Weekly Marketing Rundown - February 13, 2026

Weekly Marketing Rundown - May 8, 2026 Welcome to this week's edition of Kavanah Media's Weekly Marketing Rundown! This week features significant updates from Meta, including AI connection usage rates and more. Additionally, there are changes to Google Ads, the latest developments regarding Turkey's social media restrictions, and other important news. Enjoying the Weekly Marketing Rundown? Support our work and keep it free for missions teams worldwide: https://www.kavanahmedia.com/donatetoKM Meta AI Connectors for Ad Management Meta now allows advertisers to manage their ad campaigns using popular AI tools like ChatGPT and Claude. This new feature simplifies the process by removing the need for complex technical setups or developer credentials. For Mission Teams A few weeks ago there were widespread reports of marketers have their ad accounts disabled for integration AI tools through third party means. Meta appears to have made an official connection, but many still urge caution.  Missions team hoping to leverage AI tools for ads management would be wise to hold off or exclusively use the new built Meta AI Business Assistant for the time being https://www.jonloomer.com/meta-ads-ai-connectors-claude/ Meta Daily Active Users Decline For the first time Meta reported a slight drop in the total number of people using its apps for the first time. This decrease happened mostly because of internet shutdowns and app restrictions in specific countries like Iran and Russia. For Mission Teams Even though Meta reported this slight drop in app usage, their add revenue is still growing and is likely simple related to global events. However, a drop in users highlights the risk of relying on single platforms for digital evangelism. Teams should diversify their outreach strategies to ensure they can still reach seekers when specific apps are blocked. https://www.jonloomer.com/meta-ads-ai-connectors/ Vimeo Data Breach Exposes Personal Information A security breach at Vimeo recently exposed the personal data of over 100,000 users due to a vulnerability in their system. This leaked information included names and email addresses, though passwords and financial details were reportedly not compromised. For Mission Teams Missions teams leveraging Vimeo as part of their digital engagement strategies should verify if their accounts have been compromised or not. This also highlights the importance of practicing strong cybersecurity hygiene such as utilizing strong passwords and MFA. https://www.bleepingcomputer.com/news/security/vimeo-data-breach-exposes-personal-information-of-119-000-people/ Google Analytics 4 Task Assistant Update Google Analytics has launched Task Assistant to provide a guided checklist for improving property setup and data collection. This feature, found in the left navigation menu, organizes tailored recommendations into categories like account connections and data troubleshooting. For Mission Teams This assistant could help simplify the setup and management of data collection in GA4. Using this tool helps teams identify and fix data gaps that could otherwise compromise the security or effectiveness of digital outreach. https://support.google.com/analytics/answer/16888318?hl=en ChatGPT Ads Expansion OpenAI has launched a self-service Ads Manager, significantly lowering the barrier for businesses to advertise within ChatGPT. The minimum spend has dropped from $250,000 to $50,000, and the platform is moving toward a cost-per-click (CPC) model. For Mission Teams While still out of the reach of missions teams ad budgets this significant price drop could be a good signal. If prices continue to fall ChatGPT ads could become a viable platform for teams to leverage in their digital engagement projects. Additionally, other AI platforms may follow suit.  https://www.searchenginejournal.com/openai-launches-self-serve-ads-manager-for-chatgpt/573971/ Turkey Social Media Restrictions- Update  Turkey has passed a law banning children under 15 from social media to increase online safety for minors. Platforms must now use strict age verification and give parents more control over what their children see. For Mission Teams  Thus far Turkiye’s response to social media is similar to many countries around the world- age restrictions. It is unclear what further restrictions may come. Teams leveraging digital engagement tools in Turkiye should keep apprised of local news and adjust their strategies accordingly.  https://apnews.com/article/turkey-social-media-children-restrictions-law-d88963a7446a12cf4963b73d455b5ef7 Google Search Integrates Reddit Quotes Google is updating its AI search summaries to include direct quotes and advice from Reddit and other social forums. This change aims to provide users with authentic, human-focused answers by highlighting real discussions and community expertise. For Mission Teams This update means seeker questions about faith may now surface organic community discussions alongside traditional search results. Teams could consider leveraging these platforms as these peer-to-peer conversations now have significantly higher visibility in digital outreach. https://www.theverge.com/tech/924993/google-ai-search-mode-overviews-update-reddit-links Rising Facebook Account Lockouts Facebook is experiencing a surge in account lockouts as automated AI systems mistakenly flag normal user behavior as suspicious activity. These aggressive security filters often leave users stuck in a difficult appeal process with very little human support available to fix the errors. Members of the Kavanah Team have also seem a similar surge in Meta Ad account restrictions as of late.  