llms.txt is a proposed plain-text file that gives AI tools a short, curated map of your site. It's cheap to add and can be useful, but it's no guarantee of anything. Don't expect it to bring in mentions on its own, and fix your actual pages first.
What is it exactly?
It's a Markdown file at yoursite.com/llms.txt, proposed in 2024. It holds a short description of your business and links to your most important pages, written so that a language model can use it without wading through menus and scripts.
How is it different from robots.txt and a sitemap?
| File | Tells a machine | Status |
|---|---|---|
| robots.txt | Where it may and may not crawl | Established |
| sitemap.xml | Which pages exist | Established |
| llms.txt | What matters and how to read it | A proposal, not a standard |
Does it actually help?
Be sceptical of anyone who promises results. It is a proposal, and support differs per company. Google in particular points to its regular search fundamentals for AI features, without asking for special files. So treat llms.txt as low-cost housekeeping, not as a strategy.
Should you add one?
If it takes you an hour, sure. We publish one ourselves: it costs little and forces you to say clearly what your business is, which is useful in itself. But it comes after clear pages, a readable site and a good reputation.
What goes in it?
- Your name and one sentence on what you do
- Your main services or products, each with a link and a short description
- The guides and pages that answer common questions
- Contact details and anything a machine tends to get wrong about you
