Unlocking AI SEO: The Simple File That Will Make Your Website Visible to ChatGPT, Gemini, and More!
If your website matters to you, add an llms.txt file now—because in the next wave of internet search, it could be what makes or breaks your online visibility.
In 2025, artificial intelligence is changing how content gets discovered, ranked, and cited online. As people search through chatbots and AI-powered engines, the traditional SEO rules are getting an upgrade. The latest game-changer? The llms.txt file—a straightforward way to make your website stand out in AI-powered search results.
What Is llms.txt?
The llms.txt file is a new, proposed standard you add to your website’s root directory. Unlike robots.txt, which controls bot access, or sitemap.xml, which lists all your website’s pages, llms.txt tells AI models exactly which pages and information are most important—with human-readable descriptions.
Why Should You Care?
Adding llms.txt to your site does more than boost SEO—it helps AI agents understand (and accurately quote) your best material, letting you:
Highlight your core content, guiding AI models to focus on what matters.
Improve visibility in AI-powered search tools, keeping your site relevant as more users interact with AI for answers.
Speed up processing for AI bots, ensuring your site is interpreted efficiently and correctly.
Retain control and ownership of your data, choosing what’s shared and indexed by AI models.
Stand out in citations and recommendations by ChatGPT, Gemini, or any advanced AI assistant.
How Do You Make an llms.txt File?
Anyone can create an llms.txt file in minutes:
Open a text editor and make a new file called llms.txt.
Add a short intro line (what your site does, who it’s for).
Use Markdown headings and bullet lists to feature your most important pages, each with a helpful description.
Example:
text# My Website
> A platform for learning coding.
## Main Documentation
- [Getting Started](https://mywebsite.com/start): Step-by-step onboarding guide
- [API Guide](https://mywebsite.com/api): Reference for API integration
## Resources
- [Blog](https://mywebsite.com/blog): Industry news and updates
- [Pricing](https://mywebsite.com/pricing): Details on our service tiers
Upload your file to your site’s root directory (e.g.,
What’s Next?
With llms.txt, you’re not just preparing for today’s AI search—you’re future-proofing your site for a web where machines understand and value your content as much as people do. Sites with llms.txt get their best work seen first, cited more often, and protected from generic scraping or errors.
AI SEO for SUBSTACK involves using AI to find keyword opportunities, generate content outlines, and analyze search trends, but requires a human touch to ensure content is valuable, authoritative, and strategically aligned with user intent and your specific niche. Key strategies include creating in-depth, user-focused content, optimizing titles and URLs, connecting to Google Search Console, and actively checking how AI tools perceive your brand’s authority.
You cant add a llms file to your Substack “website” - however here’s some of my tips to getting your substack findable by ai search, it worked for a substack which i help manage
How to optimize your Substack content for AI discoverability: