Weekly Marketing Rundown - May 8, 2026

Weekly Marketing Rundown - October 24, 2025 Welcome to this week’s edition of Kavanah Media’s Weekly Marketing Rundown! In this issue, we explore the Meta's new Andromeda system, the AWS outage, predictions for social media's future and more.  Enjoying the Weekly Marketing Rundown? Support our work and keep it free for missions teams worldwide: https://www.kavanahmedia.com/donatetoKM Meta AI Conversations Will Be Used for Ads Meta announced that starting December 16th, it will use your chats with Meta AI to help decide what content and ads you see. These AI conversations won’t directly create new ad targeting categories, but they will add to the data Meta already uses to personalize your experience. This move has sparked debate about whether AI chats should be treated like private messages or more like search history. For Mission Teams: Meta will have even more data to help match ads with the right people. It could improve ad performance, but teams should also be aware of privacy concerns and how users might react. Marketers may need to adjust strategies to stay transparent and build trust as AI becomes part of the ad targeting process. http://jonloomer.com/qvt/meta-ai-conversations-target-ads/ Big AWS Outage Shuts Down Websites and Apps Amazon Web Services (AWS) had a major outage that caused many websites and apps to stop working for several hours. The problem came from a network glitch, and it affected things like banking apps, streaming services, and company tools. AWS fixed the issue, but it showed how much the internet depends on their cloud system. For Mission Teams: If those tools go down, campaigns can pause, data can be lost, and users might have a bad experience. Teams should think about backup systems, check service status often, and plan for what to do if something like this happens again. https://www.techrepublic.com/article/news-aws-outage-2025/ Meta Andromeda: Why Mixing Up Your Ads Matters Meta’s new Andromeda system (the new ad delivery system) doesn’t just pick one “best” ad—it spreads out delivery across different versions to learn what works. Jon Loomer explains that advertisers should use a mix of creative types like different images, videos, headlines, primary text, calls-to-action, and formats (like single image vs. carousel). This helps Meta gather better data and avoid showing the same ad too often, which can make people stop paying attention. For Mission Teams: Teams should leverage different creative types and formats, enable Creative+ Enhancements and leveraging Adv.+ optimizations whenever possible as this approach can improve long-term ad performance and reach more people effectively. https://www.jonloomer.com/meta-andromeda-creative-diversification/ Meta Lead Ads: What’s Changing in October 2025 Meta is updating its Lead Ads system to give users more control over how their data is collected and used. Starting October 2025, advertisers must clearly explain why they’re asking for personal info and how it will be used. Meta will also require more transparency in lead forms and may limit how much data advertisers can collect without a clear reason. For Mission Teams: This matters for marketing teams because it changes how lead generation campaigns are built and approved. Teams will need to update their forms, rethink what data they really need, and make sure everything is easy for users to understand. It could also affect how quickly leads are collected and how much targeting data is available. https://giovanniperilli.com/en/blog/meta-lead-ads-october-2025-the-new-rules-and-what-really-changes/ No Consent, No Ads: Google’s New Privacy Rule Google now requires websites to follow the EU Consent Policy if you have end users in the EU—even for non-personalized ads. If your site doesn’t send proper consent signals, Google can suspend your entire ad account. To stay compliant, you should use a certified Consent Management Platform (CMP), check your consent setup in Google Tag Manager, and test it using GA4 DebugView and Ads consent mode reports. For Mission Teams: This is important for marketing teams because ignoring consent rules could shut down all ad activity. Teams should check their emails or Google Ads accounts to see if they have new Action Required notifications and also make sure their websites collect and send the right privacy signals, or risk losing access to Google Ads. Please reach out to us here at Kavanah Media if you need assistance with GDPR compliance. https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/google-ads-news-week-42-adriaan-dekker-rn3qe/ Facebook’s “Group Highlights” Make Private Posts More Public Facebook’s new “Group Highlights” feature lets private groups share selected member posts outside the group. Members must give permission before their content is shown, and highlights can appear on the group’s front page, in Facebook search, or even on Google. AI may help pick which posts to show, but names and profile