Weekly Marketing Rundown - September 18, 2026

Weekly Marketing Rundown - September 11, 2026 Welcome to this week’s edition of Kavanah Media’s Weekly Marketing Rundown! We’re diving into the latest updates you need to know including an invite to join out Kavanah Analytics Webinar,  major ways hackers are bypassing security systems and passkeys, Google ads on Waze, Vibe Coding and more! Enjoying the Weekly Marketing Rundown? Support our work and keep it free for missions teams worldwide: https://www.kavanahmedia.com/donatetoKM Kavanah Analytics- Webinar You're invited to a free online webinar introducing Kavanah Analytics on Monday, October 20, offered at two times to fit your team's schedule: 8:00 AM Eastern and 8:00 PM Eastern.  If your team is using digital tools to reach the lost, you already know the hard part isn't running an ad or posting a video. It's answering the questions that matter: Who responded? Did that conversation lead to a Bible study, a baptism, a disciple? Kavanah Analytics is a free tool built specifically for mission teams that automatically pulls your Facebook, Instagram, Google Ads, messaging, and follow-up data into one clear picture, so you can see the whole journey from first click to real spiritual conversation without stitching together spreadsheets or paying for enterprise software. In this one-hour session we'll show you how it works, walk through a live team dashboard, and explain how to get your own team set up at no cost.  Bring your questions, and bring whoever on your team is asking "is this actually working?"  Register at https://forms.gle/d2mLocY1MrcsazA28 and join us on October 20. kavanahanalytics.com Turning Off Meta's Buggy Multimedia Experience Facebook recently added a new tool that lets you put many pictures and videos into one ad, but it has a lot of bugs. You can easily turn off this new feature in your settings to go back to the older, more reliable way of making ads. For Mission Teams If you are leveraging Meta ads and hate the new UI now you can turn it off. However, even though the system can be buggy at times, members of the Kavanah Media team have come to like the new system and find it easier to use- especially when leveraging diverse creatuves, https://www.jonloomer.com/qvt/turn-off-new-creative-workflow-multimedia-experience Clicking 'Allow' Could Give Hackers Access to Your Account In another Google and Microsoft attack surface- hackers can now access your entire Google or Microsoft account by tricking you into clicking "Allow" on a seemingly normal screen. Once allowed, they can read your emails and send messages to your contacts without ever needing your password. For Mission Teams Mission teams must be extremely careful when granting app permissions on devices used for digital evangelism. Hackers can use this trick to access sensitive conversations with seekers, and even changing your password won't stop them unless you remove their access in your settings. https://www.techradar.com/pro/security/clicking-allow-on-a-google-and-microsoft-permission-screens-could-give-hackers-access-to-your-entire-account-fbi-warns 39 Ways Passkeys Can Be Hacked Passkeys were designed to replace passwords by using a secure digital lock, but hackers have found 39 new ways to bypass this security. The hackers attack the systems around the passkey, like the app, browser, or cloud storage, instead of breaking the passkey itself. For Mission Teams Mission teams using passkeys for ministry platforms should not assume they are completely safe from hackers. Since hackers can still access accounts through shared devices or cloud accounts, teams need strong security measures across all digital tools used for evangelism. See the entire list here: https://www.bleepingcomputer.com/news/security/39-new-methods-that-compromise-passkey-authentication/ OpenAI Expands ChatGPT Ad Tools and Global Reach OpenAI has released new tools for ChatGPT Ads that let creators build campaigns using simple text prompts, manage custom audiences better, and track ad performance more accurately. The platform also added budget pacing controls and expanded ad placement to users in Europe, India, the Middle East, and North Africa. For Mission Teams These AI tools and expanded regional footprints allow mission teams to reach seekers more effectively across Europe and the Middle East. Improved data matching and budget pacing also help teams protect user privacy and steward their evangelism resources wisely. https://ads.openai.com/?utm_source=openai_email&utm_medium=openai_email&utm_campaign=product_update Google Expands Waze Ads to 42 Countries Google is expanding Waze Ads beyond the United States to 41 additional countries through Performance Max campaigns. This update allows local organizations in 42 global markets to show location-based ads to drivers on their routes. For Mission Teams Where available local ministry teams and churches