Does llms.txt actually work?
llms.txt gets a lot of hype and a lot of scepticism. Here is a straight account of what it is for, what has not been proven, and when it still makes sense.
Paul Lovell
SEO Consultant
What llms.txt is supposed to do
It is a plain text file at the root of your site that lists your key pages with short descriptions, so a language model can find and understand your best content without wading through navigation and scripts. If the idea is new to you, read what llms.txt is first.
What is not proven
- It is a community proposal, not a standard that search engines or AI vendors are obliged to follow.
- It is not a Google ranking signal, and nothing suggests adding one improves rankings.
- Vendors have not consistently confirmed that their assistants fetch it when answering questions, and visibility in AI answers has not been shown to rise because of it.
Vendors change their position over time, so check their current documentation before making claims to a client.
Where it does help
- Developer and agent workflows. People pointing a coding assistant or research tool at your docs can use the file as a map.
- A forcing function. Writing one makes you decide which pages matter and describe them clearly.
- Low cost and low risk. It does not change how humans or Google see your site.
What matters more for AI visibility
The basics decide whether AI tools can use your content: pages that are crawlable and indexed, clear structure, accurate facts, and sources worth citing. Check that robots.txt is not blocking you and that your pages are actually indexed before spending time on llms.txt.
Our view
Add one if you can do it cheaply and keep it current, and do not expect it to move traffic on its own. The main risk is a stale file pointing at pages that have changed, which is why automation helps. If you want to set one up, see how to add llms.txt to HubSpot, and for how it differs from robots.txt see llms.txt vs robots.txt.
Frequently asked questions
Does llms.txt improve rankings in Google?
No evidence suggests it does. It is a proposed convention aimed at AI tools, not a Google ranking signal.
Do ChatGPT, Claude and Perplexity read llms.txt?
Support is not consistently confirmed by the vendors. Some tools and developer workflows do read it when pointed at a site. Check each vendor's current documentation rather than relying on claims.
Is it worth adding llms.txt to my site?
It costs little and does no harm, and it gives AI tools and developers a clean index of your best content. Treat it as a low-effort option, not a growth strategy.
Can llms.txt block AI crawlers?
No. It describes content rather than controlling access. Use robots.txt to allow or block crawlers.
Keep llms.txt current without the upkeep
Generate and update it automatically from your HubSpot content.
See llms.txt for HubSpot →