# What is the best way to read the null result? | Trakkr Research

Canonical URL: https://trakkr.ai/trakkr-research/llmstxt-effect/answers/what-is-the-best-way-to-read-the-null-result
Published: 2026-03-14
Last updated: 2026-03-14
Author: Mack Grenfell

Read it as a prioritization signal, not as proof that the file is useless. The best interpretation is that llms.txt is low-cost optional hygiene, not a core citation lever.

## Methodology

Built from HTTP scans of 37,894 AI-cited domains, linked to 337,362 citations and 882 citation snapshots in the Trakkr corpus.

## Direct Answer

Mostly, read it as a prioritization signal rather than proof that the file is useless. The best interpretation is that llms.txt is low-cost optional hygiene, not a core citation lever.

## What this means

This turns a study finding into an operating rule teams can use when deciding what to publish, refresh, or measure next, preventing wasted engineering cycles on unproven optimization tactics.

## Evidence table

| Metric | Value | Why it matters |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Mann-Whitney p-value | 0.85 | No statistically significant citation effect detected. |
| Adoption rate | 13.3% | Domains with llms.txt in the study. |
| Domains scanned | 37,894 | AI-cited domains scanned for llms.txt. |

## Frequently Asked Questions

### Does the null result mean we should delete our existing llms.txt file?

No, the Mann-Whitney p-value of 0.85 indicates no statistically significant citation effect was detected, but the file remains low-cost optional hygiene.

### How many domains are actually using this file?

The study found an adoption rate of 13.3 percent across the 37,894 AI-cited domains scanned.

## What to do next

- [Treat llms.txt as an optional housekeeping file rather than a primary citation-growth lever.](https://trakkr.ai/trakkr-research/llmstxt-effect/answers/what-is-the-best-way-to-read-the-null-result#next-step-1)
- [Prioritize answer quality, source coverage, and page structure before spending disproportionate effort on llms.txt.](https://trakkr.ai/trakkr-research/llmstxt-effect/answers/what-is-the-best-way-to-read-the-null-result#next-step-2)
- [Measure discovery and crawl behavior directly if you publish llms.txt instead of assuming it improved citation performance.](https://trakkr.ai/trakkr-research/llmstxt-effect/answers/what-is-the-best-way-to-read-the-null-result#next-step-3)

## Related pages

Continue through the same study cluster.

- [what should teams do after seeing the llms txt data](https://trakkr.ai/trakkr-research/llmstxt-effect/answers/what-should-teams-do-after-seeing-the-llms-txt-data) - Related answer page
- [does llms txt look like a sector specific behavior more than a universal standard](https://trakkr.ai/trakkr-research/llmstxt-effect/answers/does-llms-txt-look-like-a-sector-specific-behavior-more-than-a-universal-standard) - Related answer page
- [median citations are identical with and without llms txt](https://trakkr.ai/trakkr-research/llmstxt-effect/facts/median-citations-are-identical-with-and-without-llms-txt) - Related fact page
- [llmstxt adoption by sector tracker](https://trakkr.ai/trakkr-research/llmstxt-effect/trackers/llmstxt-adoption-by-sector-tracker) - Related tracker page

## Data And Sources

- [The llms.txt Effect](https://trakkr.ai/trakkr-research/llmstxt-effect) - Flagship study behind this page
- [Page JSON](https://trakkr.ai/data/research-answers/llmstxt-effect/answers/what-is-the-best-way-to-read-the-null-result.json) - Machine-readable companion file