could use these location-based ads on Waze to guide nearby seekers directly to physical churches, community centers, or outreach events. Strategically targeting local drivers could help expand digital engagement into face-to-face discipleship. https://www.seroundtable.com/google-expands-waze-ads-42018.html Brands Emphasize Humanity to Rebuild Consumer Trust Many companies are designing ads that feature real human stories and handmade visual styles. This human-centered approach helps brands rebuild customer trust as public worry grows over artificial intelligence. For Mission Teams Content and news explaining this "Human Centered Content," trend is becoming more commonplace. Brands and marketers are realizing that sharing authentic human experiences in social media ads builds crucial trust with online seekers who are wary of automated content.  https://www.marketingbrew.com/stories/humanity-in-advertising-ai-distrust?utm_source=tldrmarketing European Union Enforces Stricter Safety Rules on Popular Platforms The European Union placed ChatGPT, Reddit, and Roblox under its highest level of platform regulations after user growth surged. These services must now regularly assess risks involving minor safety, illegal content, and automated recommendation systems. For Mission Teams Tighter platform regulations in Europe could affect how ministry ad campaigns and conversational AI tools operate. While this platforms are not as widely leveraged for digital engagement by missions teams and churches, the adjustments these platforms must conform to may still affect other digital platforms, how users find and engage with content, and more. Teams should be prepared to adjust their strategies accordingly. https://www.politico.eu/article/chatgpt-reddit-roblox-face-eus-strictest-platforms-regime/ Meta Releases AI Tool for Real-Time Multilingual Transcription Meta introduced a new artificial intelligence model that transcribes live audio in over seventy languages simultaneously. The system accurately identifies more than twenty different speakers in a single recording, even when people switch languages mid-sentence. For Mission Teams This real-time translation tool allows global ministry teams to host live, multi-language meetings and broadcast outreach content seamlessly. Leveraging instant transcription helps teams securely engage diverse seekers and disciple international communities without language barriers. https://www.engadget.com/2249112/meta-new-ai-transcription-model-can-distinguist-between-multiple-speakers-and-languages-in-real-time/ Meta Disables Cameras on Smart Glasses Modified by Users Meta remotely turned off the cameras on thousands of smart glasses because users tampered with the recording lights. The company took action to prevent people from secretly filming others without their permission. For Mission Teams As smart glasses become increasingly common, the battle for user privacy intensifies. This development highlights several important concerns: Workers may be recorded at any time without their knowledge. Our sense of ownership is diminishing. While Meta's ability to detect tampering and disable devices can protect personal privacy, it also raises significant concerns about control and autonomy. https://www.businessinsider.com/meta-glasses-camera-disabled-tampering-recording-light-update-2026-9 Google Avoids Forced Breakup in Major Antitrust Ruling A federal judge ruled that Google will not have to sell its advertising exchange despite breaking antitrust laws. Instead of breaking up the company, the court ordered Google to make its ad tools work better with competing platforms. For Mission Teams Keeping Google's advertising network intact allows mission teams to continue using familiar tools to run targeted digital outreach campaigns. Improved compatibility between ad platforms helps teams protect user privacy while efficiently finding seekers and making disciples online. https://arstechnica.com/gadgets/2026/09/us-court-rules-google-will-not-have-to-sell-ad-exchange-after-losing-antitrust-case/?utm_source=tldrmarketing Vibe Coding Replaces Traditional Website Building Vibe coding is a new way to build websites by telling artificial intelligence what you want instead of writing complicated code. This easy method lets anyone quickly turn their ideas into a working webpage just by giving the AI specific instructions. For Mission Teams Using AI to build websites allows mission teams to quickly launch digital evangelism sites, however, it is not a complete replacement. AI can hallucinate and oftentimes misses critical website components involved in security, data privacy, compliance and more. Teams should be cautious when launching sites with AI and audit the products before launch to ensure security and compliance where relevant.   