How do I create an llms.txt file?

Creating an llms.txt file is a straightforward process that can significantly improve how AI models interact with your website. It's a proactive step to ensure your content is accurately represented in an AI-driven web. This guide provides actionable steps to create, implement, and verify your own llms.txt file.

 

Should I create an llms.txt file?

While major LLM providers have not officially adopted the llms.txt standard, there is a strong case for early implementation. Proponents view it as a low-risk, high-reward strategy for future-proofing a brand's online presence. For businesses, especially those with detailed documentation or product information, an

llms.txt file helps control the narrative and prevent AI misinterpretations that could lead to customer confusion or brand damage.

The effort is minimal compared to the potential benefits of improved AI understanding and traffic, making it a pragmatic choice for most website owners.

 

How do I create the llms.txt file?

The creation process involves structuring your content in a clean, readable Markdown format.

1. Identify and Prepare Your Content

The most intensive part of the process is preparing the content you want to highlight.

• Conduct a Content Audit: Identify the most valuable pages for an AI audience. This often includes product pages, technical documentation, API references, "About Us" pages, and key policies.

• Convert to Markdown: Create clean, Markdown (.md) versions of these key pages. This involves stripping away non-essential HTML elements like navigation menus, ads, and sidebars, leaving only the core content structured with clear headings and lists.

 

2. Structure the llms.txt File

Your llms.txt file should follow a specific Markdown structure. To simplify this process and ensure your file is perfectly formatted, you can use a free tool like the llms.txt generator at llms-text.com, which offers both manual and automated options to build a compliant file instantly.

• H1 Header: Start with a Level 1 header containing the name of your site or project. This is the only required element.

• Blockquote Summary: Follow the H1 with an optional but highly recommended blockquote that concisely summarizes your site's purpose.

• H2 Resource Sections: Organize links into logical categories using Level 2 headers, such as ## Docs, ## Products, or ## Policies.

• Resource Links: Under each H2 section, use a bulleted list to enumerate your key resources. Each item should be a Markdown hyperlink
  [Link Title](URL) pointing to the .md version of the page, followed by an optional colon and a brief description.

• ## Optional Section: Use this special section for secondary information that can be skipped by an AI agent with limited context capacity.

 

For an easy start, you can use a free tool like the llms.txt generator, which offers both manual and automated options to build a compliant file.

 

How do I implement llms.txt?

Once your file is created, you need to make it accessible on your website.

 

1. Place the File in the Root Directory

Save your file as llms.txt and upload it to your website's main or root directory. This ensures it's publicly available at a predictable URL, such as yourwebsite.com/llms.txt. The specific upload process varies by hosting environment:

• WordPress: Use an FTP client (like FileZilla) or a file manager in your hosting control panel to upload the file to the root WordPress folder.

• Static Sites/Other Hosting: Place the file in the main public folder, which might be named public_html, www, or htdocs.

 

2. Verify the Implementation

After uploading, confirm that the file is correctly set up.

• Check Accessibility: Simply type yourwebsite.com/llms.txt into your browser. If the file's content appears, the setup is successful.

• Review Content: Double-check that all links are valid and the descriptions accurately represent the linked content.

By following these steps, you can effectively create and implement an llms.txt file, preparing your website for a future where AI plays a central role in information discovery.

 

Create your llms.txt file in minutes

Ready to get started? Don't let the technical details slow you down.

Use a guided tool to build a perfectly structured llms.txt file and prepare your website for the future of AI search.

 

Try the free llms.txt generator