Weekly Training

Weekly Marketing Rundown - May 16, 2025 Hi everyone! In this week's edition of Kavanah Media's Weekly Marketing Rundown, we discuss a new surge in picture post engagement, Meta's Reels training, WhatsApp's lawsuit with the NSO Group, and more. Enjoying the Weekly Marketing Rundown? Support our work and keep it free for missions teams worldwide: https://www.kavanahmedia.com/donatetoKM Surge in Facebook Engagement from Photo Posts Some marketers are reporting significant increases in engagement on Facebook when they post photos, as opposed to video, on social media platforms. For Mission Teams: For marketing teams, this underscores the importance of incorporating a variety of visual elements into their social media strategies. While video tends to outperform picture posts, that may not be the case everywhere all the time. Recently, Kavanah Media teammates have even seen Meta Ads Manager suggesting running ads with both video and picture elements. https://www.niemanlab.org/2025/05/news-publishers-see-a-surge-of-facebook-engagement-from-photo-posts/ Brands Benefiting from Reddit Search Results As AI generated content proliferates, users are turning to Reddit for more "human" centered answers. For Mission Teams: This underscores two things: First, there is still a market for organic human generated content. Assets like evangelism websites, blogs and more are still very viable options for digital strategies- especially if they contain human centered content. Second, the increased engagement Reddit is seeing shows that it could prove to be a valuable platform for digital strategies. https://www.marketingbrew.com/stories/2025/05/07/brands-benefiting-from-reddit-search-results Meta's Reels Training As short form video continues to dominate social media platforms, Meta wants to teach you optimize your content. Check out the training here: https://trainingworkshops.facebookblueprint.com/student/page/389031?course_session_ids%5B%5D=209245 Key Takeaways from WhatsApp vs. NSO Group Spyware Lawsuit A U.S. jury has ordered NSO Group to pay WhatsApp $167 million for a spyware hack. The lawsuit revealed that NSO admitted to targeting +1 numbers, including a U.S. phone for the FBI, and continued hacking WhatsApp even after being sued. Additionally, NSO's Pegasus spyware was used without customers knowing the exact method of attack. For Mission Teams: This underscores the importance of digital security, platform choices, and more. Teams should ensure the tools they use for communication are secure. https://techcrunch.com/2025/05/13/seven-things-we-learned-from-whatsapp-vs-nso-group-spyware-lawsuit Kavanah Media Director Jon Ralls addresses cybersecurity concerns and Kavanah Media's latest venture to help mission teams be more secure as part of a four-part series of the Christian Media Marketing Podcast. Check it out here: https://youtu.be/TKsJUTJP1r8 Meta Expands AI Ad Recommendations with Opportunity Score Meta has expanded it's Opportunity Score feature to enhance its AI ad recommendations. This tool aims to help advertisers identify the most promising ad placements and optimize their campaigns for better performance. For Mission Teams: Many teams have noticed the new feature and are concerned. While the opportunity score can be a helpful aid in regards to ad optimization, it is not necessarily the final truth. It does not and cannot understand the unique context and goals of each mission team. Low scoring ads can lead to fruitful results and high scoring ads could prove to be unfruitful. There are MANY factors that go into a successful digital strategy campaign. If you have questions regarding your ad's opportunity score we would love to help. Please reach out to us here. https://www.socialmediatoday.com/news/meta-expands-opportunity-score-ai-ad-reccomendations/747716/ Most-Visited Websites in the World Visual Capitalist has compiled a list of the most-visited websites globally, highlighting the dominance of platforms like Google, YouTube, and Facebook. These websites attract billions of users each month, showcasing their significant influence on the digital landscape. For Mission Teams: It is important to understand where audiences spend their time online. By focusing on these high-traffic websites, teams can strategically place their content to reach a larger and more engaged audience, ultimately driving better results for their campaigns. https://www.visualcapitalist.com/most-visited-websites-in-the-world/ 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: Intentional Newsletter – Be encouraged each month with stories of transformed lives, ministry milestones, and the latest updates from our team. Subscribe here. 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. Christian Media Marketing Podcast – Tune in for weekly deep dives with CEO Jon Ralls on everything from digital strategy to cybersecurity. Subscribe here or on your favorite podcast app. 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: May 16, 2025

