Weekly Training

Weekly Marketing Rundown - February 27, 2026

Weekly Marketing Rundown - February 27, 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 Meta's latest AI ad assistant, Apple's push into video podcasts, newly discovered security flaws in password managers and more. Enjoying the Weekly Marketing Rundown? Support our work and keep it free for missions teams worldwide: https://www.kavanahmedia.com/donatetoKM Using Biometric Locks to Secure WhatsApp Messages WhatsApp offers an App Lock feature that requires a face scan or fingerprint to open the application. You can find this security setting by going to Privacy under the Settings menu. For Mission Teams This physical security layer could be useful for protecting the identities and conversations of seekers in high-risk areas. Even if a phone is confiscated or borrowed, your evangelism data remains safe behind biometric encryption. https://www.whatsapp.com/ Choosing Between Original Audiences and Value Rules Meta used to rely mostly on Original Audiences, where you manually picked every detail about who saw your ads, including age, gender, and detailed targeting. Now, the system prefers using Advantage+ targeting to automatically find audiences—taking away most advertiser control. Members of the Kavanah Team have seen lower costs and strong performance with Meta’s Advantage+ tools, but there are times when some control is necessary. Thankfully, Value Rules allow for some semblance of control. For Mission Teams Teams can leverage Value Rules similarly to how Original Audience controls work. For example, a team running Meta ads in the Middle East may want to target by gender—showing ads only to women. Instead of using Original Audience controls and risking potential performance limitations and cost increases, teams could enable a Value Rule where the bid for men is reduced by 90%. Value Rules can be built at the ad set level or within Advertising Settings in Meta Ads Manager. https://www.jonloomer.com/restrict-audience-meta-advertising/ 1.2 Million Accounts Exposed in French Bank Data Breach A major security breach recently exposed the personal information of over one million people linked to a French banking registry. Hackers gained access to sensitive details, including names and contact information, putting many individuals at risk of targeted scams. For Mission Teams This is a good reminder for teams that strong cybersecurity habits are a must. If breaches like this can happen to major civil and banking institutions, they can happen to mission teams operating in sensitive locations. Teams should manage users and permissions, utilize password managers and MFA, and consider options for endpoint protection, such as Microsoft Defender. https://www.esecurityplanet.com/threats/1-2-million-accounts-exposed-in-french-bank-registry-breach/ Manus AI and Meta - Revisited As mentioned last week, Meta has started featuring Manus AI within the Ads Manager Tools menu to help users with research and automation tasks. While it currently redirects users to a separate paid interface, this signals a future in which AI agents manage complex advertising workflows. For Mission Teams Revisiting last week’s post about Manus, it turns out this is neither a full integration nor a free service that Meta has added. It is a paid subscription. Keep an eye on this. https://www.jonloomer.com/meta-no-longer-prioritizes-suggestions/ Google AI Expansion for Demand Gen and PMax Google Ads is shifting Lookalike audiences from strict targeting filters to flexible signals that allow AI to reach people beyond your specific lists—much like Meta’s Advantage+ audience targeting. Additionally, new previews show that the system will automatically pull and use images from your landing pages for Performance Max campaigns. For Mission Teams These AI-driven expansions may help your ads reach interested people you might have otherwise missed, but they also reduce your direct control over who sees your content. Teams must monitor these “signals” closely to ensure ads are not accidentally shown to hostile groups or in regions where digital safety is especially critical. https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/google-ads-news-week-8-adriaan-dekker-tm0he/ Fake Captcha: How to Detect and Stay Safe Online Cybercriminals are using fake CAPTCHA tests to trick people into downloading harmful software onto their computers. These fake tests look like legitimate “I am not a robot” boxes but actually execute dangerous commands when clicked. For Mission Teams This threat is critical because mission teams often operate in high-risk areas where digital security is directly tied to physical safety. If a team member’s device is compromised while running social media ads or engaging with seekers, it could expose sensitive contact lists and strategic communications to hostile actors. Teams should be cautious when encountering CAPTCHA prompts and verify their legitimacy. If a CAPTCHA requires anything beyond a simple puzzle, it is likely fraudulent. Legitimate CAPTCHA tests will never ask users to scan QR codes, visit external links, download files, or execute command prompts. https://www.zdnet.com/article/fake-captcha-how-detect-stay-safe-online/ Instagram Comes to Google TV Instagram is now available as an app on Google TV devices so people can watch Reels on their television screens. Users can scroll through their feeds and watch videos that are automatically organized into different categories. For Mission Teams This update allows mission content to reach people in their living rooms on much larger screens. Teams should consider how their ads look on a TV and be aware that public viewing might change how seekers interact with sensitive gospel messages. https://techcrunch.com/2026/02/24/instagrams-tv-app-is-launching-on-google-tv-devices/ AWS Launches Real-Time Vertical Video AI Amazon Web Services created a new tool call Elemental Interface that automatically turns wide horizontal videos into tall vertical videos for phones. This system uses artificial intelligence to find the most important parts of a video and crop them instantly without needing a person to do the work. It can be leveraged in realtime by both streamers and broadcasters. For Mission Teams This technology makes it even easier for large streamers and broadcasters to leverage the video formats popular on social media platforms. Primarily designed and priced for larger organizations, it remains out of reach for most mission teams, but it demonstrates just how common vertical formats are becoming. Teams should incorporate vertical formats into their own projects to improve engagement. https://aws.amazon.com/blogs/media/how-aws-built-a-live-ai-powered-vertical-video-capability-for-fox-sports-with-aws-elemental-inference/ Foundations of Digital Engagement Strategy Course May 13-16, 2026 (Pre-EMDC Training) Chiang Mai, Thailand This course is for you. Digital permeates virtually every aspect of people's lives and it should be present in every stage of your mission and ministry strategy. Join Kavanah Media staff during the Pre-EMDC training week for a time of practical training in digital engagement. This course is designed for you to examine your end to end strategy and find ways that digital components can be added or improved whether you are just ready to begin or an experienced practitioner. Follow the link or contact us for more details. https://emdcon.org/ 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. YouVersion Reading Plan– Jon Ralls, CEO of Kavanah Media, just launched a powerful 4-day devotional on YouVersion called "Love Where You Are." Subscribe 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 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: February 27, 2026