For Mission Teams Over-active AI policing is causing problems for many. Teams should exercise caution when making major changes to Meta Business Suite settings, and even logging in while traveling. If pages, accounts or systems are restricted successful recovery is rare. https://searchengineland.com/why-facebook-account-lockouts-are-rising-and-whats-driving-them-476546 Facebook Sees Massive Engagement Surge Even in the midst of lower reported app usage in Q1 Facebook is experiencing a sudden and dramatic increase in organic reach, with some brands seeing their views and clicks nearly double. Meta is achieving this by updating its algorithm to prioritize original content and better rewards for creators who post directly to the platform. For Mission Teams This shift could prove to be a strategic window for mission teams to reach significantly more seekers without increasing their paid advertising budget. Teams should experiment with posting authentic, original video content now to take advantage of this increased visibility before the platform's reach potentially stabilizes. https://open.substack.com/pub/milkkarten/p/something-is-happening-on-facebook Instagram Testing Text Swaps for Reels Instagram is testing a new feature called Swap that allows users to replace the text on someone else’s video. This tool could let people quickly remix popular content, although it may conflict with recent rules against unoriginal posts. For Mission Teams Teams could potentially use popular trending videos to share gospel messages by simply swapping in biblical text or seeker-focused questions. However, this strategy carries a risk because it would make it easier for bad actors to swap out texts on Gospel centered content to distort the messaging before sharing it again.  https://www.socialmediatoday.com/news/instagram-tests-option-to-swap-out-text-in-someone-elses-reels/819153/ 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 8, 2026

Weekly Marketing Rundown - July 3, 2026 Welcome to this week’s edition of Kavanah Media’s Weekly Marketing Rundown! This week we're diving into major shifts shaking up the digital advertising landscape, including Google's updated Ads Terms of Service for AI use, Meta ads troubleshooting, Next Steps World Cup resources and more. Enjoying the Weekly Marketing Rundown? Support our work and keep it free for missions teams worldwide: https://www.kavanahmedia.com/donatetoKM Google Ads Terms of Service Updated for AI Use Google updated its Google Ads Terms of Service effective July 1, 2026, to clarify how advertiser inputs can be used across AI-powered and automated ad tools. The changes give Google broader authority to use automated systems to generate and optimize campaign elements on behalf of advertisers. For Mission Teams Mission teams running Google Ads should review the updated terms, as they now bear greater responsibility for reviewing AI-generated ad content that they may not have created themselves. Understanding how Google's systems can use your data and creative assets is essential for responsible and ethical ad management. https://searchengineland.com/google-ads-updates-terms-of-service-ahead-of-july-2026-rollout-479255 Troubleshooting Meta Ads That Fail to Convert Many advertisers blame the platform when their digital ads fail to bring results. In most cases, the real issues are broken links, confusing web pages, or poorly chosen marketing goals. For Mission Teams If your ministry ads get clicks but no one signs up or sends a message, you should audit your landing pages, CTA's, greetings, and setup immediately. Fixing these issues helps seekers find your content more easily and ensures your outreach budget is used effectively rather than wasted. Check out Jon Loomer's Guide: https://www.jonloomer.com/meta-ads-arent-converting/ Zero-Click Google Searches Now Represent 68 Percent of All Searches New research published during the week of June 29, 2026, shows that 68 percent of all Google searches in the United States now end without anyone clicking on a link, meaning fewer than one in three searches results in a website visit. AI Overviews and AI Mode are answering questions directly on the results page. For Mission Teams If your ministry relies on Google search traffic to bring people to your website, this data should prompt a rethink of your content strategy. Creating content that earns citations inside AI answers, not just high search rankings, is now essential for staying visible to people searching for faith-related topics online. https://www.b2the7.com/news-blog/marketing-trends-june-29-2026 AI-Driven Threats Accelerate Apple's iPhone Security Patching Apple is releasing iPhone security updates much faster because hackers are now using artificial intelligence to build quicker cyberattacks. This change helps protect mobile devices before bad actors can find and exploit hidden software flaws. For Mission Teams It is recommended that digital evangelists immediately install these mobile updates to protect sensitive seeker data and secure disciple-making conversations on social media. Promptly applying security patches helps protect ministry devices from