What Is LLMs.txt A Guide to Its Role and Generation Process If you own a website or manage digital content, there’s a new file you should probably know about — LLMs.txt. Don’t worry, it’s not some technical gimmick or another search engine trend. It’s a straightforward way to protect your content from being used by companies that train large-scale language models. In a digital world where your blog posts, service pages, and product descriptions are increasingly at risk of being copied or repurposed, this small file can offer you a bit of control — and a lot of peace of mind. Let’s break it down in simple terms. So, What Exactly Is LLMs.txt? LLMs.txt is a plain-text file you place on your website to tell content-hungry bots what they can and can’t use from your site. Think of it like setting boundaries. Not for search engines like Google or Bing — that’s what robots.txt does — but for crawlers that belong to companies building language-based tools, assistants, and data models. For example, OpenAI (the team behind ChatGPT) and Google’s Gemini have bots that crawl the web to collect publicly available information. With LLMs.txt, you can now say: “Hey, you can crawl this section of my website — but stay out of the rest.”Or even:“No thanks, I don’t want my content being used at all.” Simple. Direct. Effective. Why Should You Care? Here’s the reality: your content is valuable. Whether you’ve written a 3,000-word product guide, a deeply researched blog post, or unique service descriptions — it took time, energy, and creativity. Without LLMs.txt, your site might be crawled by third-party bots, and your content could end up feeding tools or platforms without your consent or credit. Using LLMs.txt doesn’t stop every crawler out there, but it sends a clear message to the ones that respect digital rights — and that’s a good place to start. Where Does This File Go? Just like robots.txt, the LLMs.txt file lives in the root directory of your website.For example: arduinoCopyEdithttps://yourwebsite.com/llms.txt This location ensures that bots can easily find and read your rules before crawling your content. What Goes Inside LLMs.txt? The syntax is refreshingly simple. You list the name of the bot (also called a “user agent”) and whether you want to allow or disallow them from accessing your site. Sample LLMs.txt: makefileCopyEdit# Block OpenAI User-Agent: GPTBot Disallow: / # Allow Google’s AI crawlerUser-Agent: Google-ExtendedAllow: / In this example: You’re telling GPTBot (used by OpenAI) to stay away. But giving Google-Extended the green light. You can customize this for each crawler based on your comfort level and digital strategy. Major Bots That Currently Respect LLMs.txt Here are some of the most recognized language model crawlers you can control: Bot Name Used By User-Agent GPTBot OpenAI GPTBot Google-Extended Google Google-Extended ClaudeBot Anthropic ClaudeBot CCBot Common Crawl CCBot YouBot You.com YouBot CohereBot Cohere CohereBot Why LLMs.txt Is Different From Robots.txt You might be thinking — wait, don’t I already use robots.txt? Yes, but they’re not the same thing. Here’s the difference: Feature robots.txt llms.txt Purpose Controls search engine crawlers Controls language model/data crawlers Affects SEO? Yes No (unless misused) Example Use Case Hiding admin pages from Google Blocking data collection by GPTBot File Location /robots.txt /llms.txt Bottom line: they work together, not against each other. How to Create and Upload an LLMs.txt File No fancy software or coding required. Just follow these steps: Open Notepad or any text editor Type your directives (as shown above) Save the file as llms.txt Upload it to the root folder of your website If you’re using WordPress, this can be done via FTP or File Manager in your hosting panel. Double-check the URL:It should be accessible like this:https://yourdomain.com/llms.txt That’s it. You’re done. Does This Really Work? It depends on who you’re trying to block. Reputable companies like Google, OpenAI, and Anthropic are respecting LLMs.txt as part of broader industry discussions around digital ethics and copyright. That said, not every bot will follow your rules — just like not every spam email ends up in the junk folder. But implementing LLMs.txt is a strong step forward. And in many cases, it will be enough to prevent your content from being used without your permission. SEO Isn’t Dead — It’s Evolving There’s a lot of chatter online about “SEO being dead.” But let’s be real: SEO isn’t dying — it’s evolving fast. Traditional search engine optimization is shifting from just ranking on Google to optimizing for AI responses (AEO), voice search, geo-targeted results, and multimodal platforms. If you’re still only focusing on 10 blue links, you’re missing where attention is really going.Smart marketers today are retooling their strategies to match this new landscape — and LLMs.txt is part of that shift. It’s time to optimize not just for search, but for visibility across platforms that summarize, suggest, and surface content in new ways. Final Thoughts The internet is changing. It’s no longer just about search visibility — it’s also about data responsibility. LLMs.txt gives website owners, marketers, and content creators a voice in how their content is used beyond traditional SEO. Whether you want to share your content freely or protect it from being used to train language-based platforms, the power is finally in your hands. And in the world of digital strategy, control is everything. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) ❓ What is LLMs.txt used for? LLMs.txt is a file you add to your website to control how large language model bots (like those from Google, OpenAI, or Anthropic) interact with your content. It allows you to allow or block specific bots from crawling your site. ❓ Does LLMs.txt affect my Google rankings? No, LLMs.txt does not affect your SEO or search rankings. It works independently of robots.txt and is used to control access by AI-related crawlers — not traditional search engine bots. ❓ Is it mandatory to use LLMs.txt? No, it’s optional. But if you’re serious about content rights, brand control, or ethical data usage, it’s a smart
On-Page vs. Off-Page SEO: What’s More Important for Ranking?