Weekly Marketing Rundown - February 20, 2026

Weekly Marketing Rundown - February 13, 2026

Weekly Marketing Rundown - February 13, 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 a fresh update to Jesus Film's Next Steps system, Meta's latest revenue growth, ChatGPT ads and more. Enjoying the Weekly Marketing Rundown? Support our work and keep it free for missions teams worldwide: https://www.kavanahmedia.com/donatetoKM NextSteps and Automated Data Sync for Google Sheets NextSteps now lets you automatically send information from your digital journeys directly to a Google Sheet. Every minute, the system updates your spreadsheet with new prayer requests and sign-ups, so your team stays organized without extra work. For Mission Teams This integration enhances flexibility in analytics gathering. Teams using NextSteps can export data to Google Sheets and then import it into Looker Studio, ELK, or other similar data aggregation systems. This process simplifies data sharing with supporters, teams, and other stakeholders. https://mailchi.mp/nextstep.is/new-multi-language-youtube-subtitles-4772511?e=618df87640 Connecting Urban and Rural Mission Networks Modern migration and technology have turned large cities into gateways that connect directly to remote villages. Because people in cities remain closely linked to their home communities, reaching one person in a city can spark a movement that spreads to an entire unreached village. The situation has been challenging because previous missions assumed that individuals would become "urban" and fully adapt to urban life. However, this assumption appears to be incorrect, as urban centers are showing resistance to DMM/CPM strategies. For Mission Teams With these observations the author Bud Houston suggests three strategies that can be applied to teams practicing DMM/ CPM strategies which can also relate to teams leveraging digital strategies: Adopt the "Dandelion" Strategy: Treat urban migrants as bridges to their rural home villages. Digitally, this could mean targeting users in cities to reach their extended networks back home. Target Rural Clusters: Focus on ethnic or language associations rather than general urban professionals. In digital ads, adjust your personas to match these specific cultural clusters. Watch for the "Jump": Take advantage of different groups living near each other in cities. Use digital content that appeals to shared felt needs or experiences to help the Gospel move between different people groups. https://clarity4thenations.substack.com/p/the-city-is-the-village?utm_campaign=email-half-post&r=297c9w&utm_source=substack&utm_medium=email Meta Ad Revenue and AI Advertising Updates Meta recently reported a 24% increase in ad revenue because more people are using their apps and seeing ads. This includes significant growth in ad revenue outside of the US and Europe. For Mission Teams Meta's market share remains dominant as social media usage and marketing continue to grow globally. This sustained leadership positions it as a crucial platform for teams looking to enhance their digital engagement. http://jonloomer.com/meta-ad-revenue-up-24-chatgpt-ads-200000/ Google Ads Security and Testing Updates Google has added a new tool that allows advertisers to test different versions of their ads directly within Performance Max campaigns to see which performs best. They have also introduced a security feature that requires two people to approve any significant changes to account access. For Mission Teams Testing different ad designs in PMax campaigns should become easier and can help teams spend their ad budgets more wisely by showing exactly which messages connect with more people. Additionally, the two-person approval feature protects your ministry by ensuring that a hacker or disgruntled team member cannot take over your account and use it to run ads. https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/google-ads-news-week-6-adriaan-dekker-5ei9e/ ChatGPT Tests Sponsored Suggestions OpenAI has started testing advertisements within ChatGPT for users on the free and low-cost versions of the app. These new sponsored suggestions require a massive $200,000 buy-in for advertisers during this initial testing phase. For Mission Teams The high cost of these ads means only very large organizations can currently afford to place sponsored messages in front of seekers using AI. You should be aware that well-funded groups may use this space to influence the digital landscape where your team is trying to make disciples. https://www.eweek.com/news/openai-tests-ads-in-chatgpt/ Ten Years of Instagram Design Shifts A ten-year analysis shows that vertical orientation now dominates the platform, making up 84% of all posts compared to the original square format. Carousel posts have jumped to 86% of content, while the use of text overlays exploded from under 10% to 84% in just one year. For Mission Teams Shifting your strategy to vertical, text-heavy posts ensures your message fits the current habits of seekers who now expect to read content directly on images. Using carousels allows your team to share deeper discipleship materials and multiple story elements in a single post, which is now the most dominant way users consume information. https://theconversation.com/i-studied-10-years-of-instagram-posts-heres-how-social-media-has-changed-272898 WhatsApp Web Adds Voice and Video Calls WhatsApp is now letting people make voice and video calls directly from their internet browser on a computer. For now, this feature works for calls between two people and includes security protection to keep conversations private. For Mission Teams This update allows your team to move quickly from text chats to face-to-face discipleship calls without needing a mobile phone. Since the calls are encrypted, you can safely conduct ministry training or seeker follow-up from a laptop while maintaining the security of your communication. https://wabetainfo.com/whatsapp-is-rolling-out-voice-and-video-calls-on-the-web/ Discord Age Verification Requirements Discord is introducing a new rule that requires all users to verify their age using a face scan or a government ID. If users do not complete this verification, their accounts will be restricted to limited features designed for teenagers. For Mission Teams This is the latest change social media companies are implementing in response to increased government intervention around children’s use of digital platforms. Requirements for official identification or biometric data introduce significant risk, as they could expose the identities of both team members and the individuals they seek to reach online. Discord and other platforms that have adopted similar age‑verification measures rely on third‑party vendors to manage these systems; however, security remains a concern, given that many such vendors have experienced data breaches in the past. Teams should stay informed about these developments, carefully evaluate their risk tolerance, and adjust their digital engagement strategies accordingly. https://9to5mac.com/2026/02/09/discord-will-soon-require-face-scans-or-id-for-all-users-or-restrict-access Foundations of Digital Engagement Strategy Course May 13-16, 2026 (Pre-EMDC Training) Chiang Mai, Thailand This course is for you. Digital permeates virtually every aspect of people's lives and it should be present in every stage of your mission and ministry strategy. Join Kavanah Media staff during the Pre-EMDC training week for a time of practical training in digital engagement. This course is designed for you to examine your end to end strategy and find ways that digital components can be added or improved whether you are just ready to begin or an experienced practitioner. Follow the link or contact us for more details. https://emdcon.org/ 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. YouVersion Reading Plan– Jon Ralls, CEO of Kavanah Media, just launched a powerful 4-day devotional on YouVersion called "Love Where You Are." Subscribe 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 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: February 13, 2026