AI-assisted cyberattacks, ensuring they remain secure for running outreach campaigns and engaging with online communities. https://www.techrepublic.com/article/news-apple-iphone-ai-security-updates/ Google Restricts Search Ads With Unclear Branding Google is changing its search rules to limit ads from accounts that use confusing or generic branding. This update means your ads must clearly show your organization's identity so users do not get misled. For Mission Teams Ministries must clearly brand their search ads and landing pages to avoid being restricted when trying to reach online seekers. This transparency builds security and trust with your audience while ensuring your disciple-making campaigns stay visible. https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/google-ads-news-june-recap-adriaan-dekker-n0wle/ Meta Changes Wording for Restricting Ad Audiences Meta has changed a settings button in its advertising platform to read, "I need a specific audience." While this update does not change how ad targeting works, it does reflect a shift in how Meta guides advertisers through the campaign setup process. For Mission Teams When creating Facebook ads to reach seekers, teams should recognize that Meta's detailed targeting options are still treated as suggestions by the platform. Teams using these options have reported poorer performance and higher costs. At this stage, the wording change appears to be purely cosmetic, but there is hope that Meta will follow it with meaningful functional improvements. Only time will tell. https://www.jonloomer.com/qvt/i-need-a-specific-audience/ Next Steps Platform - Digital Outreach Platform Launched for World Cup 2026 Next Steps, by Jesus Film Project, has launched a digital outreach platform packed with videos and interactive tools for the 2026 World Cup. This website allows believers to customize sports-themed gospel journeys and easily share them across different global regions. For Mission Teams Mission teams can strategically use these templates in social media ads to maximize engagement and locate seekers during the soccer tournament. When deploying these digital campaigns globally, teams must establish secure communication pathways to protect and safely disciple new believers. https://football2026.nextstep.is/ WhatsApp Testing Auto-Translation in 21 Languages WhatsApp for iPhone is developing an automatic message translation feature, first spotted in a March 2026 beta build, that will translate incoming messages in real time across up to 21 languages. Translations are processed on-device using Apple's language packs, keeping end-to-end encryption intact. For Mission Teams This feature could have significant implications for cross-cultural digital ministry by enabling teams to communicate with people in their native language without leaving WhatsApp. From a security perspective, translations are processed on-device rather than sent to third-party servers, helping preserve end-to-end encryption and reducing privacy risks. https://9to5mac.com/2026/03/20/whatsapp-for-iphone-may-soon-offer-automatic-message-translation-across-21-languages/ Reddit Weighs Identity Checks to Fight Bots Reddit is exploring identity verification methods as it looks for ways to reduce the influence of bots on its platform, according to Engadget. The company has not yet settled on a specific approach but is weighing options that balance authenticity with user anonymity. For Mission Teams While not as widely adopted in digital engagement strategies, Reddit hosts thousands of communities where people seek spiritual guidance, mental health support, and life advice, making it a potential platform to leverage. However, bot traffic remains a challenge both for the platform itself and for AI answer engines, as Reddit is frequently cited by AI tools when responding to user questions. Misinformation from Reddit forums can be surfaced and may lead AI systems to produce inaccurate or misleading responses. This is also a reminder of how easily platforms can be compromised by bots, and why authentic content is becoming increasingly important. Users are growing weary of spam, AI-generated content, and general online noise. Teams managing online communities should take steps to ensure those platforms are not compromised and are populated with genuine users. Additionally, teams using AI tools to engage with seekers should ensure those systems are not drawing information from low-quality or unreliable sources. https://www.engadget.com/social-media/reddit-is-weighing-identity-verification-methods-to-combat-its-bot-problem-195814671.html Federal Oversight Expands Over Frontier Artificial Intelligence and Digital Surveillance The United States government is rapidly increasing its control and regulations over advanced artificial intelligence tools. These new actions include restricting public access to powerful technology and proposing strict laws to monitor AI developers. For Mission Teams Increased government regulation of AI models may limit the availability of innovative tools for social media advertising strategies aimed at reaching seekers. Furthermore, evolving digital surveillance and location data regulations mean ministries must strengthen data privacy practices to protect online disciple-making networks. https://www.techpolicy.press/june-2026-us-tech-policy-roundup/ 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: July 3, 2026