llms.txt best practices for AI crawlers

Introduction

Creating an effective LLMS.txt file is more than just listing your pages – it's about strategically presenting your content in a way that maximizes AI understanding while protecting sensitive information. This comprehensive guide covers the essential best practices for creating LLMS.txt files that deliver real value.

Content Selection and Organization

1. Quality Over Quantity

Don't include every page on your website. Focus on pages that provide the most value:

• Core business pages: About, Services, Products
• High-value content: Popular blog posts, guides, resources
• Essential information: Contact, policies, FAQ
• Unique offerings: What sets you apart from competitors

2. Logical Hierarchy

Organize content in a logical order that reflects your site's importance and structure:

1. Homepage and main sections
2. Key product/service pages
3. Important informational content
4. Supporting pages and resources

3. Clear Descriptions

Each page should have a concise but informative description that:

• Explains what visitors will find on the page
• Uses natural language that both humans and AI can understand
• Highlights unique value propositions
• Avoids marketing jargon or overly technical terms

Security and Privacy Guidelines

1. Essential Disallow Rules

Always include these basic disallow rules to protect sensitive areas:

## Crawling Rules
Disallow: /admin
Disallow: /login
Disallow: /user
Disallow: /dashboard
Disallow: /private
Disallow: /internal
Disallow: /temp
Disallow: /test

2. Platform-Specific Protection

WordPress Sites

• /wp-admin - Admin interface
• /wp-includes - Core files
• /wp-content/uploads - Media files
• /?s= - Search results

E-commerce Sites

• /checkout - Checkout process
• /cart - Shopping cart
• /account - User accounts
• /payment - Payment processing

3. Sensitive Information Guidelines

• Never include: Personal data, passwords, API keys, internal URLs
• Be careful with: Employee information, detailed technical specs, pricing details
• Consider excluding: Draft content, internal tools, development environments

Technical Best Practices

1. File Structure and Format

Consistent Formatting

# Site Title

> Brief site description

## Contact
- Email: contact@example.com
- Website: https://example.com

## Pages

### Page Title
URL: https://example.com/page
Clear description of page content

## Crawling Rules
Disallow: /path

Encoding and Accessibility

• Use UTF-8 encoding for international characters
• Keep line lengths reasonable (under 80-100 characters)
• Use consistent spacing and indentation
• Ensure the file is accessible at /llms.txt

2. URL Standards

• Always use absolute URLs (including https://)
• Use canonical URLs that match your SEO setup
• Ensure all URLs are publicly accessible
• Avoid URL parameters when possible

3. Performance Considerations

• File size: Keep under 100KB for optimal loading
• Page limits: Include 20-50 pages maximum
• Caching: Set appropriate cache headers (1 hour recommended)
• Updates: Refresh content monthly or when significant changes occur

SEO and Discoverability

1. Integration with Existing SEO

• Use the same titles and descriptions as your meta tags
• Align with your sitemap.xml priorities
• Ensure consistency with robots.txt directives
• Consider your target keywords in descriptions

2. Search Engine Benefits

• Helps AI understand your site structure
• May improve AI-powered search results
• Provides additional context for content indexing
• Supports voice search optimization

3. Future-Proofing

• Design for AI systems that don't exist yet
• Use descriptive, human-readable content
• Avoid proprietary formats or non-standard syntax
• Plan for automatic generation and updates

Content Writing Guidelines

1. Writing Style

• Clear and concise: Get to the point quickly
• Natural language: Write for humans first, AI second
• Action-oriented: Use active voice and strong verbs
• Specific: Avoid vague terms like "innovative" or "cutting-edge"

2. Description Best Practices

Good Example:

Poor Example:

3. Keywords and Context

• Include relevant keywords naturally in descriptions
• Provide context about your industry and target audience
• Explain technical terms when necessary
• Use synonyms and related terms for broader understanding

Maintenance and Updates

1. Regular Review Schedule

• Monthly: Check for new important pages
• Quarterly: Review and update descriptions
• After major updates: Refresh entire file
• When restructuring: Complete overhaul

2. Automated Monitoring

• Set up alerts for broken URLs in your LLMS.txt
• Monitor file accessibility and loading times
• Track which pages are getting the most AI attention
• Use analytics to identify high-value content for inclusion

3. Version Control

• Keep backups of previous versions
• Document changes and reasons for updates
• Test changes before going live
• Consider A/B testing different approaches

Industry-Specific Considerations

Business Websites

• Focus on services, case studies, and customer testimonials
• Include clear contact information and business hours
• Highlight unique selling propositions
• Consider local SEO factors

E-commerce Sites

• Include main product categories and popular items
• Add shipping, return, and customer service policies
• Consider seasonal promotions and sales pages
• Include size guides, FAQ, and help sections

Content and Media Sites

• Feature your most popular and recent content
• Include author pages and content categories
• Add subscription and newsletter information
• Consider multimedia content descriptions

SaaS and Technology

• Include feature pages and pricing information
• Add documentation and API references
• Include integration and compatibility details
• Consider trial and demo page information

Testing and Validation

1. Technical Validation

• Accessibility: Ensure file loads correctly at /llms.txt
• Format check: Verify proper markdown formatting
• URL validation: Test all included URLs for accessibility
• Character encoding: Ensure UTF-8 compatibility

2. Content Review

• Accuracy: Verify all information is current and correct
• Completeness: Ensure no critical pages are missing
• Clarity: Test descriptions with team members
• Privacy: Double-check no sensitive information is exposed

3. AI Testing

• Test with different AI systems if possible
• Ask AI assistants questions about your site
• Check if AI can accurately describe your services
• Verify contact information is correctly identified

Common Mistakes to Avoid

1. Over-inclusion

• Including every page on your site
• Adding low-value or duplicate content
• Listing internal tools or development pages
• Including outdated or archived content

2. Under-protection

• Forgetting to exclude admin areas
• Not protecting user-generated content
• Exposing sensitive business information
• Including URLs with personal data

3. Poor Maintenance

• Setting it up once and forgetting about it
• Not updating after major site changes
• Allowing broken URLs to accumulate
• Not monitoring AI interaction effectiveness

Conclusion

A well-crafted LLMS.txt file is an investment in your website's future discoverability and AI interaction. By following these best practices, you'll create a file that not only helps AI systems understand your content today but also positions your site for emerging AI technologies.

Remember that LLMS.txt is an evolving standard. Stay informed about new developments, gather feedback from AI interactions, and continuously refine your approach based on real-world results.

Ready to implement these best practices? Use our <Link href="/#generator" className="text-blue-600 dark:text-blue-400">LLMS.txt Generator</Link> to create a file that follows these guidelines, then customize it based on your specific needs and industry requirements.