Add an llms.txt file, and keep it short

Check D4 in the Discovery dimension, worth 1 point of 100 and measured by software.

What we check

We fetch /llms.txt. It passes when it answers 200 as text or Markdown, starts with an H1 heading, and has at least one working link to your own site. Shopify's default file starts with a link to the Shop app, which we skip, so we test the first link that points to your store.

Why it matters

Low impact today: few agents read it, but it is a cheap pointer to your catalog and policies.

We weight it at 1 point of 100 because the evidence says agents rarely fetch it: an Ahrefs study of 137,210 domains found that 97% of llms.txt files got no requests in May 2026. It still gives an agent that does read it a direct path to your catalog and policies.

How to fix it

Add an llms.txt linking your main collections and policies. Typical effort: 30 minutes.

1. Shopify serves a default llms.txt for stores. To write your own, open Online Store, then Themes, then Edit code in Shopify admin, and add a template named llms.txt.liquid.
2. Start with an H1 that names your store and a one-line summary, then link your main collections, your best sellers, and your shipping and returns policies.
3. Keep every link on your own domain and check that each one opens.

# Your Store

> Handmade ceramic tableware, shipped from Portland.

## Shop

- [Dinnerware](https://yourstore.com/collections/dinnerware)
- [Best sellers](https://yourstore.com/collections/best-sellers)

## Policies

- [Shipping](https://yourstore.com/policies/shipping-policy)
- [Returns](https://yourstore.com/policies/refund-policy)

Check it yourself

Open yourstore.com/llms.txt. The first line should be a heading that starts with #, and its links should open pages on your store.