Weekly Marketing Rundown - January 23, 2025

Weekly Marketing Rundown - March 21, 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 changes to Meta, new country-specific fees for marketing, MFA, data laws, and more. Enjoying the Weekly Marketing Rundown? Support our work and keep it free for missions teams worldwide: https://www.kavanahmedia.com/donatetoKM Updates to Meta Meta is now adding extra fees for ads shown to people in certain countries to cover local digital taxes. It is also testing a new feature that lets you describe your audience in simple terms, with AI automatically suggesting the best interests and behaviors to target. For Mission Teams These new location fees mean your advertising budget might not go as far in specific regions, so you must plan for these extra costs in your digital strategy. The update to interest and detailed targeting is capturing the attention of marketers worldwide. For some time, Meta has limited marketers’ ability to use detailed targeting, instead relying on its algorithm. Teams are encouraged to test this new feature, although it is likely to serve only as a “suggestion,” similar to the previous iteration. Meta Location Fees by Country The following fees are added to your bill based on where your ads are delivered: Austria: 5% Türkiye: 5% France: 3% Italy: 3% Spain: 3% United Kingdom: 2% https://www.jonloomer.com/meta-location-fees/ Signal App Face Blur for Secure Photos Signal includes a built-in image editor that can automatically detect and blur faces in photos before you send them or save them to your device. This feature uses local on-device processing to ensure that unedited versions of your photos are never sent to a server or seen by anyone else. For Mission Teams This tool is vital for protecting the identity of seekers and local believers in sensitive regions where digital surveillance is a high risk. Teams can leverage this tool, but it is recommended to always manually check the image before sending. https://signal.org/blog/blur-tools/ Data Privacy and Digital Missions Compliance Data privacy laws, such as the GDPR in the European Union, the LPDP in North Macedonia, and U.S. data laws, regulate the handling of personal information. These laws are designed to protect individuals’ data and include stipulations regarding data breach handling, required data security measures, data sovereignty, consent, and more. While the specifics of these regulations can vary significantly by region and impact marketers and mission teams differently, one constant remains: marketers are responsible for ensuring that their data governance, marketing practices, and platforms comply with these laws. For Mission Teams Mission teams, agencies, and local churches using digital strategies are also likely to have exposure to these laws. In some jurisdictions, the costs of non-compliance are enough to bankrupt many mission agencies. Teams should review how local data privacy laws may affect their digital engagement projects and take steps to ensure compliance and mitigate risk. Check the link below to read more about Europe's GDPR laws: https://gdpr-info.eu/ If you want assistance navigating this topic, the Kavanah Media team is here to help. Please reach out here. Has Your Team Enable MFA? Multi-Factor Authentication, or MFA, acts like a second lock for your digital accounts to keep them safe. It requires a code from your phone, an app, a message, or a USB security key after you enter your password to verify that it is really you. For Mission Teams Using MFA is critical because it prevents attackers from taking over your social media ads or accessing sensitive conversations with seekers, even if they steal your password. Without this extra layer, a single hacked account could lead to financial loss, the deletion of years of ministry work, or the exposure of vulnerable contacts in high-risk regions. Priority Platforms to Secure To ensure your team is fully protected, please verify that MFA is enabled on the following platforms: Social Media: Facebook Business Suite, Instagram, X, and YouTube. Ministry Tools: Echo Global and Disciple.Tools instances. Core Systems: Organization email and website administrative logins. Financials: Any accounts linked to ad spend or donation processing. We Are Here to Help The Kavnaah Media team is committed to the safety and success of your digital outreach. If you need assistance setting up MFA or auditing your team's security settings, we are happy to help you walk through the process. Please reach out here.  