Technical fix

How to add an llms.txt file

As AI answer engines read the web, llms.txt is a plain-text file at your site root that hands them a clean summary of what your site is and which pages matter — instead of leaving them to guess.

llms.txt is a proposed convention (see llmstxt.org) for a Markdown file at /llms.txt that gives large language models a concise, curated map of your site: what it is, a short description, and links to your most important pages with context.

Think of it as robots.txt's friendly cousin for AI: robots.txt says what crawlers may access, while llms.txt helps AI models understand and summarise your content accurately.

Why it matters

AI answer engines and assistants increasingly mediate how people find businesses. A clear llms.txt improves the odds that an AI describes and cites you correctly. It is not (yet) a search-engine ranking factor — it is an early bet on AI discoverability, most worthwhile for B2B, SaaS, documentation, and reference sites likely to be cited by LLMs.

How to tell if this is you

Abby flags “llms.txt” when no /llms.txt file is found at your site root. A companion check looks for the discovery link tag that points to it. The fix is creating the file (and, optionally, adding the link).

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The fix

Create a /llms.txt file at your site root. This emerging standard helps AI language models understand your site. Include: site name, description, key pages, and usage guidelines. See llmstxt.org for the specification.

Before

# https://example.com/llms.txt  ->  404 (no file)

After

# /llms.txt
# Example Studio

> Handmade footwear, made to order in Lake Forest.

## Key pages
- [Shop](https://example.com/shop): the full collection
- [About](https://example.com/about): our story and process

<!-- optional companion discovery link, in your <head>: -->
<link rel="llms" href="https://example.com/llms.txt">

Fix it on your platform

WordPress

Create a file called llms.txt and upload it to your WordPress root directory via FTP/SFTP. Or use a plugin that manages it, or add a rewrite rule in your .htaccess.

Shopify

Add a /llms.txt page via Online Store > Pages, or serve it through a proxy. Shopify doesn't natively support arbitrary root-level files.

Apache / Nginx

Create a llms.txt file in your document root: /var/www/html/llms.txt

When this doesn’t apply

An emerging convention (2024+) for LLM-friendly site summaries. Helpful for B2B/SaaS, documentation, and reference sites likely to be cited by LLMs. Not yet a search-engine ranking factor and not relevant for consumer or transactional pages whose content isn't intended for LLM consumption.

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FAQ

Is llms.txt a Google ranking factor?

No. It is an emerging convention for AI models, not a search-engine ranking signal. Treat it as an early, low-cost investment in how AI answer engines understand your site, not as SEO in the traditional sense.

Where does the llms.txt file go?

At your domain root, served at https://yourdomain.com/llms.txt as plain text / Markdown. Some platforms (like Shopify) don't allow arbitrary root files, so you may need a page or a proxy route.

What's the llms discovery link?

It's an optional <link> tag in your <head> that points to your llms.txt so tools can find it automatically. Skip it if you don't have an llms.txt file yet — the file comes first.