WhatsApp is used by so many people around the world, but using it for digital engagement brings unique challenges. In this episode, Jon will be sharing about the phone requirement and registration process challenges and how you can overcome them with different software options.  To watch this training, go here: https://youtu.be/GJFqLmucqD8

How to Come Up with Engaging Meta Ad Topics Amanda G, April 28, 2025 Using felt needs to connect with spiritually open people One of the most common questions we hear from missionaries running Meta ads is: “What should my ad actually be about?” The best ads don’t start with a Bible verse or an invitation to church—they start with a real felt need. These are the personal struggles, questions, or desires people feel every day: loneliness, anxiety, purpose, peace. When you start there, you meet people where they already are—and invite them into a conversation that can lead to Jesus. One of the BEST resources we have is our ad store, where you can view and download hundreds of ads that have been used around the world. I recommend browsing and tailoring these ad examples to your context.    What Are “Felt Needs”? Felt needs are the things people know they want or struggle with. They’re often emotional or relational, not spiritual on the surface—but they open the door to spiritual conversations. Examples include: “I’m overwhelmed with anxiety.”   “I feel like I have no purpose.”   “I wish I could find real peace.”   “Why do I still feel empty?”   These are powerful starting points for ads. When someone scrolling sees a message that matches their internal world, they’re far more likely to stop, click, and engage.   How to Come Up With Great Ad Topics Here’s a simple 3-step process to brainstorm meaningful, relevant ad topics: 1. Start with real human experiences Ask yourself: What keeps people up at night?   What do people worry about most?   What do people wish someone would ask them?   Common themes: stress, loneliness, identity, trauma, failure, guilt, grief, longing for purpose, navigating change. 2. Think about Jesus’ approach Jesus didn’t start conversations with theology—He met people in their pain, questions, and need for healing. Your ad should do the same. Use your topic to reflect the way Jesus engaged: with compassion and relevance. 3. Pair the felt need with a gentle invitation Once you’ve identified a topic, think about how you could invite someone into a simple next step: Chat with a Christian   Watch a short video about faith   Read a story of someone who found hope     Ad Topic Examples That Work Here are a few topics that have performed well in campaigns across the world, especially when paired with thoughtful media and messaging. 💬 Loneliness Ad Topic: “Many people feel unseen or alone—especially in hard seasons.” Call to Action: “Message a Christian who will listen without judgment.”   🌪 Anxiety & Overwhelm Ad Topic: “Anxiety can feel like a never-ending wave. Some people turn to faith to find peace.” Call to Action: “Watch a 1-minute video on how one person found calm through Jesus.”   ❓ Purpose & Direction Ad Topic: “Ever feel like you’re just going through the motions?” Call to Action: “Talk to someone about what it means to live with purpose.”   😔 Guilt or Regret Ad Topic: “Many people carry guilt they can’t seem to shake.” Call to Action: “Explore how forgiveness can bring peace.”   🛑 Burnout & Exhaustion Ad Topic: “Life feels heavy. Some find rest in unexpected places.” Call to Action: “Read a story of someone who discovered peace in faith.”   Final Encouragement: Start Where They Are You don’t need the perfect theological statement to reach someone. You just need to speak to the ache they already feel—and offer hope. That’s how Jesus often led, and it’s how your Meta ad can become the start of something beautiful. Start with the pain. Point to peace. Trust God with the rest.  