Meta Buys MoltBook Meta has officially acquired Moltbook, a unique social media platform designed entirely for artificial intelligence agents to interact without human interference. On this site, thousands of bots created by developers, engaged in "synthetic social theater," where they debated topics, shared digital art, and even formed automated communities to see how AI evolves in a social ecosystem. For Mission Teams AI continues to develop rapidly and is being actively promoted by major digital platforms. Meta's recent acquisition is just another step in this progression. Changes are inevitable, and teams utilizing digital engagement strategies must be ready to learn, adapt their approaches, and prepare for the new risks that AI may introduce. https://www.techrepublic.com/article/news-meta-acquires-moltbook-bot-only-social-network/ Google Ads Expands In-Platform Creative Assets Google Ads is introducing a major update that allows advertisers to access "rich media" assets like photos, videos, and 3D models directly within the platform. Additionally, automatic YouTube channel linking and AI-generated voice-overs for video ads, similar to Creative Enhancements on Meta, are also being rolled out. For Mission Teams These automated tools allow your team to create professional-looking ads more easily. However, as with all AI tools, teams should carefully review these assets to ensure the message remains culturally sensitive and theologically accurate for the seekers they are trying to reach. https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/google-ads-news-week-11-adriaan-dekker-oltle/ Echo Global CRM and TikTok Integration Echo Global has launched a new TikTok integration that allows teams to manage video comments directly within the Echo platform. Once connected, your team can read, reply to, and track interactions from the “Social Media” area, including the ability to manually import older videos by URL. It is important to note that the TikTok integration currently supports only comment management. It does not support full inbox management. Teams wanting to leverage TikTok for engagement campaigns will still need to handle messages on the TikTok platform itself. For Mission Teams Many teams have reported high engagement via TikTok. This new integration could make it easier for teams to integrate TikTok into their larger digital strategy systems. https://www.echoglobal.org/help-center (search TikTok) Instagram Ends Encrypted Messaging Feature Meta has announced it will discontinue the option for end-to-end encrypted direct messages on Instagram starting May 8. The company stated that very few users utilized this specific security feature and is encouraging those who need high privacy to move their conversations to WhatsApp instead. For Mission Teams This change significantly reduces the security of your communication with seekers on Instagram, as your messages will no longer be hidden from the platform or potential surveillance. Additionally, using Instagram for sensitive or internal communications is not recommended. https://www.socialmediatoday.com/news/meta-ends-end-to-end-encryption-on-instagram/814765/ Foundations of Digital Engagement Strategy Course May 13-16, 2026 (Pre-EMDC Training) Chiang Mai, Thailand This course is for you. Digital permeates virtually every aspect of people's lives and it should be present in every stage of your mission and ministry strategy. Join Kavanah Media staff during the Pre-EMDC training week for a time of practical training in digital engagement. This course is designed for you to examine your end to end strategy and find ways that digital components can be added or improved whether you are just ready to begin or an experienced practitioner. Follow the link or contact us for more details. https://emdcon.org/ 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. YouVersion Reading Plan– Jon Ralls, CEO of Kavanah Media, just launched a powerful 4-day devotional on YouVersion called "Love Where You Are." Subscribe 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.  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: Cody A. and Cherry Messimer Article Published: March 21, 2026

Weekly Marketing Rundown - August 15, 2025 Welcome to this week’s edition of Kavanah Media’s Weekly Marketing Rundown! In this issue we cover Meta and Google's political ad restrictions in the EU, Buffer's latest report on Instagram posting, the US government's response to the EU's Digital Services Act and more. Enjoying the Weekly Marketing Rundown? Support our work and keep it free for missions teams worldwide: https://www.kavanahmedia.com/donatetoKM Meta to Stop Political and Social Issue Ads in the EU Meta announced that it will no longer allow political, electoral, or social issue advertising across its platforms in the European Union. This change is part of Meta’s effort to simplify ad rules and reduce the risk of non-compliance with complex EU regulations. To see the current list of Social Issues and how Meta defines, them go here: https://www.facebook.com/business/help/214754279118974?id=288762101909005 For Mission Teams: To prevent unnecessary disruptions, teams should ensure their ads steer clear of any listed social issues. It’s not enough to avoid these topics directly—content should also minimize any chance of being misinterpreted, as Meta’s AI review systems can mistakenly flag ads as non-compliant. 🔗 https://about.fb.com/news/2025/07/ending-political-electoral-and-social-issue-advertising-in-the-eu US Government Pushes Back on EU’s Digital Services Act The US government is opposing how the EU is enforcing its Digital Services Act (DSA) against Meta, claiming the rules unfairly target American companies. The DSA requires platforms to remove harmful content quickly and share more data with regulators, but US officials argue it may violate trade rules and put extra burdens on US-based tech giants like Meta, Google, and X. For Mission Teams: US pressure could shift EU policy and significantly impact how companies operate internationally, influencing content moderation, ad targeting, and even platform accessibility in Europe. Teams should remain ready to adapt strategies and platforms as companies respond to evolving political and regulatory landscapes. 