Weekly Marketing Rundown - May 1, 2026

Weekly Marketing Rundown - August 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 Google Search Ad Language targeting, Youtube Picture ads, new data privacy laws 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 Retires Campaign-Level Language Targeting Google is updating its search ads by removing the setting that lets advertisers manually choose specific languages. Instead, Google's automated systems will now match people to ads based on the languages they already read and speak. For Mission Teams Mission teams leveraging Search Campaigns must ensure their digital ad text and landing pages are perfectly translated into their target audience's exact language. Because automated delivery could expose outreach campaigns to unintended or hostile groups, ministries must closely monitor their search traffic to protect their security and digital engagement strategies. https://www.searchenginejournal.com/google-is-removing-language-targeting-from-search-campaigns/585592/ OpenAI Introduces Carousel Ads to ChatGPT OpenAI is now letting companies show a scrolling list of products in their ChatGPT ads. This new format helps businesses display multiple items side-by-side to catch the attention of users chatting with the AI. For Mission Teams Mission teams could use these scrolling ads to share a variety of outreach resources, like scripture links and videos, in one engaging placement. https://digiday.com/marketing/openai-brings-product-carousels-to-chatgpt-ads/ New AI Disclosure Laws Reshape Digital Marketing New laws in Europe and California now require businesses to clearly label any pictures, videos, or sounds created by artificial intelligence. This means marketers must use special digital tags so that people always know when online content is computer-generated. For Mission Teams To safely find seekers and make disciples, mission teams operating in these jurisdictions must follow these new transparency rules whenever using artificial intelligence to create media for their digital evangelism campaigns. By honestly labeling their outreach content, ministries can build vital trust with cautious audiences while protecting their operational security from legal penalties or platform bans. https://www.thedrum.com/news/ai-disclosure-laws-arrive-in-the-eu-and-california-what-do-they-mean-for-marketers YouTube Mobile Tests New Overlay Picture Ads YouTube is testing new picture ads that pop up over the screen while people watch videos sideways on their phones. These still images appear every few minutes without stopping the video, giving advertisers a new way to show their messages. For Mission Teams Mission teams can use these new picture ads to add even more creative diversity to their add strategies on YouTube. https://ppcnewsfeed.com/ppc-news/2026-08/youtube-tests-image-ads-horizontal-mobile-playback/ New WhatsApp Security Warning System for Unverified Messages WhatsApp is testing a warning system to alert users when receiving messages from unverified contacts. The alert helps users identify potential scams before replying to unfamiliar accounts. For Mission Teams This new safety alert helps protect field workers from falling for phishing attempts on WhatsApp. However, new seekers contacting your ministry account for the first time may also see this security prompt. https://engineering.fb.com/2026/08/12/security/how-were-building-scam-alert-whatsapp/ Apple Issues Critical Spyware Threat Notifications Apple is alerting targeted iPhone users about sophisticated spyware attacks that could compromise their devices. These push notifications serve as critical warnings that hackers are actively attempting to steal personal information from specific individuals. For Mission Teams Particularly important for teams operating in sensitive fields with a high risk of nation-state interference, Apple’s security alerts should be taken seriously to protect digital networks and sensitive contacts. By securing devices immediately when warned, ministries can help prevent hostile actors from accessing their outreach campaigns and compromising their disciple-making efforts. https://techcrunch.com/2026/08/13/if-apple-sends-you-a-push-notification-alerting-you-to-a-spyware-attack-take-it-seriously/ Rise of Relatability Trends in Social Video Marketing Recent social media trends show that unpolished, relatable video content is outperforming high-budget advertisements. Audiences favor simple personal stories over formal corporate promotions. For Mission Teams Authentic videos recorded on a phone by real believers will likely connect better than expensive studio videos. Simple, honest video testimony builds trust faster with seekers browsing social media. https://bluehaloagency.com/news/social-media-trends-august-2026/ WhatsApp Introduces Usernames for Private Messaging WhatsApp is updating its app to let people save and use usernames instead of phone numbers. This change will soon allow users to chat with new contacts without sharing their personal phone details. For Mission Teams This is just the latest update related to WhatsApps' shift to usernames. Mission teams can use these new usernames to safely connect with seekers without revealing their real phone numbers. This update improves operational security while making it easier to share the gospel and disciple people in hostile areas. https://wabetainfo.com/whatsapp-launches-a-username-field-for-new-contacts/ YouTube Transforms Search with Conversational AI Chatbot YouTube is releasing a new tool across all devices