October 28, 2025

Designing for the Next Wave: Narrative Websites & SEO in the Age of Generative AI

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Design is not about decoration — it’s about direction. Every pixel must tell the story your brand can’t afford to leave untold.

Yuliya Pivnyak​

If you’re a brand, an agency, or a business looking to stand out globally, here’s your roadmap.

In 2025, building a premium website is no longer just about aesthetics or a slick layout. The real frontline has shifted to how you tell the story, how your brand is positioned, and how your content is discovered — not only by people, but by intelligent systems like ChatGPT, Gemini, and Perplexity.

1. Narrative Websites: More Than Just Pretty Design

A narrative website isn’t just a visual treat — it’s a strategic storytelling tool. It merges three core dimensions:

  • Architecture: information flow, navigation, and modular sections that mirror how your story unfolds.

  • Copy & Messaging: microcopy, headings, storytelling arcs that guide the user.

  • Visual Identity: color, imagery, motion — not decoration, but a visual narrative that reinforces your brand.

When done right, users don’t just browse — they feel, remember and act.

2. SEO Had a Makeover — Meet GEO

Traditional SEO is still important. But now, if your website content doesn’t address how generative AI systems parse, summarize, and cite information, you risk being invisible in this new frontier.

This shift is called Generative Engine Optimization (GEO) — optimizing for AI-powered search results, not just classic SERPs.

What that means in practice:

  • Structure your content so that AI can cite your pages in answers.

  • Use clear headings, bullet lists, definitions, FAQs — machine-friendly formats.

  • Cultivate external authority (citations, mentions) because AI often favors trusted sources.

  • Combine traditional SEO and generative optimization: you want to win both Google and AI queries.

3. Going International? Multisite or Smart Translation Strategy

  • If your goal is to serve both local clients in Italy and international clients in English or other languages, you have two strong options:

    • Multisite WordPress approach: separate sites for each language, each with its SEO, content, and structure.

    • Smart multilingual plugin + strong translation & SEO: same site, with dedicated translated pages and language control (TranslatePress, WPML, etc.).

    The key is to treat each language as a market — with different keywords, meta descriptions, and even content emphasis. Your English version should speak to what global clients search, not just a translation of the Italian.

4. Design Meets Performance = Conversion

  • A beautiful site that loads slowly or is confusing defeats its purpose. Users (and Google) expect:

    A narrative site must balance drama and function. Every visual effect must serve conversion or story flow.

5. Content Strategy That Elevates, Not Dilutes

  • You don’t need endless pages. What you need is content with purpose:

    • Pillar pages: your core messaging, case studies, philosophy.

    • Supporting content (blogs, tutorials, stories) that link back to your core pages.

    • Evergreen content that positions your brand’s authority (for example: “What is narrative UX?”, “How to translate design to business ROI”).

    • Content that AI and human readers both value: depth, clarity, examples.

6. How To Show Your Value to Agencies & Clients

  • To attract discerning clients and agencies, show that you’re not just a web designer — you’re a brand strategist-meets-creator:

    • Use case studies with metrics (before/after, conversions, engagement).

    • Publish insights (like this article) to build authority.

    • Offer “white-label” or “design-as-service” options.

    • Demonstrate that your process is replicable and scalable (multisite, modular templating).

7. Your 2025 Action Plan

  • Audit current site pages: identify which ones are narrative, which need rewriting, which can be reformatted.

  • For each page, ask: how would an AI “answer” a user question from this content?

  • If going bilingual, plan your keyword sets in Italian and English separately.

  • Optimize performance (images, caching, minimal JS).

  • Publish one high-value article or insight monthly, optimized for both human SEO and AI citations.

Final Thought

  • In 2025 and beyond, you don’t just compete in design — you compete in voice, clarity, narrative, and AI-cited authority.
    If you can craft a site that tells your brand story clearly, loads fast, and is optimized for both humans and machines — you don’t just attract clients. You become the answer they didn’t even know they were searching for.

Tags:
  • AI-ready SEO
  • attract clients
  • narrative design
  • no-code strategy

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    F.A.Q.

    Got questions or curiosities? Here are the answers to the most common ones.

    I create custom websites that combine signature design, storytelling, and a well-structured architecture.

    The most requested types are:

    Strategic One Page – ideal for compact, impactful presentations.

    Showcase Website (3–6 pages) – for companies and professionals who want to be found online.

    Business Website (6–10 pages) – for structured projects with blogs, advanced forms, and animations.

    Advanced Corporate Website (10–20+ pages) – for organizations with complex architecture and extensive content.

    E-commerce – to sell online professionally, with product management, payments, and shipping.

    The price depends on the project’s complexity, extra features, and the level of customization required.

    It depends on the number of pages, the required features, and the level of customization.

    We start with a consultation to define goals and style.
    You pay a 50% deposit, and I keep you updated through every phase.
    I work on my WordPress profile and, once the balance is paid, I transfer everything to yours.

    Those who request complex projects, advanced features, or lots of extra changes beyond the initial brief.
    For this kind of work, budgets start around €2,000.
    And yes… the “high-maintenance” ones — the ones who change their mind every two days — usually end up in the premium range.

    It depends on the number of pages, the complexity, and what you provide.
    With texts and materials ready, a website can go live within 2–4 weeks.

    By default: 2 rounds of revisions — all collected in a single list (so I don’t lose my sanity).

    Want unlimited revisions?
    +50% on the price — and I’ll even buy you coffee for the late nights.

    Want zero revisions?
    -50% — and we shake hands: pure trust.

    Perfect. I’ll handle it.
    I research your industry, create the narrative concept, write the copy, design the layout, and deliver a turnkey website.
    All you’ll have to say is: “Nice — when do we launch?”

    If you have a VAT number and the website is part of your business expenses, then yes.
    I’ll issue a regular invoice, and you can forward it to your accountant.

     

    No — but I’ll build you a website worth more than what you pay.
    My work isn’t a cost to cut; it’s an investment that helps you earn more.
    If you’re after the lowest price, you might as well ask your cousin… just don’t complain later if it looks like your cousin made it. 😉

     

    Because your cousin builds a website — I create a complete project: narrative concept, signature design, original copy, thoughtful UX, and details that elevate your brand.

    The agency charges twice as much because, besides the website, you’re also paying for the secretary, the office, and the boss’s car.

    I, on the other hand, do the work myself… and I do it well.

     

     

    Trump:
    “The website is beautiful.
    If your cousin thinks it’s slow… maybe it’s his dial-up from ’98.
    I only make masterpieces — not snail races.”

    Master Zen:
    “Slowness is not a flaw.
    It’s the time your mind needs to understand beauty.”

    Handy Cousin:
    “Slow? So what?
    Better that way — you’ve got time to make a coffee.
    If you really want, I can add a couple of free plugins I found on Google and we’ll fix it… maybe.”

    Digital Cat:
    “Meow.
    If you want speed, visit an empty site.
    Here, we savour every pixel.”

    Elon Musk:
    “It’s not slow — it’s in space-prototype mode.
    But don’t worry: when it blows up, it’ll be lightning-fast.”

    Yes — I work in white label, so I can create high-level websites that agencies present as their own.
    You won’t see me on the front line, but behind the scenes I take care of every detail: design, UX, copy, animations.
    If, however, the agency is just looking for a “click executor,” I’ll gladly hand it over… to the cousin.

    Plan your website with strategy

    I also work in white label<br> or as an external partner
    I also work in white label
    or as an external partner
    Tailored quality,
    no compromises.
    Contact
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