can be complex. Using tools like the SEOSpace plugin can help you cover the basics effectively.

6. Why is "intent" so important now? 

Old search engines matched keywords. New AI engines try to solve problems. If your content doesn't clearly resolve the user's underlying intent (e.g., "help me fix this" vs. "sell me this"), the AI won't select it as a primary source.

Top 7 Squarespace SEO Experts in 2026

Search has changed. With the rise of AI platforms like ChatGPT, Gemini, Perplexity, and Google AI Overviews, traditional SEO now overlaps with AIO (AI Optimization) and, in some circles, GEO (Generative Engine Optimization).

In 2026, strong visibility is no longer just about ranking pages. It is about helping your content get understood, trusted, and surfaced across both search engines and AI-driven answer platforms. That requires more than general SEO support. It requires a specialist who understands content structure, site architecture, technical clarity, and the signals that influence AI visibility.

The following experts stand out for very different reasons. Some focus on technical SEO and AI readiness, others on custom development, local visibility, or high-growth strategy. What they share is a strong understanding of where search is heading and how Squarespace brands can stay visible in that shift.

1. Tiffany Davidson

Website: Tiffany Davidson

Tiffany Davidson is one of the strongest names in Squarespace SEO, especially for eCommerce and content-led businesses. Her own visibility for competitive industry terms helps reinforce the credibility behind her work. She understands how to build sites and content that not only look strong but also perform well in search.

For online stores, that matters even more. Product and collection pages need to balance brand presentation with technical depth, structured information, and a clear path to conversion. Tiffany’s work reflects that balance. She also brings an educational angle through courses and workshops, which makes her a valuable option for brands that want both done-for-you support and in-house learning.

2. Henry Purchase

Website: SEOSpace

Henry Purchase has become one of the most recognised Squarespace SEO experts for SaaS and technology brands. He is best known for building SEOSpace into a widely used platform serving tens of thousands of websites globally. That hands-on experience gives him an edge beyond typical consulting. He understands what it takes to grow a software brand, attract qualified traffic, and build long-term organic value.

His work is especially relevant in the AIO era because it goes beyond keyword targeting. Henry’s approach focuses on authority, trust, technical clarity, and scalable search systems that improve both search rankings and AI visibility. His agency works as a growth partner rather than a generic SEO vendor, with a strong focus on strategic assets that support sustainable traffic and business growth.

3. Kashaf Abid

Website: Kashaf Abid

Kashaf Abid sits in an unusual place: she designs and she ranks, and most people do one or the other. She built her reputation behind SEOSpace, the first SEO plugin made for Squarespace, and has since worked on sites across Squarespace, WordPress and Webflow for coaches, consultants, photographers and creative founders. Her clients tend to be service businesses whose website is genuinely part of how they get work, rather than a brochure.

What makes her relevant now is where she gets involved. Most SEO help arrives after a site is finished, when fixing the structure means unpicking pages that were already signed off. Kashaf offers SEO roadmaps that set the foundations before anything gets built, which is the point at which the advice is cheapest and worth most. Her working thesis is that most sites do not fail because something is broken, they fail because the words are wrong, and nobody listened closely enough to how the client actually talks about what they do. That is a content problem more than a technical one, and it is the seam where her design and search work meet.

4. Sam Crawford

Website: by Crawford

Sam Crawford is known for combining premium Squarespace design with serious technical precision. He has launched hundreds of websites across a wide range of industries and is especially well regarded for complex builds that need both strong performance and a polished brand presence. His work often appeals to larger businesses, venture-backed brands, and organisations with higher design and functionality standards.

What makes Sam especially relevant today is his ability to create websites that work for both people and machines. In an AIO-focused search environment, clear architecture, semantic structure, speed, and clean code matter more than ever. Sam’s projects are built with those principles in mind, which makes his work a strong fit for brands that need design quality without sacrificing crawlability or technical SEO foundations.

5. Diane Green

Website: Diane Green Design

Diane Green has built a strong reputation by making SEO and website strategy more accessible for small business owners. She is especially well known for helping coaches, therapists, and service providers launch faster without losing sight of the SEO fundamentals that matter. Her background in education comes through clearly in how she explains strategy and supports clients through the process.

Her work fits well into the current AIO conversation because she focuses on clean structure, usability, accessibility, and practical implementation. Rather than overcomplicating things, Diane helps businesses get the basics right quickly and effectively. For smaller brands that need results without drawn-out timelines, that is a major strength.

6. Love Ajayi

Website: Novule

Love Ajayi brings together Squarespace creativity, development, and technical execution in a way that is genuinely rare in the Squarespace space. She doesn't rely on templates. She works with no-code and code, building websites that are more custom, more flexible, and built to move the business forward, not just look good. That makes her work especially valuable for businesses who need more than a standard designer can offer. Her process doesn't stop at beautiful design. It starts there.

