How to Create an llms.txt File
Sergey Carp from Pasay, Co-founder / CTO
An llms.txt file is an ordinary text file written in Markdown. It sits at the root of your website and opens at example.com/llms.txt. There is nothing complicated about the format. What matters most is that the facts are accurate and every link points to a live, up-to-date page.
Key takeaway
llms.txt is a simple Markdown file at your site root. See its structure, an example, how to upload it on common platforms and how to check it.
The basic structure
- a level-one heading with your company name;
- a short blockquote describing what you do, who you serve and where you operate;
- level-two sections such as Services, Pricing, About and Contact;
- inside each section, links to pages with a one-line explanation of each.
An llms.txt example
# Example Company > Example Company provides bookkeeping and payroll services for small businesses across the United States. ## Services - [Bookkeeping](https://example.com/bookkeeping): monthly bookkeeping for small businesses - [Payroll](https://example.com/payroll): payroll processing and filings ## Pricing - [Plans and prices](https://example.com/pricing): current plans and what each includes ## About - [About us](https://example.com/about): team, experience and certifications ## Contact - [Contact](https://example.com/contact): phone, email and office hours
How to upload llms.txt on popular platforms
- Custom site or self-hosted CMS: upload the file to the root folder over FTP/SFTP or through your hosting file manager.
- WordPress: place the file in the root directory of your installation through hosting access; some SEO plugins can also generate or serve it.
- Shopify, Webflow, Wix and Squarespace: hosted platforms limit access to the root folder, and options vary by plan and platform. Check your platform's documentation for serving custom files at the root; if that is not possible, a workaround through your own domain setup may be needed.
Check the result
Open the file address in a private browser window. It should load as plain text, without a login or redirect, and return a 200 status code. Then click through the links to make sure none of them are broken.
An llms.txt generator can save time, but always review its output by hand. Auto-generated files often include pages that do not matter, such as tags, filters or old posts, and repeat outdated prices or descriptions.
At AI Search Optimization, we write and publish llms.txt as part of our technical fixes, for $290 per month including the first 10 hours of work. Book a call.