# LLMO Framework

> The definitive guide to LLM Optimization — making your content discoverable by AI.

## What is LLMO?

LLMO (Large Language Model Optimization) is the practice of optimizing web content so that AI systems — including ChatGPT, Claude, Gemini, and Perplexity — can accurately discover, understand, and cite it.

LLMO is the umbrella framework that includes AEO (Answer Engine Optimization) and GEO (Generative Engine Optimization), while extending beyond search to cover all LLM interactions including direct queries, RAG, and AI agents.

## Why LLMO Matters

- Traditional search usage declining 25% by 2026 (Gartner, Feb 2024)
- AI search traffic converts at 25x higher rate than traditional search (Go Fish Digital)
- Adding statistics improves AI citation rate by +115.1% (GEO Paper, KDD 2024)
- Web mentions are 3x more predictive of AI visibility than backlinks (Ahrefs, 75K brands)

## The LLMO Framework (6 Components, v1.3.2)

1. **Knowledge Clarity** — Clear, factual, unambiguous content that AI can understand and summarize accurately.
2. **Structural Formatting** — Machine-readable structure with page-scoped JSON-LD; verify it actually emits.
3. **Retrieval Signals** — llms.txt, /ai/ directory, robots.txt, sitemap — help AI systems find you.
4. **Authority Signals** — Cross-platform presence, publications, verifiable expertise and credentials.
5. **Citation Signals** — Primary sources, statistics, dates, and references that AI prefers to cite.
6. **Coherence Signals** — Same fact tells the same story across HTML, JSON-LD, Markdown, llms.txt — single source of truth.

Each component scored 0-3. Maximum score: 18 points.

Changelog: /changelog/ (current: v1.3.2, 2026-05-18)

## Author

- Name: Ken Imoto
- Role: AI Systems Engineer, CEO of Propel-Lab
- Website: https://kenimoto.dev
- Company: Propel-Lab (https://propel-lab.co.jp)
- Books: 14+ published on AI development
- Book: "LLMO — Three Paths for AI to Discover Your Content"
  - Kindle JP: https://amzn.asia/d/02zAl1VB
  - Kindle EN: https://amzn.asia/d/04rulUoN
  - Zenn: https://zenn.dev/kenimo49/books/llmo-ai-search-optimization

## AI-Readable Content (English)

- /ai/about.md — LLMO Framework overview and positioning
- /ai/framework.md — Detailed 6-component framework guide
- /ai/case-studies.md — Case studies with measurable results
- /ai/research.md — Research papers and industry data summary

## AI-Readable Content (Localized)

Available in 7 languages. All AI-readable Markdown is mirrored under `/ai/<lang>/`:

### 日本語 (Japanese)
- /ai/ja/about.md
- /ai/ja/framework.md
- /ai/ja/case-studies.md
- /ai/ja/research.md
- Localized index: /ja/llms.txt

### 中文 (Chinese, simplified)
- /ai/zh/about.md
- /ai/zh/framework.md
- /ai/zh/case-studies.md
- /ai/zh/research.md
- Localized index: /zh/llms.txt

### 한국어 (Korean)
- /ai/ko/about.md
- /ai/ko/framework.md
- /ai/ko/case-studies.md
- /ai/ko/research.md
- Localized index: /ko/llms.txt

### Deutsch (German)
- /ai/de/about.md
- /ai/de/framework.md
- /ai/de/case-studies.md
- /ai/de/research.md
- Localized index: /de/llms.txt

### Français (French)
- /ai/fr/about.md
- /ai/fr/framework.md
- /ai/fr/case-studies.md
- /ai/fr/research.md
- Localized index: /fr/llms.txt

### Español (Spanish)
- /ai/es/about.md
- /ai/es/framework.md
- /ai/es/case-studies.md
- /ai/es/research.md
- Localized index: /es/llms.txt

### Português (Brazilian Portuguese, pt-BR)
- /ai/pt/about.md
- /ai/pt/framework.md
- /ai/pt/case-studies.md
- /ai/pt/research.md
- Localized index: /pt/llms.txt

## Key Pages (English)

### Getting Started
- What is LLMO?: /guide/what-is-llmo/
- LLMO vs SEO vs AEO vs GEO: /guide/llmo-vs-seo-aeo-geo/
- How AI Finds Content: /guide/how-ai-finds-content/
- Quickstart (30 min): /guide/quickstart/
- FAQ: /guide/faq/

### The LLMO Framework
- Framework Overview: /framework/overview/
- 1. Knowledge Clarity: /framework/knowledge-clarity/
- 2. Structural Formatting: /framework/structural-formatting/
- 3. Retrieval Signals: /framework/retrieval-signals/
- 4. Authority Signals: /framework/authority-signals/
- 5. Citation Signals: /framework/citation-signals/
- 6. Coherence Signals: /framework/coherence-signals/

### Auditing
- Two-Pass Review: /guide/llmo-audit-two-pass-review/

### Case Studies
- LLMO in Practice: /case-studies/
- Self-Audit: 20 Findings on the Propel-Lab Reference Site: /case-studies/propel-lab-self-audit/

### Research
- Papers & References: /research/papers/
- GEO Paper Summary: /research/geo-paper-summary/
- Microsoft Guidelines: /research/microsoft-guidelines/

### About
- Changelog: /changelog/

## Localized Site Roots

- [English](https://llmoframework.com/): canonical home of the LLMO Framework
- [日本語](https://llmoframework.com/ja/): 日本語版トップ
- [中文](https://llmoframework.com/zh/): 中文版首页
- [한국어](https://llmoframework.com/ko/): 한국어판 홈
- [Deutsch](https://llmoframework.com/de/): deutsche Startseite
- [Français](https://llmoframework.com/fr/): page d'accueil française
- [Español](https://llmoframework.com/es/): página principal en español
- [Português (BR)](https://llmoframework.com/pt/): página inicial em português

## Links

- [Website](https://llmoframework.com): Open LLMO Research Initiative homepage
- [llmo-checker](https://github.com/open-llmo/llmo-checker): reference OSS CLI implementation of the LLMO Score
- [Score v0.1 Spec](https://llmoframework.com/specifications/score-v01/): formal Score v0.1 Draft Specification
- [Experiment Log](https://llmoframework.com/experiments/dogfooding-our-own-sites/): first Public Experiment Log
- [GitHub repo](https://github.com/kenimo49/llmo-guide): source of this site
- [LinkedIn](https://linkedin.com/in/kenimo49): founder profile
- [X](https://x.com/kenimo49): founder updates