llms.txt for B2B SaaS: what it is and whether it matters

It is optional and cheap, but not a route into Google AI features. llms.txt is a proposal, published by Jeremy Howard in September 2024, for a Markdown file at a site's root that helps AI agents find and use its key pages. Google says AI Overviews and AI Mode need no new machine-readable or AI text files. The proposal itself does not name AI systems that read the file. Publish one after the basics.

The description of the format comes from the proposal at llmstxt.org, read in October 2026. Google's position comes from its page on AI features in Google Search Central. The sample file is an invented example.

Should a B2B SaaS website publish an llms.txt file?

Yes, as a low-priority task, if the basics are done. The table weighs it up.

The honest summary: llms.txt may help some agents and tools, costs little, and has no documented effect on Google. It should come after crawler access, indexing and clear pages.

What does an llms.txt file contain?

A short Markdown file in a fixed order. The proposal sets out the structure.

The proposal also suggests offering clean Markdown versions of pages "at the same URL as the original page," with .md added. A pricing page at /pricing could have a Markdown copy at /pricing.md.

What would a B2B SaaS llms.txt look like?

An invented example for a fictional product, to show the format:

# Example CRM

> Example CRM is customer relationship software for B2B sales teams
> of 10 to 200 people. Plans start with a free tier.

## Product
- [Features](https://www.example.com/features): what the product does
- [Pricing](https://www.example.com/pricing): plans, limits and billing
- [Integrations](https://www.example.com/integrations): supported tools

## Docs
- [Getting started](https://docs.example.com/start): setup in five steps
- [API reference](https://docs.example.com/api): endpoints and limits

## Company
- [About](https://www.example.com/about)
- [Security](https://www.example.com/security): certifications and data handling

The pages to list are the ones a buyer or an agent would need to answer questions about the product: what it does, what it costs, what it connects to and how it is secured.

What does Google say about AI text files?

That they are not needed. Google's AI features page says: "There are no additional requirements to appear in AI Overviews or AI Mode, nor other special optimizations necessary." It adds that site owners do not need to create new machine-readable files, AI text files or special markup.

For Google, what matters is that pages are crawlable, indexed and eligible for a snippet. Those basics are covered on the Google AI Overviews page.

Who does use llms.txt?

The proposal gives limited evidence. It notes that AI labs, including OpenAI, Anthropic and Google's Gemini, publish llms.txt files for their developer documentation, and that Chrome's Lighthouse checks sites for one. Publishing a file and reading one are different things, and the proposal does not name AI systems that read llms.txt from other sites.

One plausible use is by coding tools and agents that a person points at a site, for example to read API documentation. For a B2B SaaS company with a public API or developer docs, that is a reason to publish one for the docs site at least.

What should come before llms.txt?

Three things that platforms do document.

1. Crawler access. Allow the AI search crawlers in robots.txt and check the CDN does not block them. The setup is in robots.txt for AI crawlers.
2. Indexing. Google requires pages to be indexed and eligible for a snippet.
3. Clear pages. Google asks that "important content is available in textual form." Pricing and product facts that live only in images or scripts are harder to use.

Once those are in place, an llms.txt file is quick to write and easy to maintain.

How should llms.txt be maintained?

Like a sitemap with notes. Add new key pages when they launch, remove pages that move or close, and keep the summary accurate when positioning changes. A stale llms.txt that points to retired pricing is worse than none. Reviewing it in the same monthly pass as AI citation tracking keeps it current. The tracking method is on the tracking AI visibility page.

FAQ

What is llms.txt?

llms.txt is a proposed standard for a Markdown file placed at a website's root, at /llms.txt, to help AI agents use the site. It starts with an H1 naming the site, usually followed by a short summary and lists of links to key pages. Jeremy Howard proposed it in September 2024.

Does Google use llms.txt?

Google's documentation does not say it uses llms.txt. Its AI features page says no new machine-readable files or AI text files are needed to appear in AI Overviews or AI Mode. Pages need to be indexed and eligible for a snippet, the same as for regular search results.

Does llms.txt help a site get cited by ChatGPT?

No documentation read for this site says so. OpenAI's crawler documentation names OAI-SearchBot as the crawler that controls appearance in ChatGPT search answers. The llms.txt proposal does not name AI systems that read the file. It is a low-cost addition, not a documented requirement.

Where should llms.txt be placed?

At the root of the site, at /llms.txt, in the same way as robots.txt. A B2B SaaS company with documentation on a separate subdomain, such as docs.example.com, can publish a second file there focused on the docs, since agents and coding tools reading docs may look there.

Should every page have a Markdown version?

The proposal suggests clean Markdown copies of pages that agents might need, at the same URL with .md added. For most B2B SaaS sites, the key product, pricing and documentation pages are enough. Whole-site Markdown copies are optional and mainly useful for developer documentation.

Conclusion

llms.txt is a 2024 proposal for a Markdown file that helps AI agents use a website. Google says its AI features need no such file, and the proposal does not name systems that read it. It is still cheap, harmless and potentially useful for agents and coding tools, especially on developer docs. A B2B SaaS site should publish one after crawler access, indexing and clear pages are in order, and keep it as current as its pricing.

Sources

• The /llms.txt file. Jeremy Howard, proposal published September 3, 2024.
• AI features and your website. Google Search Central.
• Overview of OpenAI crawlers. OpenAI.