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Affinity Joins AdCP as Founding Member to Bring Enterprise Native Supply into Advertising’s AI Future

Affinity Joins AdCP to Drive the Future of AI-Powered Advertising

Introduction

The advertising industry is on the cusp of a transformative shift as AI technologies rapidly evolve. Affinity has announced its new role as a Founding Member of the Ad Context Protocol (AdCP), a pioneering initiative focused on establishing open standards for AI-driven advertising solutions. This partnership marks a significant step toward redefining how media is bought, sold, and integrated across diverse platforms beyond conventional programmatic channels.

Advancing AI and Advertising Integration

AdCP aims to create a framework where AI agents can autonomously negotiate and transact advertising media directly. This approach removes traditional bottlenecks and expands potentials into non-traditional ad environments, including web browsers and mobile operating systems. By joining the AdCP, Affinity contributes its expertise to standardizing how inventory is represented and exchanged, which is critical for seamless interoperability between supply and demand sides.

Expanding Advertising Beyond Traditional Platforms

One of the core goals of this initiative is to bring enterprise native supply into the fold of AI-powered advertising. Affinity’s involvement ensures that advertising strategies extend into emerging and non-traditional spaces, making the ecosystem more inclusive and efficient. This forward-thinking approach embraces innovation while addressing the need for common standards that align with the dynamic nature of today’s digital landscape.

Key Insights

  • How does Affinity’s membership in AdCP impact the advertising industry? It signals a shift towards open standards that enable AI agents to manage media transactions outside traditional programmatic frameworks.
  • What role does AI play in this new advertising model? AI agents will autonomously negotiate and transact media, improving efficiency and expanding reach.
  • Why is standardizing inventory representation important? It ensures compatibility and smooth communication between supply and demand, fostering a more integrated advertising ecosystem.

Conclusion

Affinity’s collaboration with AdCP underscores the advertising industry’s progression toward AI-enabled, standardized practices that extend beyond traditional platforms. This initiative promises to create a more flexible and interconnected advertising future, leveraging AI to open new channels and optimize media transactions. As AI continues to transform marketing, such partnerships will be crucial in shaping a responsive and inclusive advertising environment.


Source: https://martechseries.com/sales-marketing/programmatic-buying/affinity-joins-adcp-as-founding-member-to-bring-enterprise-native-supply-into-advertisings-ai-future/

AI email marketing tools: Our top picks for 2026

AI Email Marketing Tools: Top Picks for 2026

Introduction

In the fiercely competitive world of digital marketing, capturing inbox attention has become an increasingly difficult challenge. Email marketers are turning to the latest AI-powered tools in 2026 to boost campaign effectiveness while reducing the manual workload. This article explores the key AI technologies transforming email marketing and offers guidance on selecting the best tools for your strategy.

The Rise of AI in Email Marketing

AI email marketing tools capitalize on advancements in generative AI and machine learning to optimize critical aspects of campaigns. From crafting compelling subject lines and dynamic content generation to precise personalization and seamless automation, these technologies enhance campaign performance. Additionally, AI-powered analytics provide deep insights into customer engagement, enabling marketers to fine-tune their strategies for maximum impact.

Core AI Functionalities Enhancing Email Marketing

AI tools for email marketing focus on six essential areas:

  • Content Generation: Automatically creating persuasive and relevant email copy tailored to target audiences.
  • Personalization: Delivering customized messages based on subscriber preferences and behaviors.
  • Optimization: Continuously refining campaigns through data-driven testing and adjustments.
  • Automation: Streamlining routine tasks such as scheduling, follow-ups, and segmentation.
  • Deliverability: Improving inbox placement rates by managing technical settings and sender reputation.
  • Analytics: Offering detailed performance metrics and customer insights to measure ROI.

Platforms like HubSpot’s Marketing Hub integrate these AI features with robust Customer Relationship Management (CRM) systems, providing all-in-one solutions that enhance email marketing success.

Selecting the Right AI Email Marketing Tool

Choosing an effective AI tool requires careful consideration of several factors. Integration capabilities with existing CRM systems are crucial for synchronized data management. Understanding your specific use cases, such as lead nurturing or e-commerce promotions, ensures the tool aligns with your goals. Additionally, assess data requirements and governance measures to comply with privacy regulations and maintain data security.