Weekly Marketing Rundown - February 6, 2026

Weekly Marketing Rundown - February 6, 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 regarding new Meta Advantage+ Creative Enhancements, Social Media trends for 2026, new social media platforms and more. Enjoying the Weekly Marketing Rundown? Support our work and keep it free for missions teams worldwide: https://www.kavanahmedia.com/donatetoKM AI-Generated Video with Advantage+ Creative Meta is testing a new AI feature that automatically creates short videos from your existing images. The tool uses artificial intelligence to turn static photos into 15 to 20 second clips with movement and music. For Mission Teams This tool enables teams to quickly and easily create additional video creative for ads. As with all of Meta’s Creative Enhancements, users are encouraged to review outputs before publishing. The feature helps teams reach more people through visual storytelling while keeping digital outreach simple and cost-effective. https://www.jonloomer.com/advantage-plus-creative-video-generation-beta/ U.S. Senators Propose New Rules to Stop Fake Social Media Ads Lawmakers want to pass a law that forces social media companies to prove who their advertisers really are. This bill aims to stop criminals from using paid ads to trick people and steal their money. Some platforms, such as Meta, already employ identity verification for advertisers in certain instances. For Mission Teams This law could make it harder for teams to run ads because platforms will require much stricter identity checks. While this helps prevent scams, the potential for paper-trails could raise security concerns for teams working in secure contexts. https://archive.is/AGR28 2026 Social Media Study Shows Big Changes in Popularity A new study looked at millions of posts to see how people use social media today. For organic campaigns the study found that TikTok is the best place to get attention, while sites like Facebook and Instagram are seeing fewer people interact with posts. It should be noted that this engagement data was primarily comment driven as DMs do not show on public data feeds. It also does not reflect global platform differences based on regions and other important nuances. For Mission Teams Teams running global campaigns with lower-level engagement goals may prioritize TikTok, but it’s important to recognize that user behavior varies by platform. For example, users may be more likely to send direct messages on Instagram than on TikTok. Teams should experiment with platforms and strategies to determine what works best in their specific context. https://www.socialmediatoday.com/news/2026-social-media-benchmarks-infographic/811179/ France Considers Restricting VPN Access to Protect Younger Users France is looking for ways to stop children under fifteen from using social media apps. They are thinking about limiting the use of VPNs so kids cannot hide their location to bypass age rules. For Mission Teams If countries ban VPNs, it will be much harder for mission teams to stay hidden and safe online. This change could also prevent seekers in restricted areas from safely finding and viewing your evangelism content. https://www.engadget.com/cybersecurity/france-might-seek-restrictions-on-vpn-use-in-campaign-to-keep-minors-off-social-media-205308716.html New Video App UpScrolled Gains Users by Promising More Freedom A new app called UpScrolled is becoming popular because it promises not to sensor or hide people's posts. Many people are joining this platform because they want an alternative to TikTok that shows posts in the order they were shared. For Mission Teams This platform presents an opportunity to share the gospel without the concern of content being shadowbanned or suppressed by algorithms. As with any emerging platform, the user base is still limited, and teams should experiment before committing to full adoption. https://www.tubefilter.com/2026/01/30/upscrolled-tiktok-alternative-open-platform-no-censorship/ Meta Predicts AI Will Power All Parts of Social Media in 2026 Meta plans to use artificial intelligence to suggest videos and help people spend 20% more time on their apps. These new tools are also helping businesses grow by allowing computers to chat with over one million people every week. For Mission Teams Improved AI ranking and dubbing tools can help your evangelism videos reach significantly more people across multiple languages. Advertisers are also reporting 24% improvement in conversion attribution, underscoring the growing importance of video-based content. One thing is clear: AI enhancements are here to stay. However, it remains unclear how these changes will impact teams around the world that rely on Meta’s platforms for digital engagement. https://www.socialmediatoday.com/news/meta-outlines-ai-powered-system-improvements/810886/ Meta Reports Significant Growth in Users and Revenue for Late 2025 Meta’s latest report shows that daily active users across its apps have grown to 3.32 billion people. The company also saw its revenue climb by 18% as more people spent time watching Reels and interacting with AI-suggested content. For Mission Teams With over 3 billion people active on these platforms, the potential to reach unreached groups through social media advertising is greater than ever. https://www.socialmediatoday.com/news/meta-posts-increases-in-users-and-revenue-in-q4/810801/ Foundations of Digital Engagement Strategy Course May 13-16, 2026 (Pre-EMDC Training) Chiang Mai, Thailand This course is for you. Digital permeates virtually every aspect of people's lives and it should be present in every stage of your mission and ministry strategy. Join Kavanah Media staff during the Pre-EMDC training week for a time of practical training in digital engagement. This course is designed for you to examine your end to end strategy and find ways that digital components can be added or improved whether you are just ready to begin or an experienced practitioner. Follow the link or contact us for more details. https://emdcon.org/ 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. YouVersion Reading Plan– Jon Ralls, CEO of Kavanah Media, just launched a powerful 4-day devotional on YouVersion called "Love Where You Are." Subscribe 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 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: February 6, 2026

