How to Create an llms.txt File for Your Website

If you have a robots.txt file on your website (and you should), you already understand the idea behind llms.txt. While robots.txt tells search engine crawlers what they can and cannot access, llms.txt tells AI language models what your business is about and which information matters most.

What is llms.txt?

An llms.txt file is a plain-text file placed at the root of your website (e.g., yoursite.com/llms.txt). It provides structured, human-readable context that AI tools like ChatGPT, Claude, Perplexity, and Gemini can use to accurately understand and describe your business.

Without it, AI tools have to crawl your entire site and guess what is important. With it, you are directly telling them.

Why llms.txt matters for AI discoverability

When an AI tool encounters your website, it needs to quickly determine:

• What does this business do?
• Who does it serve?
• Where is it located?
• What services or products does it offer?
• What pages contain the most important information?

A well-structured llms.txt file answers all of these questions in seconds, without the AI having to parse marketing copy, navigation menus, or decorative content.

Step-by-step: creating your llms.txt file

1. Start with the header

# YourBusinessName

> One-sentence description of what you do and who you serve.

Example:

# ConnectMyTech

> AI and automation consulting for local service businesses in Victoria, BC.

2. Add your core details

## About

- Founded: [year]
- Location: [city, region, country]
- Founder: [name]
- Website: [url]
- Contact: [email or contact page URL]

3. List your services

## Services

- [Service 1]: [one-sentence description]
- [Service 2]: [one-sentence description]
- [Service 3]: [one-sentence description]

Be specific. Do not use marketing language. State exactly what each service delivers.

4. Define your audience

## Who We Serve

- [Audience 1] (e.g., local realtors, mortgage brokers)
- [Audience 2] (e.g., small business owners needing automation)
- [Audience 3] (e.g., solopreneurs building online presence)

5. Link to important pages

## Key Pages

- [About](/about): Company background and team
- [Services](/services): Detailed service descriptions
- [Blog](/blog): Articles on AI discoverability and automation
- [Contact](/contact): How to get in touch
- [Audit](/audit): Free AI discoverability audit tool

6. Add optional context

## Additional Context

- [Any unique positioning, awards, certifications]
- [Industry focus areas]
- [Technology stack or tools used, if relevant]

Complete llms.txt example

# ConnectMyTech

> AI and automation consulting for local service businesses in Victoria, BC, Canada.

## About

- Founded: 2025
- Location: Victoria, BC, Canada
- Founder: Shahab Papoon
- Website: https://www.connectmy.tech
- Contact: https://www.shahabpapoon.com/contact

## Services

- AI Discoverability Audit: Scores how visible a business is to AI tools across 6 modules, then implements fixes
- AI Agent Deployment: Sets up OpenClaw AI agents for customer interaction across WhatsApp, Slack, and other channels
- Google Business Profile Optimization: Done-for-you GBP audit, rewrite, and ongoing management
- Zapier Automation: Connects existing business tools to eliminate manual work

## Who We Serve

- Local service businesses (realtors, mortgage brokers, coaches, trades)
- Consultants and solopreneurs
- Small businesses with underperforming Google Business Profiles

## Key Pages

- [About](https://www.connectmy.tech/about): Company background, services, and FAQ
- [Audit](https://www.connectmy.tech/audit): Free AI discoverability audit tool
- [Blog](https://www.connectmy.tech/blog): Articles on AI discoverability and automation
- [AI Info](https://www.connectmy.tech/ai-info): Structured information for AI assistants

Where to put the file

Place llms.txt in your website's public root directory so it is accessible at yoursite.com/llms.txt. In a Next.js project, this means putting it in the /public folder.

You can also create an llms-full.txt with more detailed documentation for AI tools that want deeper context.

Testing your llms.txt

After publishing, verify:

1. Visit yoursite.com/llms.txt in a browser to confirm it loads
2. Run an AI Discoverability Audit at connectmy.tech/audit to see if the M1 module picks it up
3. Ask ChatGPT or Claude about your business and see if the responses improve over time

Frequently asked questions

Does llms.txt replace robots.txt?

No. They serve different purposes. robots.txt controls crawler access. llms.txt provides context for AI language models. You should have both.

Will AI tools actually read my llms.txt file?

Yes. AI tools that browse the web (ChatGPT with browsing, Perplexity, Claude with web search) check for llms.txt the same way they check for robots.txt. It is becoming a standard signal for AI-optimized websites.

How often should I update llms.txt?

Update it whenever your services, location, or key information changes. A quarterly review is a good practice. Keep it factual and current.

Can llms.txt hurt my traditional SEO?

No. It is a plain-text file that search engines can index but does not interfere with your existing SEO setup. It only adds signal, it does not replace anything.