Google has updated its guidance on AI generative SEO to ease its previous guidance that discouraged the use of LLMs.txt and other forms of markup and markdown. The new guidelines take a more balanced tone that recognizes that there are AI search surfaces other than Google’s that users may want to optimize for.
Guide LLMs.txt
Google’s guidance originally recommended that LLMs.txt and other types of special markup are not required to be classified as AI generative search, which was a blanket statement that probably unintentionally encompassed all AI generative search surfaces, not just Google’s.
The new guidelines tighten this passage to make clear that the statement that special markup is not necessary for a website’s optimization is limited to “Google Search (including its generative AI capabilities).”
Google says special tags can be used
A similar update is a change in the instructions so that it no longer discourages SEOs and site owners from using LLMs.txt and other tactics such as markdown for LLMs. Now it just says that Google doesn’t use them, but if people want to use them, then go ahead.
The updated guidelines now state:
“It’s perfectly fine if you decide to create and manage LLMS.txt files (or other similar files) for other services or systems that use these files. This will not hurt (or help) your visibility or ranking in Google Search, because Google Search ignores them.”
The guidance is the same but improved
Google Updated Search Central web page This is explicitly about optimizing websites for “generative AI features on Google Search”, so there was nothing technically wrong with the previous version. This is an improvement, however, as people tend to read and quote passages out of context, which can give an unintended impression. This clears things up.
Like Google changelog Remarks :
“Added a note to the AI Optimization Guide clarifying Google Search’s use of llms.txt files.
Why: To answer questions from the community and clarify that although these files are not necessary for Google Search (and will not negatively or positively impact your visibility or ranking), you can retain these files for other services or systems that use them.
Featured image by Shutterstock/Koshiro K