Weekly Marketing Rundown - January 30, 2026

Weekly Marketing Rundown - January 23, 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 reports from Buffer regarding platforms, a LastPass scam, Google's Discover, and more. Enjoying the Weekly Marketing Rundown? Support our work and keep it free for missions teams worldwide: https://www.kavanahmedia.com/donatetoKM LastPass Users Targeted by New Phishing Scam Scammers are sending fake emails that look like they are from LastPass to steal people's passwords. These emails trick users into clicking links that lead to fake websites designed to capture their private login information. For Mission Teams This scam is dangerous because it could give hackers access to all the passwords used for mission social media accounts and seeker databases. According to their documentation, LastPass will never sent emails requesting users update or submit their master passwords. https://www.techrepublic.com/article/news-lastpass-phishing-campaign/ China and US Approve TikTok Spinoff Deal The United States and China have agreed to a deal that sells TikTok’s American business to a group of mostly U.S. investors. This agreement allows the app to keep running in the U.S. under a new independent company with American leadership. For Mission Teams While this change means TikTok is likely to stay in the US, for mission teams abroad utilizing the platform in their digital engagement not much is expected to change. It is a good reminder, however, that platforms are subject to local laws and regulations. Team should be prepared to diversify platforms as insurance against changes and outages. https://www.semafor.com/article/01/22/2026/china-us-sign-off-on-tiktok-us-spinoff Google Discover Moves Away from Website Links Google is changing its Discover feed to show more YouTube videos and posts from X instead of links to news websites. This means people using Google on their phones will see more social media content and AI summaries rather than articles from traditional publishers. For Mission Teams This shift is important because it changes how seekers find your content and how your team should share stories. To stay visible, missions teams should not merely rely on websites and SEO, but put effort into organic campaigns by creating engaging YouTube videos and social media posts rather than relying only on website articles to reach people. https://pressgazette.co.uk/platforms/google-prioritising-youtube-and-x-over-publishers-on-discover/ Mastering Meta’s Advanced Advertising Settings Did you know that Meta provides a dedicated Advertising Settings menu where you can manage account-wide controls for your audiences and placements. You can find these tools by navigating to the "Advertising Settings" section within your Meta Ads Manager account. For Mission Teams These settings allow you to set age restrictions and regional boundaries to ensure your ads only reach people in safe or relevant areas. By utilizing the "Audience Segments" feature found here, teams can better track how many new seekers are engaging with their content compared to those who have seen it before. https://www.jonloomer.com/meta-advertising-settings/ WordPress Plugin Backdoor Puts Sites at Risk A popular WordPress plugin called LA-Studio Element Kit has a secret backdoor that lets hackers create admin accounts without a password. This flaw allows attackers to take complete control of a website and change its content or steal information. For Mission Teams This security risk is dangerous because a hacker could take over your mission website to spread false information or steal seeker data. Teams should update or remove this plugin immediately and check their user lists for any suspicious new administrator accounts. This is also a good reminder that not all plug-ins are created equal. Each plugin, platform or software should be thoroughly vetted and tested before full adoption and regular audits and updates are recommended. https://www.esecurityplanet.com/threats/20000-wordpress-sites-at-risk-from-plugin-admin-backdoor/ Meta Testing Premium Subscriptions Across Platforms Meta is beginning to test new premium subscription options for users on Instagram, Facebook, and WhatsApp. These paid tiers may offer exclusive features and different ways for users to interact within the apps beyond the standard free versions. For Mission Teams This change could affect how mission teams reach their audience if certain features or users move behind a paywall. Teams should monitor these updates to adjust their digital strategies and ensure their evangelism efforts remain effective for both free and premium users. https://techcrunch.com/2026/01/26/meta-to-test-premium-subscriptions-on-instagram-facebook-and-whatsapp/ WhatsApp Adds New Strict Security Mode WhatsApp has introduced a "Strict Account Settings" mode designed to protect users from advanced cyber attacks and spyware. This feature, found in the advanced privacy settings, locks your account to the most secure options and blocks files from people you do not know. For Mission Teams If this is true, this update is great for protecting the identity of team members and the seekers they contact in sensitive regions. Using this mode help harden the security of the platform for missions teams. https://9to5mac.com/2026/01/27/whatsapp-launches-new-anti-spyware-mode-for-improved-security/ Understanding the Threads AI Ranking System Buffer has created a handy guide to help users understand how the Threads AI ranking system works. Some of the most important factors include how much you interact with a profile on Instagram, the timeliness of your posts, and how often people click to view the replies on your threads. Threads uses an AI system to decide which posts appear in the "For You" feed by looking at what you like and who you follow. The "Following" feed remains different because it shows posts from people you follow in the exact order they were posted. For Mission Teams Understanding these ranking signals helps teams focus on starting meaningful conversations that the AI will then promote to more seekers. While these points are a great starting place, teams can check out the full guide on Buffer's website if they want more detailed strategies for growth. https://buffer.com/resources/threads-algorithm/ Replying to Instagram Comments Boosts Engagement Buffer studied over 700,000 posts and discovered that replying to comments can increase your overall engagement by 21 percent. This simple habit works better than most complicated marketing tricks and helps your content reach more people. For Mission Teams Quickly answering comments shows the platform that your content is valuable, which helps your posts stay visible to more seekers. This strategy is essential for building real relationships with those who ask questions and ensures your mission team is seen as responsive and helpful. https://buffer.com/resources/instagram-comments-engagement/ Foundations of Digital Engagement Strategy Course May 13-16, 2026 (Pre-EMDC Training) Chiang Mai, Thailand This course is for you. Digital permeates virtually every aspect of people's lives and it should be present in every stage of your mission and ministry strategy. Join Kavanah Media staff during the Pre-EMDC training week for a time of practical training in digital engagement. This course is designed for you to examine your end to end strategy and find ways that digital components can be added or improved whether you are just ready to begin or an experienced practitioner. Follow the link or contact us for more details. https://emdcon.org/ 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. YouVersion Reading Plan– Jon Ralls, CEO of Kavanah Media, just launched a powerful 4-day devotional on YouVersion called "Love Where You Are." 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: January 30, 2025

