How to Create an LLMs.txt File — Step-by-Step Guide

What is an LLMs.txt File?

An llms.txt is a plain text file you place at your website root (yourdomain.com/llms.txt) to help AI systems like ChatGPT, Claude, Perplexity, and Gemini understand your site's purpose, audience, and key pages. It is an emerging experimental practice—not an official standard.

⚠️ Experimental Practice: llms.txt is community-driven, not officially endorsed. Use it as a supplementary clarity layer on top of proper SEO, not a replacement.

The 6-Step Process

Collect your site information — Gather your website name, URL, a one-sentence description, your primary audience, and the main language of the site.
List your 5–10 most important public pages — Choose pages that genuinely help a newcomer understand your site: homepage, key features or products, documentation, pricing, blog, and contact.
Write a short description for each page — Keep descriptions to one or two sentences. Explain what the page offers, not just its title.
Choose optional sections — Recommended Reading (docs, blog, pricing), API section (if you have developer docs), and a Contact URL.
Validate before publishing — Use the LLMs.txt Validator to check structure, URLs, and common issues.
Upload to your website root — Place llms.txt at the same level as robots.txt. Test by visiting yourdomain.com/llms.txt in your browser.

The File Structure

Your llms.txt follows a simple pattern. Copy and edit this template:

# [Your Website Name]

> [One-sentence description of your website]

Website: https://yourdomain.com
Audience: [Who your site is for]
Language: [Primary language]

## Key Pages
- [Page title]: https://yourdomain.com/page
  [One-sentence description]

## Recommended Reading
- Documentation: https://yourdomain.com/docs
- Blog: https://yourdomain.com/blog

## Contact
https://yourdomain.com/contact

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Broken URLs: Every URL in the file must return a 200 response. Test them before publishing.
Vague descriptions: "Welcome to our site" is not useful. Write what the page actually offers.
Including sensitive paths: Never list /admin, /login, /checkout, or /account pages.
Guaranteed ranking claims: Do not write "will guarantee top rankings" or similar—it's false and makes the file less credible.
Too many pages: Stick to 5–10 pages. An 80+ line file is a red flag in the validator.
Outdated content: Refresh the file when you rename pages, launch new sections, or change URLs.

✅ Pre-Publish Checklist

Check each item as you prepare your llms.txt file. You need at least 6 of 8 to pass.

Title line present (# Website Name) Starts with a top-level heading with your site name

Short description (> sentence) One or two sentences explaining what the site offers

Website field with HTTPS URL Starts with Website: followed by your full domain

Audience field filled in Who the site serves, e.g. "Small business owners"

Language field included Primary content language, e.g. "English"

Key Pages section with 3–10 links Each page has a descriptive line underneath

All URLs use HTTPS No http:// links, except intentionally (rare)

No sensitive paths included No /admin, /login, /checkout, or private URLs

0 / 8 checked

FAQ

How long should an llms.txt file be?

Aim for a focused file that covers your site's purpose and 5–10 most important pages. Files over 80 lines with too many links may be flagged as too long by the validator.

Can I use llms.txt for any type of website?

Yes. Any publicly accessible website can benefit from an llms.txt file. It is especially useful for content-heavy sites, SaaS products, documentation hubs, and business websites.

Should I include every page of my site?

No. Only include your most important public pages that genuinely help someone understand what the site offers. Avoid admin pages, login flows, and thin content pages.