pictures are hidden for now. For Mission Teams: Missionaries utilizing Facebook groups in their digital engagement strategies can experiment with this feature to broaden their reach. However, they must proceed with caution, ensuring user consent and addressing security concerns. Furthermore, missionaries operating in secure areas should reassess the groups they follow to confirm that their sensitive information is not being shared publicly on the platform. https://www.facebook.com/help/970710061848673?cms_platform=iphone-app&helpref=platform_switcher What Social Media Might Look Like in 2026 This article from Social Media Today shares 36 predictions about how social media could change by 2026. Experts think platforms like TikTok, Instagram, and Facebook will focus more on AI, short videos, and private messaging. There’s also talk about more rules for content, better tools for creators, and new ways for people to shop directly through social apps. For Mission Teams: Some examples from the list include: AI-generated content becoming normal, private messaging replacing public posts, creators getting paid directly through platforms, and social apps becoming shopping hubs. These changes could affect how brands and mission teams handle digital security, ad targeting, and customer engagement. https://www.socialmediatoday.com/news/36-predictions-social-media-marketing-2026/802195/ Instagram Reels Tries Skippable Ads Like YouTube Meta is testing skippable ads on Instagram Reels, similar to how YouTube does it. Users will see a countdown before the ad starts and then get a “skip” button. Right now, creators won’t earn money from these ads, and Meta says the goal is to help businesses get noticed without annoying viewers. For Mission Teams: This test could change how ads are made and placed on Reels. It may push brands to create more engaging content quickly, since users can skip. https://www.adweek.com/media/meta-is-testing-skippable-ads-on-instagram-reels-borrowing-from-youtubes-playbook/ Marketers Still Trust Real People Over AI User-generated content (UGC)—like videos, reviews, and posts made by everyday people—is still the top choice for marketers. A recent report shows that 36% of marketers say UGC is extremely important, while only 2% feel that way about AI-generated content. Gen Z spends a lot of time watching UGC, showing that people want real, relatable content—not computer-made stuff. For Mission Teams: This suggests teams should consider pulling back on using AI to make content and leaning into user generated content. Localized authentic content is best, but teams working in secure fields should be cautious. As always, these findings are primarily based in Western markets. Teams should experiment in their own locations. https://content-naf.emarketer.com/social-media-strategists-value-ugc-over-ai Social Media Stops Sending Traffic to News Sites Social media platforms like X (formerly Twitter) and Instagram are sending way fewer clicks to news websites—down 30% since 2022. That’s a drop from 1.75 billion to 1.22 billion referrals. While platforms test new ways to boost link engagement, short videos and algorithm changes are making it harder for traditional news posts to get seen. Link-in-bio tools are growing, but they mostly help online shopping. For Mission Teams: Because social media platforms may limit the visibility of posts containing external links, marketing teams should think about alternative ways to share links — like putting them in bios or comments — to maintain reach and avoid algorithmic penalties. https://www.axios.com/newsletters/axios-media-trends-a6e42ba0-ae85-11f0-87d6-3dbac628b68f.html 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: October 24, 2025

Weekly Marketing Rundown - October 17, 2025 Welcome to this week’s edition of Kavanah Media’s Weekly Marketing Rundown! In this issue, we explore the podcasts on Netflix, Meta data on Google ads, Buffer's advice for TikTok, and more. Enjoying the Weekly Marketing Rundown? Support our work and keep it free for missions teams worldwide: https://www.kavanahmedia.com/donatetoKM Meta Import in Google Ads Google has launched a new beta feature that lets marketers import Meta ad data directly into Google Analytics 4 (GA4). This means you can now see how your Facebook and Instagram ads are performing inside GA4, alongside your other marketing channels.  