Weekly Marketing Rundown - May 9, 2025 Hi everyone! In this week's edition of Kavanah Media's Weekly Marketing Rundown we discuss weak Google's decision to display advertisers information, WhatsApp's growth, Pinterest's fund to support creators and more. Enjoying the Weekly Marketing Rundown? Support our work and keep it free for missions teams worldwide: https://www.kavanahmedia.com/donatetoKM Google to Display Advertiser's Information Google recently released a statement explaining updates to its Ads Transparency policy. Starting in May 2025, Google will display the payment profile name as the payer name for verified advertisers if it differs from their verified advertiser name. In June 2025, advertisers will be able to edit the displayed payer name through the advertiser verification page under billing. Election Ads verified advertisers will continue to manage their payer name under existing policies. For Mission Teams: While not a guarantee -this could create problems for teams in more sensitive locations. If your verified business account's name isn't appropriate for the context, it could dissuade interaction. Teams should analyze, test, and verify if adjustments need to be made to prevent problems. https://support.google.com/adspolicy/answer/16189141?hl=en&ref_topic=16083443 Buffer's new Facebook Ad Content Format Guide Facebook has specific guidelines for ad specs and image sizes to ensure that ads look great and perform well. These guidelines cover various ad formats, including image, video, carousel, and collection ads. Buffer has released the latest version of their guide to keep up with updates. Check out the guide below: https://buffer.com/resources/facebook-ad-specs-image-sizes/ Threads Reaches 350 Million Monthly Active Users Threads, a social media platform, has reached 350 million monthly active users. This growth shows the platform's increasing popularity and its ability to engage users with its unique features and community-focused approach. For Mission Teams:  With such a large user base, and with advertisement functionality being rolled out, Threads may likely become a viable platform for digital strategies. Teams should experiment further to see how they can integrate Threads into their outreach efforts. https://www.socialmediatoday.com/news/threads-reaches-350-million-monthly-active-users/746828/ Pinterest Expands Inclusive Fund Support Program Pinterest has expanded its Inclusive Fund Support Program to help underrepresented creators. This program provides financial support, resources, and opportunities to creators from diverse backgrounds, enabling them to grow their presence on the platform and reach wider audiences. For Mission Teams:  With updates like this, Pinterest will likely continue to see user growth and may become a viable platform for digital strategies. https://www.socialmediatoday.com/news/pinterest-expands-inclusive-fund-support-program/746826/ WhatsApp Hits 3 Billion Users WhatsApp, the popular messaging app, has reached a milestone of over 3 billion users worldwide. For Mission Teams:  WhatsApp's extensive user base means that mission teams can effectively share their messages and connect with individuals from diverse backgrounds. Many teams around the world have already integrated WhatsApp into their digital strategies. It continues to prove to be a very viable platform, and it is recommended for teams to experiment with, including it in their digital strategies. https://techcrunch.com/2025/05/01/whatsapp-now-has-more-than-3-billion-users/ YouTube's Audience Outnumbers Rivals YouTube's audience has grown significantly, surpassing even Tiktok, Facebook and Netflix. The platform's vast reach and popularity make it a powerful tool for content creators and marketers. For mission teams using digital media for evangelism, YouTube's extensive audience offers a unique opportunity to spread your message far and wide. By leveraging YouTube's reach, some teams around the world have seen promising results from integrating Youtube into their digital strategies. Given this YouTube could be considered a vital platform for your outreach efforts. https://content-naf.emarketer.com/youtube-s-audience-outnumbers-even-its-greatest-rivals 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: Intentional Newsletter – Be encouraged each month with stories of transformed lives, ministry milestones, and the latest updates from our team. Subscribe here. 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. Christian Media Marketing Podcast – Tune in for weekly deep dives with CEO Jon Ralls on everything from digital strategy to cybersecurity. Subscribe here or on your favorite podcast app. 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: May 9, 2025

