What is llms.txt and how to write one for your business

When AI assistants like ChatGPT answer questions about businesses, they need accurate information to cite. An llms.txt file is a simple text document placed on your website that provides clear, structured data about your company for these systems to reference. It doesn’t guarantee citations, but it makes it easier for AI to understand and represent your business correctly when it does.

What llms.txt does

AI models scrape and interpret web content to answer questions. Without clear signals, they may misrepresent your business details or overlook key information. An llms.txt file acts like a factsheet, offering precise data in a format these systems can parse. It’s not a ranking factor, but it reduces the chance of errors when your business is mentioned.

What to include in your llms.txt

Keep it concise and factual. Include:

1. Official business name and any trading names
2. Short description (under 200 characters)
3. Year founded
4. Headquarters location
5. Key products or services (limit to 3-5)
6. Official website URL
7. Contact email for verification
8. Social media handles (if relevant)

Avoid marketing language or claims. This is reference data, not promotional copy.

How to create and publish llms.txt

Create a plain text file named llms.txt with your information formatted like this template:

Business Name: Example Ltd
Trading As: Example Widgets
Description: UK manufacturer of precision widgets since 1982
Founded: 1982
Location: Manchester, UK
Products: Industrial widgets, Consumer widgets, Spare parts
Website: https://example.com
Contact: info@example.com
Twitter: @examplewidgets

Upload this to the root directory of your website (same place as robots.txt). Test it by visiting yourdomain.com/llms.txt in a browser.

Does llms.txt help with AI citations?

It provides clear signals when AI systems are researching your business, but doesn’t control whether they cite you. The file is one of many sources AI may use. Monitor how your business appears in AI answers over time, and update the file if your details change.

For businesses mentioned in AI responses, having accurate llms.txt data means those citations are more likely to be correct. Want to check how yours looks? Ask us through the site. You can also explore our blog for more practical guides on making your business visible to both search engines and AI systems.