https://yoast.com/traditional-coding-vs-vibe-coding-website/?utm_source=mailblue&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=newsletter_080926&utm Stay Equipped for Digital Engagement  Looking for ways to use digital tools to grow evangelism and disciple-making? Check out our other resources: Kavanah Media Blog – Learn from our experiences serving hundreds of mission teams worldwide. We share practical lessons, real stories, and best practices to help your team avoid mistakes and grow in digital outreach. Subscribe here. Jon Ralls' new book–  Check out Jon Ralls' new book The Reluctant Whisper on Amazon, where he talks of evangelism from a sales pitch into an authentic act of presence—sharing faith through story, not scripts! Check it out here. Ad Resource Store- Stumped on what ads to run next? Check out Kavanah Media's Ad Resource Store for ideas, templates and more! Digital Strategies got you stumped? Reach out anytime—we’re ready to help. Contact Us Church GAP Analysis Tool- Uncover hidden risks before they become problems. Use our Free GAP Analysis Tool to evaluate your church or non-profit’s cybersecurity, compliance, and governance today.  Kavanah Analytics- How is your digital content truly impacting lives? We created Kavanah Analytics to help churches and mission teams answer that question. Learn More Thanks for reading this edition of Kavanah Media's Weekly Marketing Rundown! For more up-to-date insights in digital marketing, make sure to follow us on Instagram @kavanah_media and stay connected through all our social media channels via the link below. https://linktr.ee/kavanah_media Authors: Jon Ralls, Cody A. and Cherry Messimer Article Published: September 11, 2026

Weekly Marketing Rundown - November 13, 2026 Welcome to this week’s edition of Kavanah Media’s Weekly Marketing Rundown! 🚀 We're diving into the latest news you need to know, including fake police takedown notices, Meta's new account system, changes to TikTok ads, Google's ad surcharge changes, and more. Enjoying the Weekly Marketing Rundown? Support our work and keep it free for missions teams worldwide: https://www.kavanahmedia.com/donatetoKM Fake Police Notices Tried to Remove Free-Speech Groups From X X told an Indian court that takedown requests targeting two free-speech groups' accounts came from someone impersonating the Delhi Police. X did not remove the accounts and filed a police complaint to identify the impostor. For Mission Teams Bad actors can impersonate officials to get accounts shut down, posing a real risk to ministries operating in places where Christian content is unwelcome. Teams should treat their domains, brands, and platforms as temporary assets, maintain backups of their content and contact lists, and approach any "official" removal demand with caution until its authenticity is verified. https://www.independent.co.uk/asia/india/x-take-down-notice-india-free-speech-groups-b3080408.html Meta Is Moving Users to a New "Meta Account" Meta is automatically transitioning Accounts Center, where people link their Instagram, Facebook, and Threads profiles, into a single "Meta Account" with one login. Users cannot opt out, and WhatsApp will remain separate unless it was already linked. For Mission Teams Linked profiles will share one login and a common set of ad preferences, meaning a team member's personal and ministry profiles could become more closely connected. Teams should review which profiles are linked in Accounts Center and keep ministry or pen-name profiles in separate accounts. https://ppc.land/meta-forces-users-onto-meta-accounts-with-no-opt-out-offered/ https://www.meta.com/account/ Updated YouTube Descriptions May Help Videos Show Up in AI Search In a small test conducted by Peec AI, about 60 YouTube videos received more detailed descriptions, and AI tools such as Google's AI Overviews picked them up 359% more often afterward. Videos that were left unchanged saw only a 17% increase. However, the test was too small to prove that the new descriptions caused the jump. For Mission Teams As more people use AI search tools, clear descriptions could help your existing videos appear in AI-generated answers. Teams can test this by updating a few older videos with descriptions that include the video's topic, the questions it answers, and clearly labeled timestamps. https://searchengineland.com/youtube-description-updates-ai-retrievals-study-500845 TikTok Search Ads Work Differently Than Google Ads TikTok's search ads have settings that don't match Google Ads, including Automated Keywords that are turned on by default for small business accounts. TikTok also won't block misspellings or plural forms of a negative keyword unless you add each one yourself. For Mission Teams A ministry running TikTok search ads could end up showing ads on unrelated search terms without knowing it. Teams should check their Automated Keywords list and add common misspellings and plural forms to their negative keyword