Weekly Marketing Rundown - January 23, 2025

Weekly Marketing Rundown - January 16, 2025

Weekly Marketing Rundown - January 16, 2025 Welcome to this week’s edition of Kavanah Media’s Weekly Marketing Rundown! We’re diving into the latest updates you need to know including the latest in the fight between big tech and the EU, new features on both Meta and Google ads, and a e-course template from Kavanah Media. Enjoying the Weekly Marketing Rundown? Support our work and keep it free for missions teams worldwide: https://www.kavanahmedia.com/donatetoKM Meta Ad Sequencing Ever wanted to show ads to users in a certain sequence? This feature allows you to control the specific order in which ads appear to a person by using a "Target" frequency setting. Instead of Meta’s system randomly choosing which ad to show from your list, you can now drag and drop your ads into a numbered sequence that tells a story over several days. For Mission Teams: This method would enable teams to build content in a series and show it in an exact order, allowing longer stories to be presented while keeping individual ads short. https://www.jonloomer.com/meta-ad-sequencing/ Instagram Password Reset Concerns Meta recently clarified that a surge in Instagram password reset emails was caused by a technical glitch rather than a new security breach. While millions of users feared their accounts were hacked, the company assured the public that their systems and personal data remain secure. For Mission Teams: Workers who received this prompt can rest assured that it was not related to a real breach. However, keeping accounts secure with two-factor authentication is always a good idea, as it ensures that evangelism efforts and seeker data remain protected from bad actors. https://www.techrepublic.com/article/news-instagram-password-reset-panic/ Meta Andromeda Ad Strategies Jon Loomer is offering a mini-course on Meta’s new Andromeda system—Meta’s latest system designed to show ads to the right people. It teaches that having different types of images and videos is now more important than picking specific groups to target. For Mission Teams: There is a lot of misunderstanding about what Andromeda is in the marketing world. Teams that want to understand what it is and what it means for their marketing can sign up for Jon Loomer’s Andromeda Mini Course. https://www.jonloomer.com/andromeda-subscribe/ Google Ads Creative Testing Google is adding a tool to test which ad images and headlines work best. This helps you see exactly what people are most likely to click on. Additionally, a new AI support tool designed to help marketers with rejected ads has implemented on some ad accounts. For Mission Teams: Much like A/B testing on Meta, teams now have more flexibility when testing assets on Google. This strategy saves money and helps more people hear the gospel. The new support feature can quickly fix ads that might be flagged for sensitive content. It ensures your message stays online and reaches the people who need it. https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/google-ads-news-week-2-adriaan-dekker-w6dpe/ Disney Short-Form Videos Disney+ is launching a vertical video feed this year to keep users coming back every day. The feed will show short clips from movies, sports, and news to attract younger viewers who like TikTok-style scrolling. For Mission Teams: Short form content is king. Many platforms are optimized for short form video. Long form content is still valuable in many contexts, but teams may see equally valuable or better performance when short form content is utilized either exclusively or in conjunction with other content forms. As always, testing different content forms can lead to valuable insight. https://techcrunch.com/2026/01/08/disney-is-launching-short-form-videos-this-year/ EU Digital Rule Overhaul The European Union is easing its plan for strict new rules on Big Tech companies like Google and Meta. Instead of mandatory requirements, these companies will follow a voluntary framework to help improve Europe's digital networks and internet speed. For Mission Teams: This decision means social media platforms may face fewer new restrictions, keeping digital tools stable for outreach. It could allow teams to continue using global platforms for evangelism without sudden changes to how these services operate in Europe. https://www.reuters.com/business/media-telecom/big-tech-spared-strict-rules-eu-digital-rule-overhaul-sources-say-2026-01-08/ Story of God Digital Course - A Free Gift from Kavanah Media Built on the Next Steps Platform (https://www.jesusfilm.org/tools/next-steps/), this new 20-lesson course uses the “Share the Story” series from TWR Motion (https://www.twrmotion.org/projects/share-the-story) to teach people the story of the Bible. It can be used in conjunction with both paid and unpaid strategies by teams using digital media in their evangelism and disciple-making efforts. Click the link below for more details on how to use the tools: https://resources.kavanahmedia.com/product/story-of-god-e-course/ Foundations of Digital Engagement Strategy Course May 13-16, 2026 (Pre-EMDC Training) Chiang Mai, Thailand This course is for you. Digital permeates virtually every aspect of people's lives and it should be present in every stage of your mission and ministry strategy. Join Kavanah Media staff during the Pre-EMDC training week for a time of practical training in digital engagement. This course is designed for you to examine your end to end strategy and find ways that digital components can be added or improved whether you are just ready to begin or an experienced practitioner. Follow the link or contact us for more details. https://emdcon.org/ 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. YouVersion Reading Plan– Jon Ralls, CEO of Kavanah Media, just launched a powerful 4-day devotional on YouVersion called "Love Where You Are." 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: January 16, 2025