that lets users ask questions and get helpful answers instead of just a list of videos. This smart chat feature remembers what you are talking about and acts more like a personal assistant than a regular search bar. For Mission Teams Ministries should closely monitor how their videos are tagged to ensure that artificial intelligence correctly identifies and recommends their biblical resources as potential seekers use the new integrated AI search feature. https://www.socialmediatoday.com/news/youtube-expands-access-to-its-in-app-ai-chatbot/827757/ Understanding Video View Counts Across Different Platforms Social media apps have very different rules for what they count as a video view. While some apps count a view the second a video starts, others require someone to watch for several seconds before it counts. Here are some examples: Facebook Reels: organic views count after just 1+ millisecond. Instagram Reels: organic views count as soon as a video starts or replays. YouTube: from 24 August, public views count from the first frame. YouTube Shorts: public views count immediately, including replays. TikTok: views count as soon as the video starts. YouTube ads: many only count after 30 seconds or an interaction. For Mission Teams Mission teams must understand these different rules so they can accurately track how many seekers are actually watching their digital evangelism videos. See the full list put together by Axios below: https://www.axios.com/media-trends-membership/2026/08/18/youtube-video-views Google Data Studio Adds New Reporting and Design Tools Google Data Studio updated its platform to make creating and viewing reports much easier. Users can now expand charts to full screen, copy visuals as pictures, and customize their report designs. For Mission Teams These design upgrades help ministry teams clearly track and evaluate how seekers engage with their online evangelism campaigns. Better visual reports allow leaders more options when reporting metrics. https://docs.cloud.google.com/data-studio/release-notes Polite Replies to Unknown Texts Can Cost You Replying to a text message from a stranger confirms that your phone number is active and monitored. Criminal syndicates use these polite responses to profile targets and sell verified numbers for higher prices on the dark web. For Mission Teams Workers should avoid responding to unexpected texts from unknown numbers while conducting online ministry. Maintaining strict boundary practices on mobile channels protects team members from targeted social engineering tactics and prevents ministry phone numbers from being further attacked and exploited. https://www.malwarebytes.com/blog/threat-intel/2026/08/your-polite-reply-to-that-text-is-worth-2-on-the-dark-web Mission Media U Practitioner Fellowship We live in a digital world.  But our discipling mandate hasn't changed.  Join our partners at Mission Media U for a two-month practitioner fellowship from 24-September to 19-November-2026 with a focus on Personal Digital Disciple-Making.  Limited seats available.  Submit your application today.   Learn more here: https://www.missionmediau.org/fellowship/ 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: August 21, 2026

Weekly Marketing Rundown - August 7, 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 several Signal updates, Instagram user demographics, changes to ChatGPT ads, concerns over new fake WIFI network attacks, and more. Enjoying the Weekly Marketing Rundown? Support our work and keep it free for missions teams worldwide: https://www.kavanahmedia.com/donatetoKM New ChatGPT Ad Features For Custom Audiences And AI Generation OpenAI is testing new features for ChatGPT Ads that let advertisers target specific people using email lists and also an artificial intelligence tool that can automatically write ad content based on a website. For Mission Teams As ChatGPT continues to develop it's advertising platform and it's capabilities, marketing on the platform is becoming even easier. Teams are encouraged to experiment with the platform, but more long term data on its effectiveness in digital engagement is still forthcoming. https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/google-ads-news-july-recap-adriaan-dekker-qwf1e/ Signal Adds Automatic Security Warnings for External Links Signal is rolling out automatic safety checks when users click web links inside private chats. The app displays a warning screen if a link leads to a known dangerous or fraudulent site. For Mission Teams This feature adds an extra layer of protection for all Signal users by requiring one additional step before potentially malicious links can be opened. https://www.bleepingcomputer.com/news/security/signal-adds-security-warnings-for-social-engineering-phishing-attacks/ YouTube Shorts Launches Interactive Poll Stickers for Ads YouTube now allows content creators and advertisers to add clickable polling stickers directly to Shorts videos. Viewers can vote on options without leaving the video player or stopping their viewing session. For Mission Teams Interactive polls could provide a simple way to engage ad viewers by asking spiritual questions or offering encouragement. Teams are encouraged to test the feature before a full rollout. https://www.socialmediatoday.com/news/youtube-adds-poll-stickers-shorts-ad-category-blocking-channels/730826/ New WhatsApp Group Chat Features WhatsApp is adding new tools to make talking in groups much easier. Users can now tag everyone at once, change poll settings, and quickly create side chats from a big