In this episode, Jon will be sharing a method to get a phone number and utility bill that works for Meta Business account verification. This is all part of the process of being verified for your business ad accounts. To watch this training, go here: https://youtu.be/3UN-PwCXKBs

Weekly Marketing Rundown - May 2, 2025 Hi everyone! In this week's edition of Kavanah Media's Weekly Marketing Rundown we discuss weak Meta's potential breakup, Open Ai's new foray into social media, Government censorship on Bluesky and more. Enjoying the Weekly Marketing Rundown? Support our work and keep it free for missions teams worldwide: https://www.kavanahmedia.com/donatetoKM Government Censorship on Bluesky and Türkiye Bluesky, at the request of the Turkish government, has restricted 72 accounts on the platform. This development raises concerns about freedom of expression and the potential impact on user content. What this means for mission teams: This is a good reminder to always be prepared to shift strategies and highlights the importance of implementing cybersecurity measures. Government censorship could affect how you share your message and engage with your audience, making it important to stay informed and adapt your strategies accordingly. Kavanah Media Founder and CEO Jon Ralls discusses risk management in missions in a 3 part series of the Christian Media Marketing Podcast. Listen here. https://techcrunch.com/2025/04/23/government-censorship-comes-to-bluesky-but-not-its-third-party-apps-yet/ OpenAI Explores New Social Media Platform OpenAI is exploring the development of a new social media platform to rival X, following a $40 billion funding round. This move aims to create a competitive alternative in the tech industry, potentially reshaping the landscape of digital platforms. What this means for mission teams: This development is significant as it could offer new opportunities for outreach and engagement for missions teams to integrate into their digital strategies. https://www.marketingtechnews.net/news/openai-explores-platform-to-rival-x-following-40b-funding-round/ Meta Breakup Threat: What Marketers Need to Know Meta is facing a potential breakup due to antitrust concerns, which could lead to the separation of its major platforms like Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp. This situation raises questions about the future of digital advertising and the impact on marketers. What this means for mission teams: Changes in Meta's ownership of it's platforms could SIGNIFICANTLY affect digital engagement strategies and how teams use these platforms for outreach. https://www.marketingtechnews.net/news/meta-breakup-threat-what-marketers-need-to-know/ Meta Advantage+ Tools and Ad Performance In their latest update Meta claims that their Advantage+ AI ad tools are showing impressive results across various campaigns. AI-generated backgrounds have increased click-through rates (CTR) by 11%, and advertisers using Advantage+ earn $4.52 for every $1 spent, which is a 22% increase compared to standard campaigns. The new sales setup has reduced the cost per action by 9%, and opportunity score recommendations have cut the cost per result by 5%. What this means for mission teams: While most mission teams likely are not utilizing Meta's systems for sales ads Advantage+ ads and utilizing AI content tools could improve your results. Members of the Kavanah Media team have experimented with these AI tools and did see similar performance improvements and lower costs. It should be noted, however, that any targeting parameters advertisers set when using Advantage+ Audiences (i.e. age, gender, location) are merely suggestions and the algorithms can and will ignore them if it believes it can achieve your performance goals elsewhere. In these scenarios it is best to utilize Original Audience targeting. https://www.socialmediatoday.com/news/meta-advantage-plus-ads-overview-ai/746042/ Branding in Ads Manager: AI-Generated Text and Images Meta has rolled out another update to it's Branding tools under the Identity section of Ads Manager. Previously users could upload logos and select font and colors choices. However, now they can ad text tone and visual style. These selections help guide the AI content tools in ads manager. What this means for mission teams: These AI tools can significantly improve your content creation process. Meta claims they can lead to lower engagement costs and higher performance. It should be noted, however, that these tools - especially the text specific ones, do not always function well in languages other than English. Teams should experiment in their context before utilizing the new features. http://jonloomer.com/qvt/branding-in-ads-manager-ai-generated-text-and-images/ WhatsApp Adds AI Tools Without Sacrificing Privacy WhatsApp is rolling out a new feature called Private Processing, which allows users to use AI features like message summarization