Give AI clear instructions with an llms.txt file

AI looks differently — how does your website respond?

The rise of AI search tools like ChatGPT, Perplexity, Bing Copilot, and Gemini is changing how people find information online. More and more, users are asking their questions directly to an AI system, instead of to Google.

Those AIs provide answers based on web content — including that of your site. This is an opportunity to be visible, but it can also be a risk. What information do they get? Is your brand displayed well? And do they still refer to your site? With an llms.txt file, you can better control this yourself.

Do you want to combine this with a professional website design that position your brand strongly online, then you have a double advantage.

What is a llms.txt file?

You can compare it to the familiar robots.txt file, which tells search engines what they can and cannot index. Only llms.txt is intended for the major AI systems (LLMs).

And the great thing: you don't just have to block. You can also tell these AIs what they can use, what you have to offer, how they can use it, and under what conditions.

What do you put in an llms.txt file?

Useful parts include:

1. Permitted access per AI agent — for example, give OpenAI and Perplexity access, but block other bots if you want.
2. Contact information — for developers who have questions or are looking to collaborate.
3. Link to your AI policy — this explains how your organization deals with AI and content.
4. Reference to a content map — this helps AIs better understand what you have to offer, what topics and what rights to use.
5. Per-page service information — per important page: anchor text/title, URL and one sentence you provide there. This is how AIs understand your services at the page level.

What is a content map?

A content map is a structured file (in JSON or XML) that explains:

• what types of content you offer (such as blogs, cases, or white papers);
• in which languages you publish;
• what topics you cover;
• what content AI can use — and which not

Example:

{
 “site”:” https://www.ambasco.com “,
 “language”: “nl”,
 “content_types”: [
 {"type”: “blog”, "topics”: ["branding”, “Web design”, “Elearning”, "Design "], “usage”: “open"},
 {"type” :"white paper”, “topics”: ["Web design”, "digital strategy "], “usage”: “unrestricted"}
 ]
}

You link this content map to your LLMS.txt. This way, AI systems immediately understand what your site offers — and under what conditions.

llms.txt with info per page

In addition to a general description, you can also briefly indicate per page what can be found there and what service you offer. llms.txt This works as a clear service overview for AI tools and ensures that your brand is consistently summarized in AI answers.

Keep it brief by line: title or anchor text, URL and one sentence you offer there. For example:

- [Branding and corporate identity] (https://www.ambasco.com/nl/logo-huisstijl): logo, corporate identity and branding development — online and offline.
- [Web design in WordPress or Webflow] (https://www.ambasco.com/nl/webdesign):ontwerp) and building fast, accessible websites.
- [E-learning in your branding] (https://www.ambasco.com/nl/e-learning):maatwerk) learning content, video and templates in line with your brand.
- [Cases and success stories] (https://www.ambasco.com/nl/cases): branding, design and web projects.
- [Website design agency in Haarlem] (https://www.ambasco.com/nl/webdesignbureau-in-haarlem): specialist in websites for SMEs and brands in Haarlem and the surrounding area.
- [Contact a designer] (https://www.ambasco.com/nl/contact): sparring directly with designers and marketing specialists.

Tip: Choose your most important pages and describe them in spoken language (B1). One sentence per page is enough. Add new rules as your offerings grow.

llms.txt in practice: sample file

# AI agents with access
User agent: OpenAI
Allow:/
User Agent: Perplexity
Allow:/

# All others blocked
User agent: *
Disallow:/

# Contact person
Contact: ai-contact@ambasco.com

# AI policy
Policy: https://jouwdomein.nl/ai-policy

# Content map
Content-description: https://jouwdomein.nl/content-map.json

# Per-page service information (short lines with title, URL, and 1 sentence)
- [Branding & Corporate Identity] (https://www.ambasco.com/nl/logo-huisstijl):ontwikkeling) of logo, corporate identity and branding — online and offline.
- [Web design in WordPress or Webflow] (https://www.ambasco.com/nl/webdesign):ontwerp) and building fast, accessible websites.
- [Web design agency in Haarlem] (https://www.ambasco.com/nl/webdesignbureau-in-haarlem): specialist in websites for SMEs and brands in Haarlem and the surrounding area.

Tip: Use the Keploy llms.txt generator (https://sitespeak.ai/tools/llms-txt-generator) as a starting point. Then adjust the text so that it really matches your organization.

What doesn't belong in a llms.txt file?

• SEO information such as meta tags or headers
• Sitemaps (you put them in robots.txt)
• Language information (use hreflang in HTML)

Is it really necessary?

There is debate whether AI systems are already seriously using an llms.txt file. Some experts don't think so, others see that AI tools are increasingly picking up these files. So the evidence is growing. And honestly: it doesn't hurt to get started anyway. Think of it as a kind of business card for AI. You show how you want your content to be handled. And should it soon become the standard, you will be ready for it.

How to add it to your website

WordPress

1. Log in via FTP or use a FileManager plugin.
2. Upload llms.txt to the root of your domain.
3. Check if it works via: https://www.ambasco.com/llms.txt (replace our url with your url; -)

Webflow

Log into the dashboard. Go to your site settings and select SEO. Scroll down and you'll see an option to upload your llms.txt file. Just make sure it's called llms.txt.

Arrange this today

AI isn't going away. How your brand appears in it is increasingly decisive for your online visibility. An llms.txt file provides clear frameworks and increases the chance that your content will be picked up and displayed correctly.

A good llms.txt works even better when combined with a strong web design strategy with us website design agency in Haarlem.

So you're not just blocking — you're actively steering.

Need help?

Ambasco helps brands to position themselves digitally in an AI-driven world. From strategy to execution — including content structure, AI governance and web optimization.

Contact us for an informal consultation.

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