group. For Mission Teams These updates allow teams using WhatsApp Groups more capability when managing group chats. https://about.fb.com/news/2026/08/were-upgrading-your-whatsapp-group-chats/ Starting Campaigns With Fewer Ads According to Jon Loomer, launching a new campaign with a large number of ads often reduces quality and wastes time. It is generally better to start with a small number of high-quality ads, identify what performs best, and then scale from there. For Mission Teams In both marketing and digital engagement, simplicity is often the best strategy. It is generally better to start small and grow than to build an overly complex campaign from the outset. More often than not, launching a simple ad and allowing the data to guide future strategy adjustments is more effective than adding unnecessary complexity. https://www.jonloomer.com/qvt/start-with-fewer-ads/ Fake Updates on Hotel Wi-Fi Install Spyware Hackers are breaking into hotel Wi-Fi networks to trick guests into downloading fake software updates. If users click on the fake updates, the hackers install a program that can steal passwords and take pictures from their webcams. For Mission Teams Missionaries traveling and using hotel Wi-Fi should avoid connecting to untrusted Wi-Fi networks, avoid public Wi-Fi whenever possible, and consider using a VPN. Workers should also be cautious about clicking pop-ups or software update prompts while connected to public networks to help protect their digital security and communications. https://thehackernews.com/2026/08/hijacked-hotel-wi-fi-pushes-fake.html Signal Expands Multi-Device Support to Secondary iPhones Signal now allows iPhone users to link a second iPhone to their existing account using end-to-end encryption. Users can choose to sync their full chat history and 45 days of saved media across both mobile devices. For Mission Teams This update makes it easier for mission teams to separate personal phone numbers from secure ministry accounts across multiple devices. Field workers can manage sensitive seeker messages on a backup test phone without losing access to encrypted conversation histories. https://9to5mac.com/2026/08/04/signals-latest-ios-update-expands-multi-device-feature-for-iphone-users/ Platforms Crack Down on Low-Quality AI Content Major social media platforms are tightening their rules to limit low-effort, AI-generated content across their services. Companies such as YouTube, TikTok, Snap, and Meta are introducing mandatory labels, watermarks, and reduced distribution to help curb spammy content. For Mission Teams Relying on fully automated AI tools to quickly produce large volumes of gospel content could eventually reduce your account's overall reach. Teams should prioritize authentic, human-led messaging and content to help ensure their digital outreach efforts are not penalized or flagged as low-quality spam. https://www.businessinsider.com/ai-slop-substack-youtube-tiktok-pinterest-facebook-instagram-threads-2026-7 Meta Ads Introduces Stablecoin Payment Options Meta now allows businesses to pay for ad campaigns using stablecoins, digital currencies designed to maintain a consistent value, such as USDC. A third-party payment provider converts the digital funds into local currency before crediting the advertising account. For Mission Teams This payment option provides field teams in financially restricted countries a flexible way to fund gospel ad campaigns without relying on local banks. However, teams must use secure digital wallets to protect financial assets and maintain operational privacy. https://www.socialmediatoday.com/news/meta-ads-introduces-stablecoin-payment-options/827034/ X Blocks Account Access in Saudi Arabia Following Government Demands X has started blocking dozens of user accounts inside Saudi Arabia after receiving official legal demands from the local government. The platform stated these restrictions were necessary to comply with local laws regarding public order and religion. For Mission Teams This censorship highlights how quickly governments can force tech platforms to restrict accounts operating in sensitive regions. Mission teams must establish secondary communication channels so connections with local seekers are not lost if primary social media pages are suddenly blocked. https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2026/aug/04/x-twitter-blocks-dissident-accounts-saudi-arabia Myspace Owners Plan Relaunch of Social Platform The owners of Myspace announced plans to bring back the once-popular social media network. While no official launch date was given, they hope to revive the classic platform for old and new users. For Mission Teams While a Myspace comeback is driven by nostalgia, mission teams should monitor if it creates new digital communities for online outreach. However, teams should keep primary digital evangelism resources focused on established platforms where seekers currently gather. https://mashable.com/life/myspace-comeback-owners-relaunch-plans Google AI Max Will be Standard In September Google is updating its Dynamic Search Ads to an artificial intelligence system called AI Max. This tool automatically creates ad headlines and connects people’s search questions directly to the best page on a website. For Mission Teams This upgrade helps match seekers with gospel resources. However, teams must carefully monitor these automated systems for relevancy and performance. https://blog.google/products/ads-commerce/dsa-upgrade-to-ai-max-2026/ 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: August 7, 2026