Weekly Marketing Rundown - February 14, 2025

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

Weekly Marketing Rundown - May 15, 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 the launch of Kavanah Analytics, Fake Claude links, Meta patches 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: Turning Data into Mission Action How is your digital content truly impacting lives? We created Kavanah Analytics to help churches and mission teams answer that question. Kavanah Analytics is a powerful, user-friendly tool that tracks the journey from the first ad click to Disciple.tools entries. With easy-to-read maps and dashboards, you’ll no longer have to guess how to digital engagement strategy is performing- you will see it! Click the link below to learn more: kavanahanalytics.com Fake Claude AI Software Delivers Malware Through Google Ads Hackers are using deceptive Google search ads to trick people into downloading fake versions of the Claude AI application. These malicious ads lead to professional-looking websites that install dangerous software designed to steal your personal data and passwords. For Mission Teams This scam specifically targets digital tools your team might use for content creation and evangelism automation. Using unverified AI software can compromise your ministry's accounts and leak sensitive information about the seekers you are trying to reach. Only download software from trusted sources. https://www.techrepublic.com/article/news-claude-mac-download-google-ads-malware/?email_hash=daf5ed6a723491ea96e0ad54c9b5e613 Encrypted RCS Messaging Enhances Cross-Platform Security Apple and Google have launched a beta for end-to-end encrypted RCS messaging between iPhone and Android users. This update replaces old texting standards with stronger security features designed to keep conversations private from outside parties. For Mission Teams While not as widely used by mission teams globally, this rollout could significantly boost security for teams leveraging SMS for team communications. Team members should confirm that the lock icon is visible to ensure discipleship conversations remain confidential and secure from surveillance. https://www.apple.com/newsroom/2026/05/end-to-end-encrypted-rcs-messaging-begins-rolling-out-today-in-beta/ Meta Patches Critical Security Flaws in WhatsApp Meta recently fixed two major security bugs that could let hackers trick users into opening dangerous files or links. These flaws affected billions of people using WhatsApp on phones and computers, making it easier for scams to look real. For Mission Teams Updating your app is vital for security. Maintaining current software protects your team's digital identity and the security of seekers you contact through the platform. https://www.techrepublic.com/article/news-whatsapp-users-update-meta-security-flaws/ Meta Introduces AI Tools for Business Messaging on Messenger Meta is launching new AI features to help organizations automate conversations and respond to inquiries more efficiently. These tools allow for personalized interactions and faster support by using artificial intelligence to handle common questions. For Mission Teams Members of the Kavanah team have not yet begun experimenting with this tool. There are legitimate concerns surrounding AI hallucinations and the ability of automated systems to facilitate authentic, gospel-centered conversations. However, as Meta continues refining the platform, it may become a viable alternative to chatbot tools such as ManyChat. Keeping these systems within Meta’s ecosystem could also offer advantages in scalability, integration, and overall cost efficiency. https://www.facebook.com/business/ai/business-ai/messenger Self-Serve ChatGPT Ads Beta Launches for Advertisers OpenAI has launched a self-serve Ads Manager beta, allowing U.S.-based businesses to create and manage advertisements directly within ChatGPT. The platform includes basic campaign management tools such as budget controls and cost-per-click (CPC) bidding, with sponsored content appearing contextually within AI conversations. For Mission Teams Although the platform is still in beta and currently limited to U.S.-based advertisers, it may represent a significant new opportunity for digital engagement. Context-based ad placement could allow teams to reach seekers during relevant spiritual, emotional, or life-stage conversations in a more natural way than traditional social advertising. At the same time, these tools remain very early-stage. Teams should approach experimentation carefully, particularly since conversion tracking and long-term performance data are still limited. Close monitoring will be important as the platform evolves. Kavanah Media has applied for access to the platform and is currently awaiting approval. https://www.jonloomer.com/qvt/self-serve-chatgpt-ads-beta-details/ Google Ads Mandates Passkeys for Sensitive Actions Starting July 15, 2026, Google Ads will require passkeys for high-risk actions such as modifying billing or changing user permissions. These cryptographic credentials use device-level biometrics or PINs to replace traditional passwords and provide stronger protection against phishing and account takeovers. For Mission Teams Implementing passkeys protects your ministry's ad account. Teams should set up passkeys now to avoid a seven-day security delay that could block urgent campaign adjustments after the July deadline. https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/google-ads-news-week-19-adriaan-dekker-5lsye/ https://support.google.com/google-ads/answer/16917887?hl=en Google Tag Manager Evolves into Google Tags At Google Marketing Live 2026, Google announced that GTM containers can now be upgraded to "Google Tags" to streamline tracking. This optional update introduces "Destinations," allowing teams to manage multiple platform settings from a single central location without loading redundant code. For Mission Teams The new visual event builder makes it easier for non-technical team members to track seeker interactions on landing pages without complex coding. Centralizing destinations improves website performance and security, ensuring that sensitive data is handled consistently across all evangelism campaigns. https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/google-ads-news-week-19-adriaan-dekker-5lsye/ TikTok Launches Ad-Free Subscription in the UK TikTok now allows users in the United Kingdom to pay a monthly subscription fee for an ad-free experience on the platform. This move follows a broader trend among social media companies, including Meta, toward offering paid versions of their apps with reduced or removed advertising. For Mission Teams   While TikTok has traditionally been more difficult to use for paid evangelism advertising due to religious content restrictions, it tends to offer higher engagement rates — often at a premium cost. Teams running campaigns in the UK should also account for a reduced addressable audience, as a portion of users opt out of sponsored content entirely. https://www.thesun.co.uk/tech/39046267/tiktok-ad-free-subscription-remove-ads/ Disney Expands Short-Form Video and Creator Partnerships Disney is launching a new vertical video feed called Verts to share short clips and creator content. This move aims to connect with younger audiences who prefer quick and interactive videos over traditional formats. For Mission Teams While not directly related to digital engagement platforms, Disney’s latest move highlights the growing importance of short-form, Reels-style video content across the broader media landscape. Mission teams should continue prioritizing these formats to maximize visibility and engagement across major social platforms. https://www.tubefilter.com/2026/05/11/disney-is-doubling-down-on-short-form-including-creator-partnerships/ WhatsApp Adds Incognito AI for Private Messaging WhatsApp now offers a private way to talk to AI where your messages disappear and leave no history. Meta claims their new system keeps these conversations secret even from the company itself. For Mission Teams This update could provide a more private environment for seekers to ask sensitive questions about faith without generating a highly visible digital trail. Mission teams may benefit by ensuring their websites and content are optimized for AI discovery and indexing. At the same time, teams should remain cautious about the information they share with AI agents themselves. Although Meta states that it cannot view certain protected data, privacy and security risks still remain. https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c99lmyr1dnxo 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.  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: May 15, 2026