Weekly Marketing Rundown - January 9, 2025

Weekly Marketing Rundown - January 9, 2025 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 a new Creative Enhancement for Meta Ads Manager, scam ads, Microsofts latest Teams update and more. Enjoying the Weekly Marketing Rundown? Support our work and keep it free for missions teams worldwide: https://www.kavanahmedia.com/donatetoKM Meta’s New Creative Enhancement Meta has a new Creative Enhancement that automatically takes pictures and information from your website to put into your ads. It tries to find the best things on your page to show people so they will want to click on your message. For Mission Teams Like Google Ads, teams running traffic ads can use this creative enhancement to automatically pull images and text from their website for inclusion in certain ad placements. https://www.jonloomer.com/qvt/website-highlights-creative-enhancement/ Meta’s Struggle with Scam Advertisements Meta chose to hide scam ads from government investigators instead of completely deleting all fraudulent content from its platforms. In Japan, this strategy helped the company avoid expensive verification rules that would have cost billions of dollars in lost revenue. For Mission Teams This update serves as a reminder that digital strategies are shaped by both social media platforms and government regulation. As privacy laws and policies continue to evolve, the platforms themselves—and how teams can use them—are subject to rapid change. Agility and flexibility are essential. https://sherwood.news/tech/rather-than-fully-cracking-down-on-scam-ads-meta-worked-to-make-them-harder/?utm_source=tldrnewsletter Microsoft Teams Boosts Messaging Defense Microsoft is adding new safety features to Teams that will automatically block dangerous files and scan web links for hidden viruses. These updates are meant to stop hackers from using chat messages to trick people into visiting bad websites or downloading harmful software. For Mission Teams For teams and mission agencies using Microsoft’s systems, these automatic blocks help protect your team from digital attacks while you coordinate evangelism projects or communicate with new contacts. For teams not using Microsoft’s ecosystem, this serves as an important reminder that no platform is secure indefinitely. Teams should take steps to ensure the security of the systems they use and practice good cybersecurity hygiene. https://www.techradar.com/pro/security/new-security-features-announced-by-microsoft-to-boost-teams-defenses New WhatsApp Group Management Tools and Updates to Channels WhatsApp has added new features like member tags, text stickers, and event reminders to help people stay organized in large chats. You can now label yourself with a specific role in each group and set early notifications for upcoming meetings or gatherings. Additionally, quizzes are being introduced to WhatsApp Channels, enabling admins to create questions, multiple-choice answers, and more. For Mission Teams These tags give teams using WhatsApp Groups and/or WhatsApp Channels more options to engage audiences, track contacts, and even host events. https://about.fb.com/news/2026/01/whatsapp-group-chats-member-tags-text-stickers-event-reminders/ Meta’s Less Personalized Ad Option for Europe Meta is giving people in Europe a new choice to see ads that are not based on their private data or personal interests. This change happened because of strict privacy laws that want to give users more control over how their online information is tracked and used. For Mission Teams This is a significant update. For teams in Europe, it will make it more difficult to reach seekers, as ads may no longer be delivered based on users’ previous interests. Teams will need to develop new strategies that rely on clear, compelling content to attract the right audience without depending on Meta’s automatic targeting. https://www.jonloomer.com/qvt/meta-agrees-to-less-personalized-advertising-option-in-the-eu AI Slop Dominates New YouTube Recommendations Researchers found that more than one out of every five videos shown to brand new YouTube accounts is low-quality content generated by artificial intelligence. The study also revealed that these automated channels can post hundreds of videos a day to trick the system into showing them to more people. For Mission Teams This flood of automated content makes it harder for your genuine videos to be seen by seekers, as AI channels are overwhelming the platform’s search results. As previously covered, the rise of “AI slop” will likely make genuine content even more important and sought after. Even so, AI-generated content is driving engagement. Teams should be willing to experiment with AI-generated content, but never at the expense of genuine, authentic communication. https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2025/dec/27/more-than-20-of-videos-shown-to-new-youtube-users-are-ai-slop-study-finds Meta Acquires AI Agent Startup, Manus Meta has spent over two billion dollars to acquire a company called Manus, which builds highly capable AI assistants. This acquisition is part of Meta’s ongoing efforts to integrate AI across its platforms and expand its AI capabilities. Manus’s agents are known for performing practical tasks such as market research and data analysis. Meta plans to continue offering Manus’s platform as a service while also integrating the technology into its own platforms. For Mission Teams Meta's systems will continue to change as the company rolls out more AI integrations. Teams should be prepared to adjust as these systems evolve. Additionally, Meta's new privacy policy states that Meta may scrape AI chats for data—so while teams should experiment with these tools and adapt to changes in their context, they should also be cautious not to share sensitive information on AI platforms. https://www.eweek.com/news/meta-acquires-manus-2b/ Meta Turns Off Ads Have you ever logged onto Meta Ads Manager and noticed changes to your ad that you do not recall making? Well, it turns out Meta may be turning off ads. Meta has a new rule that automatically stops ads that do not get any results for fourteen days in a row. This change is meant to clean up your account by turning off ads that are not being shown to anyone or are not working well. For Mission Teams This update means your long-term ads for the gospel might suddenly stop running if they go two weeks without a click or a new contact. You must check your ads regularly to make sure your important messages are still active and create new versions if Meta turns your old ones off. https://www.jonloomer.com/qvt/meta-turned-off-my-ad/ Google Expands AI Overview Ads Globally Google is now placing advertisements within its AI-generated answers in eleven new countries including Australia, Brazil, Canada, India, Indonesia, Japan, Mexico, Nigeria, Singapore, South Africa, and the United Kingdom. These ads are currently only appearing for people who have their language settings set to English on mobile or desktop devices. For Missions Teams Teams utilizing websites should take steps to ensure that their sites and content are not only optimized for search engines but also for AI tools that scrape the internet for answers to users’ questions. High-quality content that is properly optimized is more likely to be referenced by these bots. https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/google-ads-news-week-51-adriaan-dekker-zjjae/ Foundations of Digital Engagement Strategy Course May 13-16, 2026 (Pre-EMDC Training) Chiang Mai, Thailand This course is for you. Digital permeates virtually every aspect of people's lives and it should be present in every stage of your mission and ministry strategy. Join Kavanah Media staff during the Pre-EMDC training week for a time of practical training in digital engagement. This course is designed for you to examine your end to end strategy and find ways that digital components can be added or improved whether you are just ready to begin or an experienced practitioner. Follow the link or contact us for more details. https://emdcon.org/ 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. YouVersion Reading Plan– Jon Ralls, CEO of Kavanah Media, just launched a powerful 4-day devotional on YouVersion called "Love Where You Are." 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: January 9, 2025