or editing suggestions—all without breaking the app’s end-to-end encryption promise. The messages will be processed in a secure environment where neither WhatsApp nor Meta can access the content, even as AI is applied. This move aims to balance privacy with the growing demand for helpful AI features, and Meta plans to open the system for feedback, bug bounties, and security audits. What this means for mission teams: This is a positive move for user privacy, especially as concerns grow about LLMs being trained on scraped user data. If Meta follows through with these features missions teams could feel safer when experimenting with WhatsApp's AI integrations in their digital strategies. https://therecord.media/whatsapp-in-app-tools-secret-messages 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: Intentional Newsletter – Be encouraged each month with stories of transformed lives, ministry milestones, and the latest updates from our team. Subscribe here. 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. Christian Media Marketing Podcast – Tune in for weekly deep dives with CEO Jon Ralls on everything from digital strategy to cybersecurity. Subscribe here or on your favorite podcast app. 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 Adams and Cherry Messimer Article Published: May 2, 2025

In this fourth part of a series on Risk Management, Jon will share the hope of a shared risk management group ("Protector Network"), and how the practice of risk management is a spiritual act and discipline for the Lord. To watch this training, go here: https://youtu.be/lAg0uTs5gUI Protector Network Email: [email protected]

Lessons From a Decade on Meta Ads: What I Still Get Wrong (and How to Stay Organized Anyway) Amanda G. April 11, 2025 After ten years of running ads on Meta, you’d think I’d have everything down to a science. And in some ways, I do—I know how to scale a campaign, how to test creative effectively, and how to optimize a funnel. But that doesn’t mean I don’t still run into mistakes or technical glitches that can cost valuable time and data. One of the most frustrating recurring issues? Hitting publish on a new ad, only to come back days later and find it still sitting in drafts—copy gone, settings wiped, and no results to show for it. It’s frustrating, not only because I lose those potential results, but because it feels like such an avoidable misstep… and yet, it keeps happening. When you’re managing multiple business managers, ad accounts, and pages, it’s easy for things to fall through the cracks. But if I’ve learned anything from my years in this space, it’s this: 1. Stay humble. The learning never stops. Glitches happen. Mistakes happen. Meta’s platform isn’t perfect, and neither are we. The key is to stay proactive instead of reactive. If something feels “off,” it probably is—go back and double check. 2. Create systems to catch mistakes early. Even if you’re moving fast, you need a checklist before hitting publish: Did you duplicate an existing ad or start from scratch?   Did you check every level—campaign, ad set, ad—for errors?   Did the campaign actually publish?   It’s worth taking 60 extra seconds to confirm, rather than losing days of data. 3. Create a personal audit plan. I’ve built a habit of doing a quick audit on every ad I launch within the first 24–48 hours. Here’s what I check: Amount spent (is the budget pacing as expected?)   Reach and impressions (is the ad actually delivering?)   Results like messages or link clicks (are you getting what you paid for?)   Gender and age breakdowns (who is engaging most?)   End date (especially important for time-sensitive campaigns—sometimes Meta defaults to “never ending” when you intended otherwise) This lightweight review helps me catch issues early, double down on what’s working, and avoid awkward surprises when clients ask, “So how’s that campaign going?” 4. Look for unexpected trends. Don’t just look at ROAS or click-through rates—look at: Frequency: Are people seeing the same ad too often?   Breakdowns: Is one audience or placement outperforming everything else?   Time of day: Are your ads converting better at specific times?   Landing page data: Is there a high bounce rate that’s killing conversion? 5. Communicate honestly with clients and teammates. If something went wrong, own it. Clients value transparency, especially if you come with a plan to recover and lessons learned. At the end of the day, marketing on Meta is part strategy, part creativity, and part detective work. The more organized you are behind the scenes, the more freedom you have to focus on the fun stuff—testing new creative, scaling what works, and driving real results. Just don’t assume you’ve outgrown the basics. Even after ten years, I’m still double-checking that my ads didn’t end up in the drafts folder.    