lists. https://www.searchenginejournal.com/tiktok-search-ads-are-becoming-real-search-advertising/596016/ TikTok Expands Its AI Video Ad Tools TikTok's Symphony tool can now create AI video ads up to 30 seconds long using up to 50 reference images, videos, or audio clips. Advertisers outside North America can also buy access to ByteDance's newest video models through BytePlus, ByteDance's business tech arm. For Mission Teams Small teams could produce more video ads for less money, which may help them test more messages with seekers. AI-made visuals still need careful review to make sure they represent the gospel accurately and fit the local culture. Security Disclaimer Symphony runs on ByteDance's systems, so anything you upload is handled under ByteDance's data practices. Do not upload footage of real team members, seekers, or locations, and keep this work on an account and device separate from sensitive ministry data. https://www.socialmediatoday.com/news/tiktok-updates-its-ai-video-ad-tools/874209/ Google DeepMind AI Mathematically Verifies Key Parts of the Signal Protocol Google DeepMind used an AI tool called AlphaProof Code to mathematically verify that key parts of the Signal encryption protocol work as intended. The project was a four-week test that found no new problems in the parts examined. However, it did not cover the entire Signal app. For Mission Teams This provides additional confidence in the security of the Signal protocol. That said, it doesn't guarantee security, and it doesn't protect against risks such as phone seizure, weak passwords, or unsafe sharing habits. Teams should continue using strong device security and exercising caution when communicating with contacts in restricted areas. https://www.wired.com/story/a-new-ai-tool-from-google-deepmind-formally-verified-the-signal-protocol/ WhatsApp Events Can Now Invite People Without WhatsApp WhatsApp is updating its Events feature so people can create events, send invitations, and manage RSVPs in one place called Events Home. Invitations can now reach people who do not have WhatsApp, and they can see details and RSVP through a link without downloading the app. For Mission Teams Teams can use event links to invite seekers to in-person or online gatherings and manage RSVPs in one place. However, teams operating in restricted areas should plan carefully, as shared event links and RSVP lists may reveal who is attending. According to Meta, phone numbers are hidden from guests who are not in a person's contacts, and the event address is shown to non-WhatsApp guests only after they RSVP. Teams should therefore consider keeping sensitive meeting locations off the event page and sharing them privately. The update is rolling out to everyone over the coming weeks, so availability may initially vary. https://about.fb.com/news/2026/11/whatsapp-events-brings-people-together-beyond-the-group-chat/ Google Changes Ad Surcharges for Italy, France, and Turkey in 2027 Starting January 1, 2027, Google will change the Regulatory Operating Cost added to ad invoices in three countries: Italy: 2.5% → 3.0% France: 2.0% → 3.0% Turkey: 4.5% → 2.25% For Mission Teams Teams running Google Ads, YouTube Reservation, or Display & Video 360 campaigns in these countries should update their 2027 budgets, since costs will rise in Italy and France and fall in Turkey. https://support.google.com/google-ads/answer/9750227 Meta Ads Creative Enhancements: What They Do and When to Turn Them Off Meta's 47 AI-powered Creative Enhancements can change everything from text placement and ad formatting to video colors. They are designed to help marketers diversify their creative content, but their outputs and adjustments are not always ideal. For Mission Teams Mission teams should review the enhancement settings for each ad and turn off any features that change their message, destination, or images in ways they have not approved. These may include Optimize Website Destination, Landing Page Experience, AI-generated people in videos, Translation, and AI answers to viewer questions. Teams should also have translated text reviewed by a native speaker before running ads with sensitive content. Meta may also apply features still in testing to up to 5% of your ad impressions unless you uncheck "Test New Creative Features" in Advertising Settings. Teams should clearly define their branding, use previews where available, and monitor ads for changes that no longer align with their approved wording. See Jon Loomer's full list of Creative Enhancements and his suggestions in the article below: https://www.jonloomer.com/meta-ads-creative-enhancements/ OpenAI Launches Business Profiles and Mention Tracking in ChatGPT OpenAI has started a beta test called Businesses in ChatGPT. Companies can claim a profile, correct what ChatGPT says about them, and see mentions, profile views, and website clicks. For Mission Teams Ministries registered as businesses may be able to