The field of SEO continues to evolve rapidly, with LLM.txt emerging as a topic of recent interest. Promoted as a file to support large language models (LLMs) and AI-driven search features, LLM.txt has garnered attention among digital marketers and website administrators.
This blog explores the facts about LLM.txt, examining its origins, perceived benefits, current industry support, and whether its use aligns with best practices.
What is LLM.txt and Its Background
LLM.txt is a plain text file modelled after robots.txt, which serves as a directive for search engine crawlers regarding site indexing. The concept for LLM.txt was proposed by Jeremy Howard on September 3, 2024, to provide LLM bots an efficient means of accessing summarised information about websites—including products, services, and key pages—without the need for repeated comprehensive crawling.
For example:
If robots.txt is located at example.com/robots.txt, then LLM.txt would be at example.com/llm.txt.
Current Adoption and Industry Position
Some SEO tools, including RankMath and Yoast, have introduced features to generate LLM.txt files, raising expectations that these files might enhance AI-based search rankings.
However, there is currently no evidence that major search engines or AI providers—such as Google, Bing, Meta, OpenAI, or Perplexity—recognise or utilise LLM.txt for crawling or ranking. Official statements confirm that there is no support for LLM.txt at present, and no plans have been announced for future adoption.
Considerations and Risks
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Lack of Recognition: LLM.txt is not used by search engines or major AI bots, rendering its intended purpose ineffective.
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Absence of Standards: Generated LLM.txt files do not follow any universally recognised format, which limits consistency and utility.
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SEO Risks: LLM.txt may be indexed as standard content by search engines, potentially introducing competition with important pages and impacting SEO performance.
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Resource Implications: Creating or updating an LLM.txt file requires effort but provides no tangible benefits under current industry practices.
Recommended Practices
Based on available evidence, implementation of LLM.txt is not advisable at this time. Efforts are better directed toward established SEO methods, such as enhancing site content, improving user experience, and addressing technical SEO elements.
Overview of Industry Promotion
Promotion surrounding LLM.txt primarily originates from marketing influencers, bloggers, and certain tool providers. Despite widespread attention, there is no substantiated endorsement or technical support from search engine operators or official industry channels.
Appropriate Focus Areas for SEO
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Disregard LLM.txt: There is no substantiated SEO value at this stage.
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Prioritise Website Content: Improvements to homepage, product/service pages, informational, and contact sections are key to effective SEO.
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Monitor Changes: Monitoring official communications from search engines and AI providers is essential before adopting new trends.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. What is llms.txt?
llms.txt is a proposed text file placed at the root of a website. Its goal is to guide large language models (LLMs) toward key content, acting like a content map for AI instead of a crawler-blocking tool.
2. How is it different from robots.txt?
robots.txt tells search engines what they can and cannot crawl. llms.txt, on the other hand, doesn’t block anything—it highlights important, authoritative content that site owners want LLMs to prioritise.
3. Do any AI models use llms.txt today?
No major LLM (like ChatGPT, Gemini, Claude, or Perplexity) currently honours llms.txt. It’s more of an experimental idea than an active standard in the AI or SEO ecosystem right now.
4. Is llms.txt important for SEO?
Not yet. It does not affect search rankings or traffic today. However, early adopters see it as future-proofing, in case LLM providers begin to use it as a signal in their content parsing.
5. Should I bother creating one now?
It’s optional. If you have time, adding it won’t hurt—it could showcase your most valuable content in a structured way. But if resources are tight, focus first on proven SEO tactics like schema markup and structured content.
6. What should I include in an llms.txt file?
Highlight your cornerstone content: product or service pages, FAQs, guides, and key blog posts. Use clean Markdown with headings and bullet points to make it easy for AI to parse. Keep it simple and relevant.
7. Who benefits most from llms.txt?
Websites with lots of content—blogs, ecommerce stores, publishers—stand to benefit if adoption grows. Smaller sites may not see much impact, but preparing now can build long-term AI visibility.
8. What are better ways to optimise for LLMs today?
Focus on structured data, clear FAQs, and semantic HTML. Write in natural, answer-focused language and build authority signals (citations, expertise, brand mentions). These tactics matter more than llms.txt right now.
Conclusion
At present, LLM.txt stands as an unsupported concept and does not provide measurable benefits for SEO. The recommended approach is to concentrate on established and validated SEO strategies, and to exercise caution before adopting trends lacking official recognition.