The way people find information online is changing fast.
While traditional search engines like Google still matter, AI systems like ChatGPT, Claude, Gemini, and Perplexity are quickly becoming the new go-to sources.
These models don’t rely on classic search rankings. They use language understanding, context, and structured data to generate answers.
So the question is: Is your website ready to be understood by AI?
That’s where LLM.txt comes in.
What is LLM.txt?
LLM.txt is a simple text file, usually written in Markdown, that gives large language models (LLMs) a clear, structured summary of your website’s most important content.
Instead of crawling and guessing what matters on your site, AI systems can read this file directly to get the core message. Think of it like a cheat sheet or press kit for your website, written for AI.
It’s stored in the root directory of your website (same place you'd find your robots.txt file).
Why Should You Use LLM.txt?
While there’s no official standard (yet) for how LLMs use this file, here’s what you gain by creating one:
AI Readability: Help AI tools understand your content faster and more accurately
Better Visibility: Increase your chances of being cited or surfaced in AI-generated answers
Clarity & Control: Decide what information gets highlighted, rather than leaving it to chance
Future-Proofing: Stay one step ahead as AI-driven search and summarization evolve
If you’ve ever invested time in SEO, this is the logical next step for the AI era.
What Should Go Into LLM.txt?
Keep it clean, concise, and structured.
Here’s a basic outline:
Make it scannable, human-readable, and trustworthy, this is not the place for fluff.
How to Add LLM.txt to Your Website
Create the file Use a plain text editor or Markdown editor. Save it as LLM.txt.
Upload to your root directory Use FTP, your CMS file manager, or ask your developer. It should live at: https://yourdomain.com/LLM.txt
Update it regularly Just like your sitemap or metadata, this should reflect your most up-to-date offer and messaging.
Automatic vs Manual Creation
Depending on your setup or CMS, you can:
Manually write and maintain it
Generate it dynamically using templates or AI tools
Use plugins or apps if your platform supports them (e.g. via SEO tools or website builders)