Weekly Marketing Rundown - December 19, 2025

Weekly Marketing Rundown - December 12, 2025

Weekly Marketing Rundown - December 5, 2025

Weekly Marketing Rundown - December 5, 2025 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 possible ChatGPT ads, Meta Ad scams, fake Wifi networks and more. Enjoying the Weekly Marketing Rundown? Support our work and keep it free for missions teams worldwide: https://www.kavanahmedia.com/donatetoKM The Coming of ChatGPT Ads A recent leak suggests that OpenAI is getting ready to show advertisements to people using the free version of its popular chatbot, ChatGPT. These ads will likely appear at the top of conversations when users ask for information or ask the AI to perform a task. For Mission Teams If rolled out, ads on ChatGPT could provide yet another platform for teams to consider in their digital engagement projects, offering exposure to a new audience segment and potentially providing an answer to the website-traffic fallout that AI has brought. https://www.bleepingcomputer.com/news/artificial-intelligence/leak-confirms-openai-is-preparing-ads-on-chatgpt-for-public-roll-out/?utm_source=tldrnewsletter Supreme Court to Hear Internet Copyright Case The U.S. Supreme Court has agreed to hear a big legal fight between an internet company called Cox and a group of major record labels. The core issue is whether internet service providers (ISPs) must do more to stop their users from illegally downloading pirated copyrighted content. For Mission Teams This case is highly relevant to a mission team's digital strategy because it could significantly increase liability and push ISPs or hosting services to more aggressively monitor or restrict pirated content. If the record labels win, ISPs could be required to cut access to accounts that pirate content, so mission teams must ensure that all digital media, including music and videos used for outreach and discipleship is used with permission. https://www.reuters.com/legal/government/us-supreme-court-hear-copyright-dispute-between-cox-record-labels-2025-12-01/ How Scam Ads Boost Meta’s Billions and Hurt Advertisers Leaked internal documents show that Meta, the company that owns Facebook and Instagram, makes a massive amount of money from ads that are actually scams or for illegal goods. The company is reportedly aware that it shows users billions of these higher-risk ads every single day, and in some cases, it profits even more by charging the fraudulent advertisers higher rates instead of banning them. For Mission Teams This scam crisis presents a significant challenge to a team's digital evangelism strategy and security because it drives up the cost of legitimate social media ads, wasting money that could be used to find seekers. Furthermore, the presence of so many scam ads makes people distrustful of all ads, potentially leading seekers to ignore or report the mission team's legitimate outreach and discipleship content as fraud. Teams must be diligent in creating highly trustworthy, professional ads that clearly state their purpose to stand out and protect their efforts from being lost in the pervasive culture of digital deceit. https://www.jonloomer.com/qvt/meta-makes-billions-from-scam-ads/cccccbkvjhtlduguhnuughkikcffervckirddvijuhlf Man Jailed for Fake Wi-Fi Traps An Australian man was sentenced to prison after he created and operated fake Wi-Fi networks in airports and on planes to trick travelers into using them. These fake networks, which appeared real, were designed to steal the personal information and login details of anyone who connected to them. For Mission Teams This criminal action highlights a serious security risk for mission teams, especially those traveling internationally or meeting seekers in public spaces who rely on public Wi-Fi for evangelism and discipleship. To mitigate these threats and protect sensitive data, teams must follow strict security protocols: use a VPN, disable auto-connect, avoid logging in to suspicious sites, and keep devices locked down with strong passwords and regular patching. These strategies ensure that team communication and efforts to find seekers remain secure and uninterrupted, even when using public networks. https://www.esecurityplanet.com/threats/man-sentenced-after-running-fake-airport-and-in-flight-wi-fi-networks/ Meta’s Creative Testing Tool Meta is expanding its creative testing capabilities by allowing advertisers to test up to 10 different ad variations simultaneously. This new feature aims to help advertisers identify the most effective ad creatives more efficiently and optimize their campaigns for better performance. For Mission Teams: This tool makes it even easier to test different creative options. Instead of relying on traditional A/B testing, creatives can be evaluated en masse. Possible implications include improved ad performance, better resource allocation, and more data-driven decision-making in digital marketing campaigns. https://www.jonloomer.com/qvt/meta-expanding-creative-testing-10-ads/ Teams' Guest Access Security Blind Spot A serious security issue has been found in Microsoft Teams’ guest access feature that allows users to lose their organization’s protections when they join an external chat. When a user accepts an outside invitation, their safety is controlled by the hosting chat, which an attacker can configure as a “protection-free zone” without defenses such as malware scanning. For Mission Teams This vulnerability creates a major security threat for mission teams because an attacker can easily send phishing links or malware that appear safe since the invitation comes through Microsoft’s trusted system. To protect their digital efforts and the sensitive seeker data they collect, teams must restrict external chats to trusted partners only and thoroughly train their members to recognize and refuse unsolicited invitations to join outside Teams environments. This strategy prevents the team from losing control of its security when engaging in external digital communication for evangelism and discipleship. https://www.esecurityplanet.com/threats/news-ms-teams-guest-access/ Automatic Linking: YouTube, Ads, and Messaging Platforms Google is now automatically linking YouTube channels to Google Ads accounts when there's a strong connection between them, saving users the manual setup process. This automatic connection gives advertisers immediate access to data about how people engage with their YouTube videos, which helps them create better ad campaigns that find the right audiences. Google has also added Messaging platforms WhatsApp, Messenger, and Zalo to their messaging options for ads. For Mission Teams This automatic linking is a significant strategic benefit because it instantly strengthens the team's ability to run effective social media ads to find seekers and to measure the success of their digital content. By also adding platforms like WhatsApp, Messenger, and Zalo as messaging options for ads, Google is creating direct, personal connection channels for discipleship, but teams must be vigilant about security when managing one-on-one communication and storing the sensitive personal data they collect from seekers on these platforms. https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/google-ads-news-week-48-adriaan-dekker-zkeue/ https://www.seroundtable.com/google-ads-facebook-zalo-messenger-40493.html Meta's Guide to Better Reels Meta has shared a guide with several key strategies to help creators and advertisers make more effective and engaging short-form videos called Reels. The main tips include keeping the videos simple and fast-paced, making sure the beginning of the video grabs attention quickly, and using the latest trending audio and visual effects. For Mission Teams To maximize their efforts, teams must leverage these trends and include short-form, highly engaging content that stops the scroll. https://www.facebook.com/business/news/reels-creative-strategies 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. YouVersion Reading Plan– Jon Ralls, CEO of Kavanah Media, just launched a powerful 4-day devotional on YouVersion called "Love Where You Are." 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: December 5, 2025