Key Insights

  • How does AI improve email marketing outcomes? AI enhances relevance, automates repetitive tasks, and delivers actionable analytics for better decision-making.
  • Why is CRM integration important? A unified system streamlines customer data and marketing efforts, increasing campaign effectiveness.
  • What should marketers consider when selecting AI tools? Prioritize compatibility, use case alignment, data privacy, and governance.

Conclusion

AI-powered email marketing tools represent a pivotal advancement for marketers aiming to stand out in crowded inboxes. By automating content creation, personalization, and analytics, these technologies help increase conversion rates and revenue attribution. Selecting the right platform involves balancing technological capabilities with compliance and strategic objectives, ensuring sustainable success in the evolving digital marketing landscape.


Source: https://blog.hubspot.com/marketing/ai-email-marketing-tools

Claude Now Enabled by ZoomInfo’s GTM Context Graph, Powered by GTM.AI

Claude Now Enabled by ZoomInfo’s GTM Context Graph, Powered by GTM.AI: Revolutionizing Go-to-Market Intelligence

Introduction In the fast-evolving landscape of sales and marketing technology, the ability to access accurate, real-time data is paramount. ZoomInfo, a leader in go-to-market intelligence, has introduced a powerful integration that enriches the capabilities of Claude, Anthropic’s AI assistant. By embedding ZoomInfo’s verified data within Claude via the GTM Context Graph and GTM.AI infrastructure, this integration promises to transform how marketing and sales teams conduct research and automate workflows.

Unlocking the Power of GTM Data Within Claude ZoomInfo’s new native integration allows users to access its comprehensive and verified go-to-market (GTM) data directly through Claude. This means users can now engage in natural language conversations with Claude to retrieve detailed company information, contact data, and buying signals without leaving their workflow. The integration taps into ZoomInfo’s extensive database covering firmographics—the structural characteristics of companies—and technographics—the technology usage patterns in organizations.

Enhancing Productivity and Workflow Automation By leveraging GTM.AI, the underlying infrastructure supporting this integration, ZoomInfo customers can streamline essential tasks such as account research and list building. Tasks that once required multiple tools and manual data collection are now reduced to conversational queries, speeding up decision-making and operational efficiency. This consistent integration across platforms also ensures unified data governance and management, a critical factor for maintaining data integrity in marketing teams.

Key Insights

  • What makes this integration unique? It embeds verified GTM data directly in a conversational AI, enabling natural language queries and immediate access to critical business insights.
  • How does GTM.AI contribute? GTM.AI provides the infrastructure that ensures consistent data governance and seamless integration across multiple platforms.
  • What user benefits arise from this? Users experience faster, more intuitive access to accurate company and contact data, facilitating better account research and marketing automation.
  • How does this impact marketing teams? It enhances their capacity to act on verified data quickly, improving targeting and overall campaign efficiency.

Conclusion ZoomInfo’s integration with Claude, powered by GTM.AI, marks a significant advancement in the use of artificial intelligence for go-to-market strategies. By uniting verified data with conversational AI, it empowers businesses to operate with greater speed, accuracy, and intelligence. As organizations continue to demand more integrated and efficient tools, such innovations will likely become standard in the marketing technology ecosystem, driving smarter decision-making and stronger customer engagement.


Source: https://martechseries.com/analytics/data-management-platforms/claude-now-enabled-by-zoominfos-gtm-context-graph-powered-by-gtm-ai/

For Video Publishers, Performance And AI Go Hand In Hand

How AI is Revolutionizing Performance for Video Publishers in Connected TV Advertising

In today’s rapidly evolving media landscape, video publishers face mounting pressure to prove the performance of their advertising efforts, especially across Connected TV (CTV) platforms. As consumer viewing habits shift and the number of streaming services continues to grow, advertisers are turning to advanced technologies like artificial intelligence (AI) to measure and optimize the impact of their video campaigns with greater precision.

The Growing Demands of CTV Advertising

Connected TV advertising has surged in popularity, offering brands the opportunity to reach viewers in their living rooms through streaming platforms. However, with this rise comes increased scrutiny from advertisers who demand clear, measurable returns on their ad spend. Unlike traditional TV advertising, where direct attribution is challenging, CTV provides rich data possibilities, but only if that data is effectively harnessed.