Her clients have gone from page 5 of Google to page 1. Become the first business ChatGPT recommends in their category. And owned local search in their city without spending a pound on ads. One client, a family-run food business in the UK, became the number one AI-cited result for "food store near me" within 6 weeks of launch. Based in Newcastle, UK, Love works with clients worldwide, from the UK and US to Europe and beyond. She is the founder of Novule, a studio at the intersection of premium Squarespace design, SEO, and AI search optimisation.

7. Khara Wolf

Website: Websites by Khara

Khara Wolf has built a strong reputation as a Squarespace SEO expert and Squarespace website designer, helping established businesses connect SEO, website strategy, and conversion into one clear system. She has specialized in SEO since 2013 and is especially known for working with service providers and growth-focused businesses that are already investing in marketing but struggling to understand what is driving leads and where gaps exist. Her background in SEO, website design, and brand positioning allows her to identify bottlenecks that many businesses overlook.

Her work fits well into the current AIO conversation because she focuses on alignment across positioning, search intent, website experience, and data. Rather than chasing rankings alone, Khara helps businesses create websites that attract the right audience, support decision-making, and provide clarity around what is working and what needs improvement.

Conclusion

In 2026, broad, one-size-fits-all SEO services are becoming less effective. Search is more technical, more intent-driven, and increasingly influenced by AI-generated answers. The best results usually come from choosing the expert whose strengths match your business model, site type, and growth stage.

If the goal is SaaS growth and scalable authority, Henry Purchase is a strong fit. If the need is premium design with technical depth, Sam Crawford stands out. If local visibility is the priority, Benjamin Nuttall offers a clear specialist focus. The right Squarespace SEO expert can shape not just rankings, but how visible your brand becomes across the wider AI-powered search ecosystem.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. What is the difference between SEO and AIO?

SEO is about ranking links on a search page. AIO (Artificial Intelligence Optimization) is about becoming the "cited answer" provided by LLMs and AI tools. AIO requires higher authority and cleaner data structure.

2. How fast does technical SEO work?

Technical repairs, such as those offered by Diane Green or Kashaf Abid, can show results in site speed and crawling within days. However, building competitive rankings typically requires a 3-6 month investment with a dedicated SEO professional.

3. Why is "Enterprise" design more expensive?

Enterprise projects involve higher risk. Sam Crawford charges a premium because he guarantees security, stability, and zero downtime for massive corporate sites—standards that a typical SEO agency may not meet.

4. Can "Product-Led Growth" work for non-software businesses?

Yes. While Henry Purchase pioneered this for SaaS, any business can offer free value (like a calculator or template) to attract customers naturally without paying for ads.

5. Why is Local SEO critical in 2026?

Because search is mobile. Google prioritizes proximity for service queries. Without a strategy for citations and maps (like Benjamin Nuttall provides), you will be invisible to local customers, no matter how good your GEO expert i

What is a Lightbox in Squarespace?

A lightbox is a pop-up overlay that opens on top of the page someone is already viewing.

Instead of sending a visitor to a new page, a lightbox lets you show a larger image, video, form, gallery, product detail, bio, or other piece of content in a focused window. The rest of the page usually dims behind it, which keeps the visitor’s attention on the content inside the pop-up.

In Squarespace, lightboxes are most commonly used for image galleries. A visitor clicks an image, the larger version opens in an overlay, and they can view it without leaving the page.

That is the simple version.

The more useful question is this:

What can you actually open in a Squarespace lightbox?

What Squarespace Lightboxes Are Good For

Squarespace includes native lightbox options for some image and gallery layouts.

This works well when you want to:

• Let visitors enlarge portfolio images

• Show photography in a cleaner viewing experience

• Keep people on the same page while browsing visuals

• Make a gallery feel more polished

• Give product, project, or portfolio images more room to breathe

For simple image viewing, Squarespace’s built-in lightbox feature may be enough.

If you only need someone to click an image and see a larger version of that same image, start with the native setting first.

How to Enable a Native Lightbox in Squarespace

The exact setting depends on the kind of content you are using.

Image Blocks

For supported image blocks, open the image block settings, go to the Design tab, and turn on the Lightbox option.

This lets the image open in a larger overlay when clicked.

One important note: if the image already has a clickthrough URL, Squarespace may use the link instead of the lightbox. In many cases, you have to choose between using the image as a link or using it as a lightbox trigger.

Gallery Blocks

For grid gallery blocks, open the gallery block settings, go to the Design tab, and enable the Lightbox option.

This is useful for portfolios, image collections, press galleries, project examples, and visual case studies.

Some gallery layouts support lightboxes better than others, so check the exact layout you are using before assuming the option is available.

Gallery Sections

Some Squarespace gallery sections also include lightbox settings, depending on the layout.

Gallery sections are great for showing a set of images in a visual section of a page, but they are still mostly image-focused. They are not designed for placing forms, buttons, videos, pricing tables, custom blocks, or full page sections inside the lightbox.

The Limitation: Squarespace Lightboxes Are Mostly for Images

This is where most people get stuck.

