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How AI Ads Perform in B2B Newsletters

AI-related sponsors are becoming a recurring presence across our newsletters, and their performance data highlights both strengths and nuances in how this category connects with readers. By isolating AI ads from general campaigns, a few clear trends emerge.

September 17, 2025

AI-Specific CTR vs. General CTR

While the average ad CTR across all newsletters sits around 0.9%, AI-related campaigns often perform at or above this benchmark. For example, weeks featuring Attio, Rundown AI, or Axios HQ pairings delivered AI-only CTRs ranging from 0.9% to 2.9%, showing strong traction relative to overall performance.

Importantly, AI ads are not always the top-performing sponsor within a given issue—several non-AI advertisers regularly generate higher click volumes. However, AI consistently holds its own as a competitive category, with CTRs that outperform or match the average more often than not.

Standout Performers

  • Attio campaigns (alone or in pairings) set the high-water mark, consistently generating 2.5%+ CTR, with one week hitting nearly 2.9%. This is more than double the general average and highlights repeat engagement strength.

  • Rundown AI shows steady traction, regularly driving ~0.9% CTR when paired with productivity or SaaS sponsors.

  • Build Wealth + Synthflow combinations indicate that AI messaging can add lift even when it is not the lead sponsor.

Newsletter Context and Benchmarks

The average Ad CTR by newsletter provides a benchmark for evaluating AI results:

  • Sports newsletters (1.23%) and Healthcare newsletters (0.63%) post the strongest overall engagement. AI ads performing above ~1% in these verticals are aligned with audience expectations.

  • Private Equity (0.54%) and Insurance (0.25%) show lower overall averages, making AI CTRs in the 0.9%+ range especially noteworthy.

What This Tells Us

  1. AI ads compete effectively across contexts. While they do not always dominate, they routinely deliver CTRs above newsletter-wide averages.

  2. Pairings matter. Weeks featuring AI alongside Finance or Media sponsors see amplified results, showing that strategic combinations boost overall engagement.

  3. Repeatability is strong. Advertisers like Attio and Rundown AI have returned multiple times with consistently solid performance, pointing to sustained audience interest.

The Takeaway

AI sponsors are establishing themselves as one of the most reliable categories in our B2B advertising mix. They deliver CTRs that regularly exceed general benchmarks, prove resilient across verticals, and benefit from smart partner pairings.

As AI adoption accelerates across industries, these campaigns highlight two key insights: our readers are seeking practical, efficiency-driving tools, and advertisers that frame AI in actionable, business-focused terms will continue to capture outsized attention here.