AI Integration: Tracking Video Impressions to Sales

Leading advertisers such as Walmart and Amazon are pioneering the integration of AI to bridge the gap between ad impressions and actual sales outcomes. By leveraging machine learning algorithms and big data analytics, these brands are better able to correlate which video ads result in consumer purchases, making advertising investments more accountable and efficient.

Enhancing the Consumer Journey with AI

AI technology also enables video publishers to personalize consumer experiences by tailoring content and ad delivery based on individual behaviors and preferences. This personalization not only improves engagement but increases the likelihood of conversion. Additionally, AI streamlines campaign workflows, reducing manual efforts and speeding up execution times.

Key Insights

  • Why is performance measurement critical for CTV advertisers? Advertisers need transparency to justify spending and optimize budgets, making precise performance data essential in the CTV environment.

  • How does AI enhance media efficiency for video publishers? AI analyzes vast datasets to identify patterns and predict outcomes, allowing publishers to target audiences more effectively and refine campaigns dynamically.

  • What role does personalization play in CTV advertising? Tailored consumer journeys through AI-driven insights increase viewer engagement and drive better marketing results.

  • How are major brands like Walmart and Amazon using AI? These brands harness AI to track the direct impact of video advertising on sales, improving the accountability of ad spend.

Conclusion

The combination of performance-driven strategies and AI innovation is reshaping video publishing in the CTV space. As advertisers demand more accountability and efficiency, AI-powered tools will become indispensable for tracking, personalizing, and optimizing ad campaigns. For video publishers aiming to stay competitive, embracing these technologies is not just advantageous—it’s essential. Future advancements will likely deepen AI’s ability to integrate consumer data and automate campaign management, elevating marketing effectiveness to new heights.


Source: https://www.adexchanger.com/marketers/for-video-publishers-performance-and-ai-go-hand-in-hand/

Google zero-click searches hit 68% in early 2026: Study

Google Zero-Click Searches Surge to 68% in Early 2026: What This Means for SEO and Digital Marketing

In recent years, the way users interact with Google search results has shifted dramatically. According to a groundbreaking study by SparkToro, zero-click searches—where users get answers directly on the search results page without clicking through to a website—have soared to 68.01% in early 2026, up from 60.45% in 2024. This significant rise highlights a changing landscape for content creators, marketers, and businesses relying on organic search traffic.

Understanding Zero-Click Searches and Their Growth

Zero-click searches occur when Google provides answers, facts, or relevant information on the search results page itself, eliminating the need for users to visit other websites. This feature improves convenience but poses challenges for website owners who depend on click-through traffic. One major factor contributing to this trend is Google’s deployment of AI Overviews, automated summaries that appear in over 20% of all searches. These AI-driven snippets deliver comprehensive responses, making traditional clicks less necessary.

The Impact on SEO and Publisher Traffic

The rise in zero-click searches has led to a near 60% decline in click-through rates from Google search results. While SEO (Search Engine Optimization) remains an important strategy for visibility, it is increasingly clear that relying solely on SEO to drive web traffic is becoming insufficient for many publishers. The dynamics of search traffic demand new approaches to engage audiences beyond the search engine results page (SERP).

As zero-click searches continue to dominate, marketing experts recommend that brands pivot their strategies. Instead of focusing exclusively on organic search traffic, businesses should invest more in building awareness and influence on social media platforms, email marketing, content partnerships, and other channels where their audiences actively engage. This multi-channel approach ensures consistent connection with potential customers regardless of the diminishing referral traffic from Google.

Key Insights

  • Why are zero-click searches increasing? Google’s enhanced ability to answer queries directly through AI Overviews and featured snippets reduces the need for users to click external links.

  • How does this affect website traffic? With nearly 68% of searches resulting in no clicks, traditional SEO traffic from Google is significantly declining.

  • What should publishers do? Diversify traffic sources by strengthening brand presence across multiple platforms, emphasizing user engagement and community building.

  • Is SEO still relevant? Yes, but it must be complemented with other marketing efforts to maintain visibility and audience reach.

Conclusion

The rise of zero-click searches marks a pivotal shift in digital marketing and SEO landscapes. Businesses must adapt by broadening their strategies to focus not only on search engine rankings but also on building meaningful connections across diverse platforms. Embracing this change early can help brands navigate the evolving online environment and maintain strong audience engagement despite the decline in traditional search traffic.


Source: https://searchengineland.com/google-zero-click-searches-2026-study-479717