Squarespace’s built-in lightbox feature is helpful, but it is limited. It is mainly designed for images and galleries.

But a lot of site owners want to lightbox something else.

For example:

• A contact form

• A newsletter signup

• A YouTube or Vimeo video

• A pricing table

• A team bio

• A product detail section

• A lead magnet

• A booking prompt

• A testimonial

• A full Squarespace section

• A hidden page

• A custom layout

That is where the native lightbox setting usually stops being enough.

You can sometimes force a custom solution with code, but that is not ideal for most Squarespace users. You need to manage the trigger, the overlay, the styling, the close behavior, the mobile experience, and the content you want to display.

That is why we made Lightbox Anything.

How to Lightbox Anything in Squarespace

Lightbox Anything is a Squarespace plugin that lets you open custom content in a popup from a button, image, text link, gallery item, or other trigger.

Instead of being limited to image enlargement, you can use a lightbox as a flexible content layer on your site.

You can use it for:

• Forms

• Videos

• Team bios

• Product details

• Portfolio content

• Promos

• Testimonials

• Pricing tables

• Signup forms

• Gated content

• Custom Squarespace sections

The visitor clicks something, the content opens in a popup, and they stay on the same page.

That is the real value of a lightbox. It lets you show the next piece of information without breaking the flow of the page.

When to Use a Lightbox

A lightbox works best when the content is helpful, but not important enough to deserve its own full page.

Use a lightbox when you want to give someone more detail without interrupting their path.

For example, a designer might use a lightbox to show more project images from a portfolio grid. A service provider might use one to open a short inquiry form. A shop owner might use one to explain product details, sizing, shipping, or a limited-time offer. A course creator might use one to show a video preview without sending people away from the sales page.

The lightbox should support the page, not compete with it.

When Not to Use a Lightbox

A lightbox is not always the right move.

Avoid using one for content that needs a full page, deep reading, search visibility, or a dedicated URL. If the content is important for SEO, accessibility, or sharing, it may belong on its own page instead.

You should also avoid using too many lightboxes on one page. A popup can help focus attention, but if everything opens in a popup, the page can start to feel jumpy and confusing.

Use the lightbox for moments where staying on the same page creates a smoother experience.

Native Squarespace Lightbox vs. Lightbox Anything

Use the native Squarespace lightbox if you only need to enlarge images in an image block, gallery block, or supported gallery section.

Use Lightbox Anything if you want to open custom content from a button, text link, image, gallery item, or other trigger.

The native feature answers:

“How do I make this image bigger when someone clicks it?”

Lightbox Anything answers:

“How do I open this specific content in a popup without sending someone to another page?”

That is the difference.

Example: Open a Video in a Lightbox

Let’s say you want a button on your Squarespace page that says “Watch the Video.”

Instead of embedding the video directly on the page, you can use Lightbox Anything to open the video in a popup.

This keeps the page clean, gives the video more focus, and lets the visitor close the video when they are done.

The same idea works for forms, hidden sections, promos, team bios, or other content you want to reveal only when someone asks for it.

Get the Lightbox Anything Plugin

If you only need basic image enlargement, use Squarespace’s built-in lightbox settings.

If you want to open forms, videos, custom sections, product details, bios, promos, or other content in a popup, use Lightbox Anything.

You can see the plugin, examples, and setup details here:

View the Lightbox Anything Plugin

Squarespace Lightbox FAQs

What is a lightbox in Squarespace?

A lightbox is a popup overlay that opens on top of the current page. It is usually used to show an image, video, form, or other focused content without sending the visitor to a new page.

Does Squarespace have a built-in lightbox?

Yes. Squarespace has built-in lightbox options for certain image blocks, gallery blocks, gallery sections, and older gallery page setups. The exact options depend on your Squarespace version, layout, and block type.

Can I open a form in a Squarespace lightbox?

Not with the basic native image lightbox setting. To open a form in a popup, you will usually need custom code or a plugin like Lightbox Anything.

Can I open a video in a Squarespace lightbox?

Squarespace has some video-related lightbox behavior in certain gallery setups, but it depends on your site version and layout. If you want a simpler way to open a video from a button or link, use Lightbox Anything or the Video Lightbox Button Plugin.

Can I open a whole Squarespace section in a lightbox?

Yes, with the right plugin. Lightbox Anything can open custom Squarespace sections and other content types in a popup.

Is a lightbox good for SEO?

A lightbox can improve the page experience, but important SEO content should usually live on the page itself or on its own dedicated page. Use lightboxes for supporting content, not for the main content you want search engines to understand.

Is Lightbox Anything compatible with Squarespace 7.1?

Yes. Lightbox Anything is built for Squarespace 7.0 and 7.1, including Fluid Engine pages.

Do I need a Squarespace Business Plan?

For the easiest setup and full functionality, yes. Lightbox Anything uses Code Injection, which requires a Squarespace Business Plan or higher. Personal Plan users can use an alternative markdown method.