FlexOffers attended two key partner marketing events in May 2026: Rakuten Optimism in Phoenix and DigiMarCon East in Boston. The team joined marketing leaders from across the country to talk about trending topics including Answer Engine Optimization (AEO) and its impact on the partner marketing ecosystem.
FlexOffers Represents at Rakuten Optimism in Phoenix
FlexOffers Client Success Director Julia Rodrigues and Social Media Manager Shannon Nigut represented the company at Rakuten Optimism in Phoenix, Arizona.
The team had productive conversations around optimizing FlexOffers programs through changing commission rates, creating coupon codes, and trying unique methods of program promotion.
One standout event session was “From Search to Suggestion: How Gen AI is Rewiring the Path to Purchase.” Key takeaways included how generative AI is being viewed as an advisor for shopping and discovery, leading to more searches but fewer clicks.
AI visibility has grown as a competitive advantage, and the goal for brands is to become a “trusted recommendation” through strong content, authority, and relevance.
“Partner marketing is quickly shifting toward AI-driven discovery and attribution (AEO/zero-click), and staying competitive is going to come down to how fast networks adapt to where visibility is actually happening,” Shannon explained.
Despite a strong focus on AI, speakers found that chatbots performed best with human oversight. “Out-of-the box” AI-generated content was viewed as “mediocre” and often associated with AI slop, which can harm brand and creator credibility, according to attendees.
The best platforms for publisher growth combine a mix of human strategy and AI-assisted tools to streamline performance for creators, publishers, and media.
DigiMarCon East 2026 Highlights Evolving Search Behavior and Strategy Beyond SEO
The FlexOffers team made a strong appearance at DigiMarCon East, May 12-13 in Boston, where Matthew Burden, VP of Sales and Strategy, connected with top partner marketing leaders.
The conference highlighted recurring themes including visibility inside large language models, how AI is reshaping discovery and search behavior, and the ways content strategy is moving beyond traditional SEO.
Conversations focused on how marketing leaders are actively adapting to these shifts, instead of simply repeating the same AI and AEO buzzwords.
FlexOffers Events in June and July
The FlexOffers team will be at several key events in summer 2026, including Affilifest in Margate, UK; iPX Partnerships Experience in Austin, Texas; Partnerships Day in London, and Affiliate Summit East in New York City.
The team is scheduling meetings throughout the summer for advertisers, creators, and publishers interested in discussing scaling and strategy.
To set up a meeting, reach out to the FlexOffers team today.