What This Blog Is, Why It Exists, and What to Expect

Welcome to the official lab journal of The Simple Site Lab — where clean websites and smart strategy meet.

This isn’t a blog full of fluff, trends, or cookie-cutter how-tos. *This is where we test, document, and share what actually works for small business websites in 2025 and beyond.* From clean design to AI-friendly SEO to strategic launches — it’s all here, written by me (Lisa) for founders, freelancers, and first-timers who care about building something that lasts.

Why Start a Blog at All?

Good question — because most people don’t read blogs, right?

That’s *partly* true. But blogs still matter (a lot) if you want to:

• Get found in search — especially in AI-generated results

• Educate your audience without having to “sell” all the time

• Build long-term trust and authority

• Create reusable content for Pinterest, Instagram, and emails

And since I’m always answering questions in DMs and inside project calls, this blog lets me build a smarter place to store those answers — and share them with more of you.

What You’ll Find Here (No Fluff, Just Facts)

Expect short, skimmable posts covering:

• Website strategy + design tips

• Smart SEO + AI optimization moves

• Real client stories + before/afters

• Simple tools + tips for growing online

• News from behind the scenes of The Simple Site Lab

Whether you're still figuring out your website or you’re ready to upgrade from DIY to done-right, this blog was built to meet you there.

Got a topic you want me to cover? Drop it in the Contact Form — I’d love to hear what you’re curious about.

Stay tuned — it’s about to get real useful in here.

How Our Co-Lab Build Works: A Transparent Breakdown

Web design doesn’t have to be confusing or expensive.

Our most-loved package, The Co-Lab Build, is built for business owners who want to create a custom, strategic website — without the overwhelm.

Here’s exactly how it works:

Step 1: Discovery + Strategy Session

We start with a 1:1 Zoom to get super clear on your business goals, audience, and site priorities. You’ll leave with a shared vision, a visual moodboard, and your core messaging sorted.

Step 2: Shared Workspace + Weekly Progress

You’ll have access to our shared Google Drive + project timeline. Each week we focus on one key area: homepage, about, services, etc. You’ll get prompts, examples, and full support.

• You give feedback inside the shared doc (no tech headaches)

• We meet weekly or biweekly depending on your pace

• ou don’t need to know design — that’s my job ☺️

Step 3: Build + Final Polish

Once the layout and copy are finalized, I’ll build out your full Squarespace site using brand fonts, colors, and smart layouts. You get a private walkthrough and have 5 days to request tweaks.

What’s Included

• Strategy call + visual moodboard

• Collaborative copywriting support

• Full Squarespace site build

• Mobile optimization

• On-page SEO setup (titles, meta, basic structure)

• Launch support + mini walkthrough video

What You’ll Walk Away With

• A polished, strategic website that reflects your business goals

• Clear messaging and a conversion-ready homepage

• A site you understand — and feel proud of

Ready to collaborate? Explore the Co-Lab Build and let’s build something better — together.

What Makes a Website AIO-Ready (And Why It Matters in 2025)

Search is changing. So should your website.

If you’re still designing your site like it’s 2018, you’re going to have a hard time showing up in today’s AI-powered search results. Whether it's Google’s Search Generative Experience (SGE) or the answers people get from ChatGPT, your site needs to be AIO-optimized — that means AI Indexing Optimized.

Here’s how you make that happen.

What Does "AIO" Even Mean?

AIO stands for AI Indexing Optimization — it’s the new standard for getting your site seen by both human readers and intelligent bots.

It includes:

• Clean site structure with proper heading hierarchy (H1, H2, H3)

• Keyword-smart titles and meta descriptions

• Content that’s clear, helpful, and structured (not just pretty)

• Text-based information that AI tools can extract and summarize

In short: AIO is how you show up in both search engines and AI-generated answers.

What AIO-Ready Websites Have In Common

Most AIO-optimized websites share these traits:

• One clear H1 per page (your main headline)

• Skimmable content with H2s + short paragraphs

• Keywords used naturally in your headings and body text

• Meta descriptions that speak to humans *and* hint at relevance

• Blog content that answers real questions your audience is searching for

At The Simple Site Lab, every site we build includes AIO structure built-in — without the overwhelm.

How We Build AIO Into Every Website

We use:

• SEO-friendly titles + page descriptions in Squarespace’s SEO settings

• Thoughtfully written copy that’s easy to summarize (hello, AI!)

• FAQ blocks, image alt text, and simple layouts that help bots understand your message

We don’t:

• Keyword stuff

• Rely on vague templates

• Use headings for decoration only

Why This Matters (Especially in 2025)

AI-driven discovery is no longer a future trend — it’s here. If your website isn’t structured for it, you risk:

• Being invisible in ChatGPT/Bing/Google SGE results

• Missing out on organic traffic and referrals

• Falling behind as competitors adapt

Want to check if your website is AIO-Ready? Book an Elevate Session and we’ll walk through it together.

Or start your site the smart way with a Co-Lab Build— AIO included.

How to Write Website Copy That Doesn’t Sound Weird

Writing copy for your website feels way harder than it should. And if you’ve ever stared at a blank page thinking, “Why does this sound like a robot wrote it?” — you’re not alone.

This post is here to help you write clear, helpful, human-sounding website copy that actually connects with the people you want to work with.

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Why Website Copy Feels So Hard to Write

• You're too close to your business

• You’re trying to sound “professional

• You’ve never been taught how to write for the web

All of that makes sense. The good news? It’s fixable.

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The Basics of Good Website Copy

• Clear over clever

• Talk like a human

• Focus on benefits

• Use short paragraphs

• Break it up

If your website sounds like your favorite client would say, “That’s so you” — you’re doing it right.

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AIO-Optimized Copywriting Tips

• Use heading structure (H1, H2, etc.)

• Include natural keywords

• Make it skimmable

• Action-based CTAs

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What to Write on Each Page (Quick Guide)

• Homepage: Who you help, what you do, and what they should do next

• About: Why you do this, who you are, and why they should trust you

• Services: What you offer, who it’s for, what they’ll get

• Contact: How to get in touch — keep it simple

Start with this. Edit later.

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Final Tips

• Read your copy out loud

• Use contractions

• Don’t try to impress — try to connect

Remember: Done is better than perfect.

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Want help refining your website copy? Book an Elevate Session or explore the Co-Lab Build for a collaborative site writing experience.