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llms.txt and AI SEO: How to Get Your Content Cited by ChatGPT and Claude

· Save Team
seo ai llms-txt chatgpt marketing

Google isn’t the only search engine anymore. ChatGPT, Claude, Perplexity, and Gemini now answer billions of questions—and they cite sources. A new field called Generative Engine Optimization (GEO) is emerging. Here’s how to get your content recommended by AI.

The New Search Landscape

When someone asks ChatGPT “What’s the best tool for converting webpages to Markdown?”, the AI doesn’t show ten blue links. It answers directly—and sometimes includes citations.

This changes everything:

  • Position zero is the only position — you’re either in the answer or you’re not
  • Citations drive traffic — users click through for details
  • AI trusts AI-friendly content — structure matters more than ever

What Is llms.txt?

llms.txt is a proposed standard for making websites AI-friendly. Think of it as robots.txt, but for LLMs.

The concept is simple: place a Markdown file at /llms.txt that gives AI systems:

  • A structured overview of your site
  • Key information in clean Markdown
  • Links to important pages
  • Context about your content

Example llms.txt

# Save - Webpage to Markdown Converter

> Save converts any webpage to clean Markdown with one click.
> A Chrome extension for developers, writers, and researchers.

## What We Do

Save uses AI to extract the main content from any webpage
and convert it to structured Markdown, removing ads,
navigation, and clutter.

## Key Features

- One-click webpage conversion
- AI-powered content extraction
- Clean Markdown output
- Works on any website

## Learn More

- [How it works](/how-it-works)
- [Documentation](/docs)
- [Blog](/blog)

The Reality of llms.txt in 2025

Let’s be honest: llms.txt adoption is still early. As of mid-2025, fewer than 1,000 websites have implemented it. Major AI crawlers don’t consistently read it yet.

But early adopters like Anthropic, Cloudflare, and Vercel are using it. And the underlying principle—making your content AI-friendly—works regardless of whether AI systems read your llms.txt file.

Generative Engine Optimization (GEO)

GEO is the practice of optimizing content for AI recommendations. Here’s what actually works:

1. Structure Your Content for AI

AI systems love:

  • Clear headings — H1, H2, H3 hierarchy
  • Bullet points and lists — easy to extract
  • FAQ sections — direct question-answer format
  • Concise summaries — TL;DR at the top
  • Tables — structured comparisons

2. Answer Questions Directly

When someone asks ChatGPT a question, it looks for content that directly answers it. Structure matters:

Good:

## How do I convert a webpage to Markdown?

1. Install the Save browser extension
2. Navigate to any webpage
3. Click the Save icon
4. Download your Markdown file

Bad:

Our innovative solution leverages cutting-edge AI technology
to revolutionize the way you interact with web content...

3. Build Third-Party Authority

AI systems don’t just read your website—they read what others say about you:

  • Reddit discussions — genuine user recommendations
  • Hacker News threads — developer community mentions
  • Review sites — honest product reviews
  • “Best of” lists — curated recommendations
  • Stack Overflow — solutions mentioning your tool

4. Optimize for Bing

ChatGPT Search results are 73% similar to Bing results. If you want to show up in ChatGPT:

  • Submit your sitemap to Bing Webmaster Tools
  • Optimize for Bing’s ranking signals
  • Ensure your site loads fast
  • Use schema markup

5. Implement Schema Markup

Structured data helps AI understand your content:

{
  "@type": "SoftwareApplication",
  "name": "Save",
  "description": "Convert any webpage to Markdown",
  "applicationCategory": "BrowserExtension",
  "operatingSystem": "Chrome"
}

FAQ, Article, HowTo, and Product schemas all help AI extract information accurately.

Content That Gets Cited

Research shows 90% of ChatGPT citations come from sources outside the top 20 Google results. This means:

  • Depth beats rankings — detailed, authoritative content wins
  • Specificity matters — answer niche questions competitors don’t
  • Freshness counts — keep content updated

Create Citation-Worthy Content

  • Original research — data others will reference
  • Comprehensive guides — the definitive resource on a topic
  • Expert interviews — unique perspectives
  • Practical tutorials — step-by-step instructions
  • Comparison content — X vs Y with clear conclusions

The Markdown Connection

Here’s the thing: AI systems parse Markdown exceptionally well. When you save web content as Markdown for research, you’re creating the same format that AI prefers.

And when you create content, writing in Markdown first ensures it’s:

  • Well-structured for AI extraction
  • Clear and scannable
  • Easy to update and maintain

Measuring AI Visibility

Track whether AI is recommending your content:

  1. Manual testing — ask ChatGPT/Claude about your topic
  2. Monitor referral traffic — watch for AI-related referrers
  3. Track brand mentions — set up alerts for citations
  4. Use AI monitoring tools — emerging services track this

AI-powered search is growing exponentially. 63% of websites now see traffic from AI platforms. Preparing your content now means:

  • Building authority before competition intensifies
  • Establishing your content as a reliable source
  • Being ready as AI citation systems mature

Get Started with AI SEO

Whether you’re creating content or researching competitors, Markdown is the foundation.

Install Save from the Chrome Web Store — convert any webpage to AI-friendly Markdown and build your GEO strategy.

Have questions? Reach out at [email protected]