In this episode, Jon will be sharing several risk management and decision making tools and techniques that can help you make the right decision at the right time.  To watch this training, go here: https://youtu.be/H78NoIW4jds

Weekly Marketing Rundown - April 25, 2025 Hi everyone! In this week's edition of Kavanah Media's Weekly Marketing Rundown we discuss weak Google's antitrust case, several updates regarding Meta, Google's testing of social feed results in search and more.  Enjoying the Weekly Marketing Rundown? Support our work and keep it free for missions teams worldwide: https://www.kavanahmedia.com/donatetoKM Judge Rules Google Operates Illegal Ad Monopoly A judge has ruled that Google operates an illegal ad monopoly, which could lead to significant changes in the digital advertising landscape. This decision may impact how ads are bought and sold online, affecting many businesses. What this means for mission teams: For mission teams using digital media for evangelism, this ruling is important because it could alter the way you purchase and manage ads. Strategy adjustment may be necessary. https://www.wsj.com/business/media/judge-rules-google-operates-illegal-ad-monopoly Meta's AI Training on User Data Meta is training its AI on user data, and users are finding that opting out doesn't work. This raises concerns about privacy and data security, as personal information is being used without effective consent. What this means for mission teams: For mission teams using digital media for evangelism, this issue is important because it highlights the need for robust data security measures. Never share or post information that could endanger you, your team, or your work, and take cybersecurity seriously. Additionally, this is just the latest development in the data privacy fight between users, government entities, and online advertising companies, and will likely lead to more platform and data usage changes. https://www.digitaltrends.com/computing/meta-is-training-ai-on-your-data-users-find-opting-out-doesnt-work/#dt-heading-let-them-opt-out-if-they-can Meta Reels Ads Guide Meta has released a guide on how to create effective ads for Reels, their short-form video feature. The guide includes tips on using creative tools, targeting the right audience, and measuring ad performance. What this means for mission teams: For mission teams using digital media for evangelism, this guide is valuable for creating engaging Reels ads that reach your target audience. Short form videos have become the norm with social media platforms, and mission teams would be wise to adjust accordingly. https://www.socialmediatoday.com/news/meta-reels-ads-guide-infographic/745950/ Meta Advantage+ Tools and Ad Performance In their latest update Meta claims that their Advantage+ AI ad tools are showing impressive results across various campaigns. AI-generated backgrounds have increased click-through rates (CTR) by 11%, and advertisers using Advantage+ earn $4.52 for every $1 spent, which is a 22% increase compared to standard campaigns. The new sales setup has reduced the cost per action by 9%, and opportunity score recommendations have cut the cost per result by 5%. What this means for mission teams: For mission teams using digital media for evangelism, Advantage+ ads and utilizing AI content tools could improve your results. Members of the Kavanah Media team have experimented with these AI tools and did see similar performance improvements and lower costs. It should be noted, however, that any targeting parameters advertisers set when using Advantage+ Audiences (i.e. age, gender, location) are merely suggestions and the algorithms can and will ignore them if it believes it can achieve your performance goals elsewhere. In these scenarios it is best to utilize Original Audience targeting. https://www.socialmediatoday.com/news/meta-advantage-plus-ads-overview-ai/746042/ Google Discover Feed Shows Social Media Accounts Google Discover Feed is now displaying social media accounts and posts for some users. This new feature aims to provide more personalized content by integrating social media updates directly into the feed. What this means for mission teams: While this may just be a test, if rolled out this change could enable social media posts to be shown on Google search - including posts by evangelism pages. https://9to5google.com/2025/04/23/google-discover-feed-begins-surfacing-social-media-accounts-and-posts-for-some/ Meta Threads Ads for Global Advertisers Meta has launched ads on Threads, slowly making it available to select advertisers worldwide. What this means for mission teams: For mission teams using digital media for evangelism, when lanuched globally this expansion will provide an opportunity to connect with an even broader audience via Meta's ad platforms. https://www.theverge.com/news/654048/meta-threads-ads-advertisers-globally 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: Intentional Newsletter – Be encouraged each month with stories of transformed lives, ministry milestones, and the latest updates from our team. Subscribe here. 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. Christian Media Marketing Podcast – Tune in for weekly deep dives with CEO Jon Ralls on everything from digital strategy to cybersecurity. Subscribe here or on your favorite podcast app. 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 Adams and Cherry Messimer Article Published: April 25, 2025