🔗 https://www.socialmediatoday.com/news/us-government-oppose-eu-digital-services-act-meta/757137/ Google's Updates: Sitelinks, EU Political Ads Ban, and Ads Placement in AI Search A leaked document shows Google is gearing up to place ads directly inside its AI-powered search experience, with a major launch expected before Q4. Unlike traditional keyword search ads, these will be selected based on the entire conversation context, not just the initial query. Brands using Performance Max or AI Max for Search will automatically qualify for these placements—marking a significant shift in how paid visibility works on Google Search. It is also adding sitelinks to Ad Strength Rankings. At the same time, Google is tightening political ad rules in the EU, restricting such placements to comply with upcoming regulations. For Mission Teams: AI-driven targeting can improve ad relevance but may also introduce uncertainty about where ads appear. Including sitelinks in ads will impact the Strength score. Similar to Meta’s EU political ad restrictions, teams should avoid topics that AI moderation tools might mistakenly flag as political or socially sensitive to prevent unnecessary limitations. 🔗 https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/google-ads-news-week-32-adriaan-dekker-zlkie/ Update Regarding Meta's New "Review Keywords" Ad Feature Last week (see here) we included an article discussing Meta's "Review Keywords" ad feature, and after some feedback we wanted to offer clarification. This feature states the following on Ads Manager: Review keywords We will use AI to extract positive keywords from your Page’s reviews and display them in a proprietary unit underneath the ad. Example keywords: "Great service" "Fast shipping" "Reliable" For Mission Teams: Our previous entry suggested that if a team had negative reviews, the new review feature could pull those instead. Clearly, Meta states that will not be the case - it is supposed to only flag positive reviews. HOWEVER, that is dependent on Meta's systems correctly identifying which reviews are positive and which are negative in a mission team's field of service and language. If a team has any doubt that this feature will yield positive results, it is recommended to simply disable it in Ads Manager Settings. Meta Faces Whistleblower Allegations Over Privacy and Copyright A whistleblower claims Meta ignored internal warnings about privacy and copyright violations tied to its AI systems. The allegations suggest Meta trained AI models on copyrighted material without proper licenses and overlooked potential privacy breaches. Lawmakers and regulators may investigate, and the case could have legal and financial consequences. For Mission Teams: Teams should be ready to adjust strategies as regulators and social platforms respond to these changes. Additionally, assume that any information published online—even if posted on one's own website and marked ‘no index’—can still be accessed or crawled by external entities. Avoid posting any content that, if exposed, could create security risks. 🔗 https://www.dropsitenews.com/p/meta-facebook-tech-copyright-privacy-whistleblower How Often Should You Post on Instagram? Buffer’s article recommends posting on Instagram 3–5 times per week to stay active and keep followers engaged. It emphasizes that consistency and quality matter more than posting every day, and that overposting can actually reduce engagement. The advice is based on platform data and user behavior trends. For Mission Teams: For mission teams, this helps shape smarter content schedules and avoid burnout. Posting less often can reduce the risk of account misuse, especially if fewer people need access. It also encourages using planning tools to stay organized and focused on meaningful updates. 🔗 https://buffer.com/resources/how-often-to-post-on-instagram/ 🎬 Meta’s Translate Media Tool for Video Ads Jon Loomer’s article introduces Meta’s new “Translate Media” feature, which automatically converts text in video ads into different languages. It’s meant to help advertisers reach more people without making separate versions of each ad. For Mission Teams: For marketing teams, this could save time and make global campaigns easier. But it also means checking translations for accuracy and keeping an eye on how automated tools handle brand messaging and privacy. 🔗 https://www.jonloomer.com/qvt/translate-media-feature-for-video-ads/ Stay Equipped for Digital Engagement At Kavanah Media, we’re committed to helping mission teams use digital tools to make God known around the world. Whether you’re looking for inspiration, practical insights, or in-depth strategy, we’ve got resources to help: 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. YouVersion Reading Plan– Jon Ralls, CEO of Kavanah Media, just launched a powerful 8-day devotional on YouVersion called "Living in Tension." Subscribe here Digital Strategies got you stumped? Reach out anytime—we’re ready to help. Contact Us 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: Cody A. and Cherry Messimer Article Published: August 15, 2025