On-Page vs. Off-Page SEO What’s More Important for Ranking SEO isn’t simply about throwing in a few keywords and hope for the best. It’s all about planning. When it comes to getting ranked top on Google two main forces are in the equation: On-Page SEO and Off-Page SEO. Some argue that that On-Page SEO is the only thing that matters. Without an optimized site everything else won’t work. Some argue the idea that Off-Page SEO has the greatest power. Without credibility and links, your website will not rank. Which one is the most crucial? Let’s look at the details and decide the matter. What Is On-Page SEO? (The Foundation of Ranking) On-Page SEO refers all the things you perform on your site to aid search engines to comprehend and rank your website’s content. Consider it like improving your website’s structure and contents. your home before inviting guests to your home. Core Elements of On-Page SEO Keyword Optimization Find the appropriate key words according to the intent of the user. Utilize the tags naturally in your text including headings, content, and meta tags. Avoid keyword stuffing as Google’s algorithms could punish you. High-Quality Content Create interesting, valuable and unique content that addresses user concerns. Utilize media (images video, images and infographics) to increase comprehension. Update content regularly to ensure it is always current and up-to-date. Meta Tags & Descriptions title tag: A well-crafted title (with an appropriate keyword) increases CTR. Meta Description The description of the page summarizes it and encourages visitors to visit. Header tags (H1, H2, and H3): Helps organize information for SEO and readability. URL Structure Make URLs brief, informative and rich in keywords. Example: yourdomain.com/best-seo-tips is better than yourdomain.com/p=9876. Internal Linking Links between similar pages enhance user experience and improve SEO. Helps distribute link authority across your website. Page Speed & Mobile-Friendliness Faster websites rank higher. Utilize Google’s PageSpeed Insights to improve load times. Check that your website ensures that your website is 100% mobile-friendly to mobile users. Schema Markup (Structured Data) Aids search engines to understand certain types of content (reviews and FAQs products). Increases the chance of rich fragments appearing in search results. Why On-Page SEO Alone Isn’t Enough Imagine that you’ve constructed a fantastic website with top-quality content however, no one has linked to it. Google doesn’t view it as a credible authoritative site–and authority plays a major part in ranking. This is the point where Off-Page SEO is into. What Is Off-Page SEO? (The Power Behind Rankings) Off-Page SEO refers specifically to actions that occur outside of your site that affect search engine rankings. It’s all about creating trust and credibility–because Google prefers content that others consider valuable.. Core Elements of Off-Page SEO Backlinks (The Backbone of Authority) Quality backlinks from trusted websites boost rankings. Anchortext is important. Links with keywords that are relevant are more effective than general ones. Dofollow in contrast to. Link Nofollow: Dofollow links pass link equity. Nofollow links don’t, however they bring in traffic and credibility. Guest Blogging & Content Outreach Articles written for credible blogs will give your publicity and links. Contact to webmasters and influencers to build collaborations in link building. Brand Mentions & Citations Even mentions that are not linked give credibility to Google. Being listed on directory sites and other news websites enhances confidence. Social Signals (Engagement Matters) Shares, likes and engagement aren’t directly affecting SEO however they can boost visibility. A well-known blog post or tweet on LinkedIn, or Twitter can result in more natural backlinks. Local SEO (For Geographic Authority) The presence of listings are listed on Google My Business, Yelp, as well as industry directories improve local search rankings. A consistent NAP (Name Address and Phone) across the web can help increase confidence. Influencer & PR Strategies Collaboration with influential industry professionals boosts credibility. A article in the major publications (Forbes, Business Insider and so on.) can have a significant SEO benefit. Why Off-Page SEO Alone Isn’t Enough Let’s suppose you create many backlinks however your site appears slow, poorly structured and stuffed with inadequate content. Do you think it will get a ranking? It’s probably it won’t. Without SEO on-page, Off-page SEO efforts will lose their effectiveness. On-Page in comparison to. Off-Page SEO: Which Wins? Neither. Both. require both. On-page SEO makes sure that your website has been optimized to be viewed by search engines as well as users. Off-Page SEO informs Google it is satisfied that the website is trustworthy and worthy of being ranked. Imagine it as making a name: SEO On-Page = Your abilities and expertise Off-Page SEO is What do others think of you You may be the most successful in your field but if there’s nobody is a fan of your business and clients don’t be able to trust your services. You can also have fantastic referrals however if your products (website) aren’t up to scratch and people don’t want to stay. How to Balance On-Page and Off-Page SEO for Maximum Rankings The best SEO strategy blends both. Here’s how you can do it correctly: Step 1: Master On-Page SEO Conduct a thorough research on keywords prior to creating content. Write long-form, high-quality content that addresses real issues. Optimize your title tag, meta description and headings. Make sure your website loads quickly as well as being mobile friendly. Utilize internal linking to link related pages. Step 2: Strengthen Off-Page SEO Build backlinks with reliable websites (not spammy hyperlinks). Write guest blog articles on blogs with high authority within your field. Be listed in business directories and listings for industry. Participate with industry and social media forums. Meet with bloggers and influencers for brand recognition. Final Verdict: SEO is a Long Game If you are looking for lasting rankings for your website, you should concentrate on both SEO on-page and off-page SEO. On-Page SEO makes your website search-friendly. Off-Page SEO increases your credibility and authority. Doing either of them makes grading more difficult. Do you want to be the first in search results? Optimize your site. Create links. Always improve. SEO is a continual procedure, not a single job. Your Turn: What’s Your SEO Focus? What SEO strategies do your you focus on the most? Off-Page or On-Page? Tell me via the comment section!