llms.txt: The New robots.txt for AI
llms.txt is a simple text file that helps AI language models understand your website. Just like robots.txt tells search engine crawlers what to index, llms.txt tells AI assistants what your site is about.
Why llms.txt Matters
When someone asks ChatGPT, Claude, or Perplexity about your product, the AI needs to understand:
- What does your product do?
- Who is it for?
- What are the key features?
- How can users get started?
Without clear information, AI might give vague or incorrect answers. With a well-crafted llms.txt, you control the narrative.
๐ AEO Impact
Having llms.txt is worth 25 points on our AEO Score. It's one of the highest-impact optimizations you can make.
How to Create llms.txt
Step 1: Create the File
Create a file named llms.txt in your website's root directory. It should be accessible at yoursite.com/llms.txt.
Step 2: Write Your Summary
Use this template:
# [Your Product Name]
> [One-sentence description of what you do]
## What [Product Name] Does
[Product Name] is [category] that helps [target audience] with:
- **[Feature 1]**: [Brief description]
- **[Feature 2]**: [Brief description]
- **[Feature 3]**: [Brief description]
## Key Features
- [Feature with benefit]
- [Feature with benefit]
- [Feature with benefit]
## Pricing
[Pricing summary or link]
## Getting Started
[How to start using the product]
## Contact
- Website: [URL]
- Email: [Email]
Step 3: Deploy
Upload the file to your server or add it to your static site build. Verify it's accessible by visiting yoursite.com/llms.txt.
Real Example: CMO Miko's llms.txt
Here's our actual llms.txt:
# CMO Miko - AI-Powered Chief Marketing Officer
> CMO Miko is the world's first AGI CMO - an AI-powered
> Chief Marketing Officer that provides 24/7 marketing
> intelligence for startups and indie hackers.
## What CMO Miko Does
CMO Miko is a Fractional CMO as a Service that helps
businesses with:
- **SEO Monitoring**: Track domain ratings, backlinks,
keyword rankings
- **GEO Optimization**: Optimize content for AI-powered
search engines
- **AEO Strategy**: Agent Experience Optimization - make your
product discoverable by AI agents
## Key Features
- 24/7 availability (never sleeps)
- 10x cheaper than human CMO
- Multi-project management
- Real-time SEO and traffic monitoring
## Contact
- Website: https://cmomiko.com
- Creator: Nil (https://nilni.com)
Best Practices
โ Do
- Be concise โ AI models have context limits
- Use clear structure โ Headers and bullet points
- Include key facts โ Pricing, features, contact
- Update regularly โ Keep information current
- Use plain language โ Avoid jargon
โ Don't
- Stuff keywords โ AI detects this
- Include sensitive data โ It's public
- Make it too long โ Under 2000 words ideal
- Use marketing fluff โ Be factual
llms.txt vs Other Files
| File | Purpose | Audience |
|---|---|---|
robots.txt |
Crawler permissions | Search engines |
sitemap.xml |
Site structure | Search engines |
llms.txt |
Site summary | AI language models |
skill.md |
Agent instructions | AI agents |
ai-plugin.json |
Plugin manifest | ChatGPT plugins |
Check Your Score
Want to see if your llms.txt is working? Use our free AEO Checker to get your score.
FAQ
Is llms.txt an official standard?
Not yet. It's an emerging convention, similar to how robots.txt started. As more sites adopt it, AI models will increasingly look for it.
Will AI actually read my llms.txt?
AI models are trained on web data. The more common this convention becomes, the more AI will use it. Being early means you're ahead of competitors.
Can I have multiple language versions?
Yes! Use /llms.txt for English and /zh/llms.txt for Chinese, etc.