AI Search
llms.txt: A Plain-Text Briefing for AI Crawlers
An llms.txt file is a plain-text document placed at the root of a website (accessible at yourdomain.com/llms.txt) that provides a structured overview of the site's purpose, content, and the entity it represents, written specifically for large language model crawlers and AI systems that index web content. It is an emerging convention analogous to robots.txt, but designed to inform AI systems rather than control them.
Why llms.txt matters for UK businesses
AI crawlers that index web content for retrieval-augmented generation benefit from a concise, structured overview of what a site is about and who it represents. Without this, the crawler must infer the entity and its expertise from page content alone, which may be incomplete or inconsistently presented across pages. An llms.txt file provides the complete picture in one place: identity, credentials, services, documented results, and a map of key pages.
The llms.txt convention is not a formal standard with guaranteed support from all AI systems. It is a best-practice signal that some AI crawlers and indexing systems read and act on. Its cost is low (a single plain-text file) and its potential benefit (improved entity understanding and citation accuracy) is meaningful enough to make it a standard implementation for any site pursuing AI search visibility.
How Khamare Clarke applies llms.txt
This site maintains a comprehensive llms.txt at khamareclarke.com/llms.txt, covering: full identity and credentials, the complete professional vocabulary (all search terms and roles the entity should be associated with), documented client results, pricing tiers, service descriptions, and a site map linking to all major content sections. It is written in a format that an AI crawler can parse and use as the authoritative reference for the entity.
The llms.txt is updated when significant new content is added (new service pages, new expertise areas, new case study data) to ensure AI crawlers have the most current and complete picture of the entity. It complements schema markup rather than replacing it: schema communicates structured entity data to crawlers; llms.txt communicates the full professional context in natural language.
Is llms.txt an official standard?
No. llms.txt is a community-led convention, not a formal standard published by a major body such as the IETF or W3C. It was proposed in 2024 as a practical mechanism for giving AI crawlers a better briefing about website content and entity identity. Some AI systems read it; others do not. Implementing it costs almost nothing and is a sensible signal to include as part of a broader AI search visibility strategy.
What is the difference between llms.txt and robots.txt?
Robots.txt controls which crawlers can access which parts of a site by issuing Allow and Disallow directives. It is an access control mechanism. Llms.txt is a content file: it provides information about the site and its entity rather than controlling crawler access. The two serve different functions. Robots.txt is a technical directive; llms.txt is a contextual briefing. Both can be present on the same site simultaneously.
What should an llms.txt file contain?
A useful llms.txt contains: the entity's full name, professional title, location, and contact details; credentials and qualifications; a complete list of services offered; documented client results (attributed and specific); pricing information if public; a vocabulary section covering all professional terms and roles the entity should be associated with; and a site map of key pages. The goal is to give an AI crawler everything it needs to accurately represent the entity in a generated response without having to crawl and synthesise information from multiple pages.
Apply llms.txt to your business
Book a free 30-minute strategy call. No obligation, no sales team. You will get an honest assessment of where your business stands and what this would change.