{
  "kind": "fact",
  "studySlug": "llmstxt-effect",
  "slug": "average-citations-are-functionally-flat-with-and-without-the-file",
  "title": "Average citations are functionally flat with and without the file",
  "description": "The raw average difference is negligible.",
  "lastUpdated": "2026-03-14",
  "lastTested": "2026-03-14",
  "sourceStudyUrl": "/trakkr-research/llmstxt-effect",
  "sourceStudyTitle": "The llms.txt Effect",
  "claimIds": [
    "llmstxt-effect:avg-with",
    "llmstxt-effect:avg-without"
  ],
  "relatedSlugs": [
    "answer:is-llms-txt-more-common-on-top-domains-than-the-long-tail",
    "answer:which-industries-adopt-llms-txt-most",
    "tracker:llmstxt-adoption-by-tier-tracker"
  ],
  "methodologySummary": "Built from HTTP scans of 37,894 AI-cited domains, linked to 337,362 citations and 882 citation snapshots in the Trakkr corpus.",
  "limitations": [
    "This is an observational study. It measures correlation with citation outcomes, not a controlled experiment.",
    "Adoption is uneven by sector, so raw averages can hide category concentration in SaaS and developer tooling.",
    "A null citation effect does not mean llms.txt has zero operational value for every workflow. It means the study did not find a measurable citation lift."
  ],
  "keywords": [
    "llms.txt",
    "llms txt effect",
    "AI citations",
    "does llms.txt work"
  ],
  "schemaHints": {
    "pageType": "Article",
    "includeDataset": true
  },
  "claim": "Average citations are 6.8 with llms.txt and 6.7 without it in the study.",
  "supportingMetrics": [
    {
      "label": "Average citations with llms.txt",
      "value": "6.8",
      "detail": "Mean citations for domains with llms.txt."
    },
    {
      "label": "Average citations without llms.txt",
      "value": "6.7",
      "detail": "Mean citations for domains without llms.txt."
    }
  ],
  "whyItMatters": "There is no practical sign of a meaningful citation advantage in the headline data.",
  "citationBlock": {
    "quote": "Average citations are 6.8 with llms.txt and 6.7 without it in the study.",
    "attribution": "The llms.txt Effect - Trakkr Research",
    "url": "https://trakkr.ai/trakkr-research/llmstxt-effect/facts/average-citations-are-functionally-flat-with-and-without-the-file"
  }
}