For Missions Teams: This could make tracking ad performance across platforms much simpler. Instead of switching between Meta and Google tools, you can now analyze everything in one place. Further testing is recommended. https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/google-ads-news-week-41-adriaan-dekker-vqpve/  (further down in the newsletter) California Proposes Health Warning Labels for Social Media California lawmakers are pushing a new bill that would require health warning labels on social media platforms like Instagram, TikTok, and Facebook. The labels would warn users—especially teens—about the mental health risks linked to heavy social media use. If passed, the law would be the first of its kind in the U.S., and platforms could face fines for not complying. For Mission Teams: This has the potential to impact campaign strategies and engagement rates, especially if governmental bodies around the world begin adopting similar policies. As social media companies respond to these regulations, teams should monitor how these changes may affect their efforts and be prepared to pivot as necessary. https://www.politico.com/news/2025/10/13/california-health-warning-labels-social-media-00606066 Reveal Details Over Time in Meta Ads Jon Loomer explains how to use Meta's new Reveal Features Over Time Advantage+ Enhancement to slowly reveal information to your audience over time. Instead of showing everything in one ad, you can set up a series of ads that unlock new details based on how people interact with them. This keeps users curious and encourages them to stay engaged longer. For Mission Teams: Currently this feature is only live for products under sales and app campaigns, but teams offering Bible sales or apps can use this strategy to build interest. There is a possibility Meta may roll out this feature to other ad campaign objectives. https://www.jonloomer.com/qvt/reveal-details-over-time/ How Often Should You Post on TikTok? Data From 11 Million+ Posts Buffer analyzed 11.4 million TikTok posts and found that creators who post 2–5 times per week get 17% more views. Posting 11+ times weekly increases the chance of going viral by 31x, but the extra effort doesn’t guarantee every post will perform better—just that one might break through, especially for the top 10% of creators. Whether you have 500 or 50,000 followers, posting more often improves your odds of success. For Mission Teams: For teams utilizing TikTok in their digital strategies this means consistency and volume matter when planning TikTok content. https://buffer.com/resources/how-often-should-you-post-on-tiktok/ Instagram Now Lets You Edit Your Reels Algorithm—But Will You Bother? Instagram has launched a new tool called “Your Algorithm,” that lets users control what shows up in their Reels feed. You can now add or remove interest categories, tap on topics to see sample videos, and adjust your preferences. It’s a way for Meta to say users have more control—even though most people probably won’t use it. For Mission Teams: Users might start shaping their own content experience more directly. That could affect how often your content appears, especially if it doesn’t match selected interests. It is not known if and how this will affect paid ads. https://www.socialmediatoday.com/news/instagram-rolls-out-reels-topic-algorithm-control-option/802426/ Signal’s Post-Quantum Makeover Is a Big Deal Signal has upgraded its messaging app to protect against future quantum computers that could break current encryption. The team has detailed how they made their protocol "quantum-resistant," ensuring security even as quantum technology advances. For Mission Teams: This matters because secure communication is key—especially when handling sensitive data or working in regions with privacy concerns. Leveraging Signal for internal and secure chats is now more secure than ever. https://arstechnica.com/security/2025/10/why-signals-post-quantum-makeover-is-an-amazing-engineering-achievement/ Facebook Adds Local Job Listings to Marketplace Facebook has launched a new feature in the U.S. that helps people find entry-level, trade, and service jobs in their local communities. Job listings now appear in a dedicated tab on Facebook Marketplace, and employers can post openings through their Page, a Group, or directly in Marketplace. This makes it easier for small businesses and job seekers to connect without leaving the app. For Mission Teams: The saying "Only older people use Facebook," is no longer true. Facebooks' user base has consistently grown globally and features such as Dating and Job Listings are seeing adoption even among younger generations. Facebook should not be overlooked by teams considering which platforms to utilize in their digital engagement strategies. https://about.fb.com/news/2025/10/introducing-local-jobs-facebook/ Netflix Adds Video Podcasts to Its Platform Netflix is starting to offer video podcasts, which means you’ll be able to watch interviews, discussions, and behind-the-scenes content from creators and celebrities right on the app. These shows will appear alongside regular movies and series, giving users more ways to stay entertained without switching platforms. For Mission Teams: Podcasts are increasingly popular, and this trend is expected to persist worldwide. Integrating podcasts into digital engagement strategies could be a valuable consideration. https://9to5mac.com/2025/10/14/netflix-is-adding-video-podcasts-marking-a-new-chapter-for-podcasting/ ​​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: October 17, 2025