claim a profile and correct how ChatGPT describes them. However, the beta is initially available only to eligible ecommerce and online service businesses in the US. The data shows totals but does not reveal the questions people asked, and smaller accounts may have access to very little data. Verification is done by phone call, text message, or DNS record. Teams operating in restricted countries should carefully consider the risks of publishing contact details and website links. They should also continue tracking seeker engagement on their own websites, since this tool can show that their ministry was mentioned but not explain why. https://www.thestateofbrand.com/news/chatgpt-business-hub-brand-mentions-clicks Fewer Meta Ad Sets May Lower Your Cost Per Result Meta says each ad set needs about 50 conversions a week to learn well. Meta's own analysis found that ad sets below this level cost about 28% more per purchase. For Mission Teams Check how many conversions each ad set generates per week. If an ad set generates fewer than 50 conversions a week, consider consolidating your budget into fewer ad sets so that each desired action, such as a sign-up or message start, generates more data for optimization. Use Meta's formula (weekly budget ÷ (cost per result × 50)) to estimate how many ad sets your budget can support. Consider adding a second ad set only when you are generating around 100 conversions per week and have a clear reason to split your campaign. Note that the 28% figure applies to purchases. Small teams optimizing for lower-volume events, such as Bible study sign-ups, should treat this figure as a guideline rather than a guarantee. https://pubcast.jonloomer.com/your-extra-ad-sets-are-costing-you-28-more/ Google Ads Changes How It Handles Language, Scheduling, and AI Labels Google Ads has removed the manual language setting from Search campaigns. Google now determines who sees an ad based on the language used in the ad text and landing page, as well as what it knows about the languages a person understands. As a result, ads may still reach people searching in another language if Google determines they can understand the ad. Google does not translate ads, and advertisers still cannot exclude specific languages. Asset scheduling now allows advertisers to group days, such as weekdays or weekends, when scheduling headlines, images, and other ad elements. However, scheduling ads to run on fewer days does not automatically reduce monthly spending. Google can still spend up to 30.4 times your average daily budget over the course of a month, meaning daily spending may be higher on the days your ads are active. Google has added California, South Korea, and Vietnam to the list of locations where ads created or edited with AI must display a visible label. These join the European Union, India, and New York. For Mission Teams Write each ad group in a single language, and give each language its own landing page URL so Google can direct your ads to the right seekers. If you limit ads to the hours when your responders are online, keep an eye on your budgets. A restricted ad schedule no longer automatically limits your monthly spending. Be careful when using AI-generated content in sensitive locations such as Vietnam. A visible AI label draws attention to how an ad was created, and anyone can view the disclosure in the ad's "How this ad was made" panel. In sensitive locations, consider using non-AI assets. Where AI content is used, disclose it properly to avoid rejection. https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/google-ads-news-week-45-adriaan-dekker-uonse/ Stay Equipped for Digital Engagement Looking for ways to use digital tools to grow evangelism and disciple-making? Check out our other resources: Jon Ralls' new book: Check out The Reluctant Whisper on Amazon, where he reframes evangelism from a sales pitch into an authentic act of presence—sharing faith through story, not scripts! Check it out here. Ad Resource Store: Stumped on what ads to run next? Check out Kavanah Media's Ad Resource Store for ideas, templates, and more! Confused by digital strategy? Reach out anytime—we’re ready to help. Contact Us Church GAP Analysis Tool: Uncover hidden risks before they become problems. Use our Free GAP Analysis Tool to evaluate your church or nonprofit’s cybersecurity, compliance, and governance today. Kavanah Analytics: How is your digital content truly impacting lives? We created Kavanah Analytics to help churches and mission teams answer that question. Learn More Thanks for reading this edition of Kavanah Media's Weekly Marketing Rundown! For more up-to-date insights on digital marketing, make sure to follow us on Instagram @kavanah_media and stay connected through all our social media channels via the link below. https://linktr.ee/kavanah_media Authors: Jon Ralls, Cody A., and Cherry Messimer Article Published: November 13, 2026