What Happened?

On July 24, 2025, Google’s Gary Illyes put an end to a growing SEO myth:

“We don’t crawl LLMS.txt files.
If you want to rank in AI Overviews, just do normal SEO.”

So if you’ve been waiting to upload some magical LLMS.txt file to “block AI” or “force AI inclusion”—stop. It’s irrelevant.

This article breaks down what matters now, what doesn’t, and how small business owners, coaches, and consultants can still rank in Google’s AI-driven results.

❌ What is LLMS.txt and Why It’s a Dead-End

LLMS.txt (Large Language Model Search exclusion file) was introduced as a way to tell AI tools not to crawl or train on your content—similar to robots.txt.

But here’s the catch:

• LLMS.txt isn’t crawled by Google

• It won’t help you rank in AI Overviews

• It doesn’t impact visibility or trust

Instead of focusing on that, Google wants you to do what’s always worked: solid SEO.

✅ What Actually Works for AI Overview Rankings in 2025

Here’s the verified checklist based on Google’s latest updates:

1. Helpful, Human-First Content

• Target search intent with clarity

• Use real-world examples and case studies

• Keep readability high (8th–10th grade)

• Don’t stuff keywords—answer questions naturally

2. EEAT: Experience, Expertise, Authority, Trust

• Add real authorship to every post

• Include your credentials or story

• Show off testimonials and reviews

• Link to trusted sources (Google, official sites)

3. Schema Markup

• Use Organization, LocalBusiness, FAQ, and Article schema

• Include your business address, contact info, and social profiles using sameAs

• Implement schema via JSON-LD or a WordPress plugin like RankMath

4. Core Web Vitals + Mobile UX

• Target PageSpeed score >90

• Make design mobile-first

• Optimize all images (alt-text + filenames)

• Compress files & use fast hosting (CDN preferred)

5. Internal Linking and Topic Authority

• Link your blog posts together around key themes

• Cover subtopics: schema, AI Overviews, EEAT, local SEO

• Build your brand as an expert in a focused niche (e.g., SEO for coaches)

Tarasaka’s Bonus Checklist: AI Overview SEO (2025 Edition)

Before you hit “publish,” use this:

My Advice for Coaches, Consultants & SMBs

You don’t need hacks.
You need to show up with value—again and again.

Whether you’re a life coach in Chicago or a SaaS founder in Dubai, AI Overviews reward consistency, trust, and clarity. The same way classic SEO did—but now, with less room for fluff.

So yes… normal SEO still works. It’s just more visible now.