Weekly Marketing Rundown - April 18, 2025 Hi everyone! In this week's edition of Kavanah Media's Weekly Marketing Rundown we discuss weak Youtube Shorts, Meta's new Peer Approval system, Canva's latest features and more.  Enjoying the Weekly Marketing Rundown? Support our work and keep it free for missions teams worldwide: https://www.kavanahmedia.com/donatetoKM Meta Introduces Peer Approval for Ad Security Meta is implementing a new Peer Approval system to add accounts — a new feature that requires another trusted user to review ads before they go live. It helps stop unauthorized ads from being published and reduces costly mistakes like overspending. This is especially useful for teams managing multiple ad accounts or working in sensitive contexts. You can choose from: Default: Only suspicious ads need approval (the current default). Extra: Every ad must be approved before running. Custom: Only ads above a set budget require approval. What This Means for Teams: For mission teams, this adds an important layer of accountability and protection. If someone mistakenly creates an ad or a bad actor gains access, Peer Approval ensures nothing runs without trusted eyes on it. Setting this up is quick and can save major headaches. Use Extra or Custom settings for ad accounts where budget control and messaging are critical. Jon Ralls discussed this new system on the Christian Media Marketing Podcast. See the full episode here: https://www.kavanahmedia.com/resources/86836/episode-290-meta-peer-approval Tips for Creating YouTube Shorts YouTube Shorts are short, engaging videos that can help you reach a wider audience. This article provides tips on how to create effective YouTube Shorts, including using catchy titles, adding music, and keeping videos under 60 seconds. What This Means for Teams: For mission teams using digital media for evangelism, these tips are great for creating content that captures attention and spreads your message effectively. https://www.socialmediatoday.com/news/youtube-shorts-creation-tips/744944 Meta's Battle to Keep Instagram and WhatsApp Meta is fighting to keep Instagram and WhatsApp in their antitrust lawsuit. The results of this trial will determine if Meta's ownership of these platforms harms competition and innovation in the tech industry. What this means for mission teams: For mission teams using digital media for evangelism, this trial is important because it could affect how you use Instagram and WhatsApp for outreach. Changes in ownership or regulations might impact your digital engagement strategies and security measures. https://www.wsj.com/tech/meta-fights-to-keep-instagram-and-whatsapp-as-antitrust-trial-begins https://finance.yahoo.com/news/the-price-mark-zuckerberg-wasnt-willing-to-pay-to-halt-metas-antitrust-trial-153134257.html Canva's Biggest Redesign in 13 Years Canva has introduced its most significant redesign in over a decade, featuring new tools such as Ai integrated spreadsheet tool, batch creation and a more intuitive interface. The update aims to make design accessible to everyone, regardless of their skill level. What this means for mission teams: Many teams implementing digital engagement strategies already use Canva and with features like these it continues to be an excellent tool for content development. https://www.fastcompany.com/91313361/canva-unveils-its-biggest-redesign-in-13-years Understanding Facebook Ad Auctions Facebook ad auctions determine which ads are shown to users based on bidding, ad relevance, and quality. The auction process involves advertisers bidding for ad space, with the highest bid and most relevant ad winning the auction. Factors like user engagement and ad performance also play a role. What this means for mission teams:  Missions teams can help to ensure their ad is shown by creating high-quality ads, targeting the right audience, and optimizing their budgets. Check out Jon Loomer's explanation below: https://www.jonloomer.com/facebook-ad-auction/ 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: Intentional Newsletter – Be encouraged each month with stories of transformed lives, ministry milestones, and the latest updates from our team. Subscribe here. 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. Christian Media Marketing Podcast – Tune in for weekly deep dives with CEO Jon Ralls on everything from digital strategy to cybersecurity. Subscribe here or on your favorite podcast app. 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 Adams and Cherry Messimer Article Published: April 18, 2025

In this 2nd part of a 3 part series, Jon will be looking at how to create risk registers, heatmaps, and then use these tools to build strategies and plans to handle both bad and good risk. To download the software that is mentioned, you can also go to: Risk Register Software To watch this training, go here: https://youtu.be/qoMGNvY-f0I