What Is llms.txt and Why Your Website Needs One

The File That Tells AI Models Who You Are

You already have a robots.txt file that tells search engines how to crawl your site. Now there is a new file gaining traction that serves a similar purpose for AI models: llms.txt.

An llms.txt file is a plain text file placed at the root of your website that provides AI models with a structured summary of your business. Think of it as your business card for ChatGPT, Claude, Perplexity, and every other AI model that might reference your company when answering user queries.

Most businesses have not created one yet. That is exactly why doing it now gives you an edge.

How llms.txt Works

When AI models process information about businesses, they draw from many sources: your website content, structured data, reviews, third-party mentions, and increasingly, purpose-built files like llms.txt that provide machine-optimised business summaries.

Your llms.txt file lives at yourdomain.com/llms.txt, just like robots.txt lives at yourdomain.com/robots.txt. When AI systems crawl or index your site, they can read this file and quickly extract the key information about your business without parsing your entire website.

The file is plain text, not HTML or JSON. It is written in a simple, structured format that both humans and machines can read easily.

What to Include in Your llms.txt

A good llms.txt file covers the essential information any AI model would need to accurately describe and recommend your business.

Start with your business identity: company name, what you do in one sentence, and where you operate. Follow with your products or services, each described in a clear, factual paragraph. Include your unique selling points, the things that differentiate you from competitors. Add your target audience, the types of customers you serve best. Include your location, service area, and any relevant credentials or certifications.

For a Singapore business, include details like languages supported, PSG grant eligibility, and local industry context. The more specific and factual the content, the more useful it is to AI models.

Here is a simplified structure:

The file should start with your business name, a one-line description, and your website URL. Then list your products or services with clear descriptions. Include your differentiators, your target market, your location and coverage area, and contact information. End with any credentials, certifications, or notable achievements.

Keep the language factual and direct. Avoid marketing superlatives ("we are the best") and focus on verifiable facts ("we serve 200+ Singapore businesses" or "we support English, Mandarin, and Bahasa").

Why It Matters for AI Visibility

AI models synthesise information from multiple sources. When they encounter a well-structured llms.txt file, they have a reliable, authoritative source of information about your business that comes directly from you.

Without an llms.txt file, AI models piece together information from your website, third-party mentions, and reviews. This can result in inaccurate or incomplete descriptions. With an llms.txt file, you provide the definitive summary that AI models can reference confidently.

This is part of what we call the "AI-specific metadata" dimension in our five-dimension AI visibility framework. It is the newest dimension and the one where most businesses have zero investment, which means the opportunity for early movers is significant.

How to Create and Deploy Your llms.txt

Creating the file takes less than an hour. Write it in any text editor, save it as llms.txt, and upload it to the root directory of your website so it is accessible at yourdomain.com/llms.txt.

For WordPress sites, you can place it in the root directory via FTP or your hosting file manager. For Shopify, you can add it through the theme files or use a custom page with the appropriate URL. For static sites and Next.js apps, place it in the public directory.

After deploying, verify it is accessible by navigating to yourdomain.com/llms.txt in your browser. You should see the plain text content.

What About agent.json?

While llms.txt provides a human-and-machine-readable text summary, agent.json takes AI optimisation a step further with a structured JSON format designed specifically for AI agent consumption.

An agent.json file provides your product catalogue, service descriptions, pricing structure, and capabilities in a format that AI agents can parse programmatically. This is particularly valuable for ecommerce brands and service businesses with detailed offerings.

The two files complement each other. llms.txt gives a broad overview. agent.json provides structured detail. Both contribute to your AI visibility.

The Competitive Window

Adoption of llms.txt is still very early. In a survey of Singapore business websites across healthcare, F&B, and professional services, fewer than 2 percent had an llms.txt file. This means creating one now puts you ahead of almost all your competitors for AI citation signals.

As more businesses adopt llms.txt and AI models increase their use of these files, the early adopters will have established their AI presence while latecomers play catch-up.

For a step-by-step guide to improving your AI visibility, read our ChatGPT citation guide. For the complete framework, see our AEO guide for Singapore businesses.

Need Help?

The Swop Labs AI Search team creates llms.txt and agent.json files as part of every AEO engagement. We also help with the broader AI visibility strategy.

Chat with us on WhatsApp to get started. We reply within one Singapore business day.