Lesson 3.4 · 12/3211 min6 sources
What Is llms.txt and Should You Use It?
What llms.txt is, what the evidence says about AI search engines using it, and why sitemaps and IndexNow are more proven ways to get content discovered.
You'll be able to
- ✓Describe the llms.txt proposal and write a valid file
- ✓Weigh what is proven, claimed and unknown about llms.txt and AI search
- ✓Decide whether llms.txt is worth adding to your site
- ✓Set up sitemaps and IndexNow as proven discovery levers
The short answer
llms.txt is a proposed Markdown file at /llms.txt that gives language models a short site summary and links to key pages. Google says Search ignores it, and no major AI search engine has confirmed using it for citations. Ahrefs found 97% of llms.txt files got no requests in a month. It's cheap; don't expect a lift.
Inside this lesson
- What the proposal is
- What the evidence says
- Cost vs. benefit
- More proven discovery levers
- Hands-on exercise + knowledge check
Part of the full course
Unlock every lesson, tool and exercise
One payment. Lifetime access. $59 $25