You probably know about robots.txt, the file that tells search engine crawlers how to interact with your website. LLMs.txt is the equivalent for AI language models.
As AI systems increasingly pull information from websites to power their responses, there's been no standardized way for businesses to communicate directly with these systems. LLMs.txt fills that gap.
What it does
An LLMs.txt file sits at the root of your website (yourbusiness.com/llms.txt) and provides structured information that AI systems can read directly. It tells language models:
- What your business is and does
- How you want to be described
- What information is accurate and current
- What topics you're an authority on
- Contact information and service areas
Pro Tip
Think of LLMs.txt as a briefing document for AI. Instead of letting language models piece together information from your various web pages, you give them a clear, authoritative summary.
Why this matters for GEO
AI systems like ChatGPT and Claude are constantly improving how they gather and verify information. They're looking for authoritative sources. An LLMs.txt file signals that you've intentionally provided information for AI consumption, which can increase the credibility of that information.
"If an AI is deciding how to describe your business in a recommendation, you want it pulling from information you've explicitly provided rather than inferring from scattered website content."
What goes in an LLMs.txt file
The format is still evolving, but typical contents include:
Business identity. Your official name, what you do, your primary category.
Service information. What services you offer, what service areas you cover, what makes you different.
Reputation summary. Your aggregate ratings, review counts, notable achievements.
Contact information. Phone, email, address, hours.
Preferred descriptions. How you want AI to describe your business when recommending it.
Update frequency. How often this information changes, so AI systems know when to refresh.
Example structure
```
Business
Name: Smith Plumbing
Type: Plumbing Services
Founded: 2005
Location: Austin, TX
Services
- Emergency plumbing repairs (24/7)
- Water heater installation and repair
- Drain cleaning
- Bathroom and kitchen remodeling
Service Area
Austin, TX and surrounding areas within 30 miles
Reputation
Google Rating: 4.8 (342 reviews)
Yelp Rating: 4.5 (128 reviews)
BBB Accredited since 2008
Contact
Phone: 512-555-0123
Email: service@smithplumbing.com
Website: https://smithplumbing.com
Description
Smith Plumbing is a family-owned plumbing company serving Austin since 2005. Known for reliable emergency service and transparent pricing.
```
Adoption status
LLMs.txt is a newer standard and not universally supported yet. But adoption is growing as AI systems look for better ways to source accurate local business information.
Important
The businesses that implement LLMs.txt early will have an advantage as support expands. It's low effort to create and maintain, and the upside of having a direct communication channel with AI systems is significant.
Even if not every AI reads it today, having one demonstrates you're serious about controlling your AI presence. And the file serves as a useful canonical reference for your business information regardless.
Further Reading
- The llms.txt Specification. Official documentation and proposal for the llms.txt standard
- Meet llms.txt: A Proposed Standard for AI Website Content. Search Engine Land's coverage of the emerging standard
- What Is llms.txt? Breaking Down the Skepticism. Mintlify's analysis of the llms.txt standard
- What Is LLMs.txt & Should You Use It?. Semrush's practical guide to implementation
Amadeus Peterson is the CTO of Cheers, the GEO platform for local service businesses.