Weekly Marketing Rundown - November 28, 2025

Weekly Marketing Rundown - November 28, 2025 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 a new WhatsApp scam making the rounds, fresh polling features on Signal, and Yoast’s groundbreaking AI SEO partnership with Microsoft—plus more insights to keep your marketing strategy sharp. Enjoying the Weekly Marketing Rundown? Support our work and keep it free for missions teams worldwide: https://www.kavanahmedia.com/donatetoKM Signal Polls for Teams Signal has launched a new feature that allows group chat members to quickly create and vote on polls for any topic, enabling teams to easily gauge group opinions and make decisions. This tool offers an anonymous and straightforward way for all participants to provide feedback, which makes internal coordination simple and effective. For Mission Teams The introduction of polls on Signal offers more flexibility in communication for teams leveraging Signal in their secure communications. Meta's Data Restrictions for Religious Content Continue Meta is now categorizing digital data sources, like websites and apps, to ensure they comply with their rules, and some categories now have data restrictions. Kavanah Media team members have received several notices indicating websites have had their data flows restricted because of open association with religion. For Mission Teams Previously rolled out last year, Meta's religious data restrictions prohibit data from flowing back to Meta from sources associated with Meta's restricted categories — which include religion. This makes retargeting and traffic ads significantly more difficult. These new categorizations are the latest development in the same set of restrictions, as you can now see which of your data sources are labeled as religious, and therefore restricted. Teams leveraging openly religiously associated websites in their strategies will likely be forced to adjust to different ad objectives, such as Engagement with a Messaging Destination, App Installs, or even Leads. Teams can check their own data sets by checking DataSets in Meta Business Manager. https://www.facebook.com/business/help/1402913027039332?id=188852726110565&ref=learn_more_site Authentic Voices Against AI Slop The trend against “AI slop” continues this week as users react to large amounts of low-quality, often meaningless digital content—such as fake stories and odd images created by AI tools—that make social media feel impersonal. This constant barrage of easily made, generic material is wearing users out and making it much harder for people to trust or emotionally connect with what they see online. For Mission Teams This flood of “AI slop” creates a major new hurdle for digital engagement and for mission teams’ efforts to find seekers through social media ads, as authentic human content gets buried by generic, synthetic noise. Once again, this is a reminder that while teams can leverage AI for efficiency in content development, they should not forget the value of human-centered content and should strive for authenticity and real connection. https://www.cnet.com/tech/services-and-software/ai-slop-has-turned-social-media-into-an-antisocial-wasteland/ WhatsApp Security Changes Meta is spending millions on “bug bounties,” which are cash rewards for hackers who find security flaws, and is developing new tools to make WhatsApp much safer against advanced threats. This major investment is meant to strengthen the platform’s defenses and improve security for all its users globally. For Mission Teams Given the latest security weaknesses exploited by hackers, this new endeavor by Meta is a welcome sight. However, it is still not recommended that teams utilize WhatsApp for secure communications. For internal communications especially, teams should consider more secure alternatives such as Signal, Teams, Diode, and others. Teams should carefully research these platforms and test them before widespread adoption. https://www.techradar.com/pro/security/meta-is-spending-millions-on-bug-bounties-and-security-tools-to-boost-whatsapp-security Instagram's Peak Posting Times This article shares the best times to post on Instagram for maximum engagement, generally finding that weekday mornings and early evenings are most popular. The key lesson is that teams must check their own audience data to find the exact times their unique followers are most active. For Mission Teams Choosing the right posting time is a key strategy for mission teams using social media ads for digital engagement, as it helps ensure seekers see their message. Teams should use Instagram Insights to determine when their target audience—who may be in different time zones—is most active in order to maximize their evangelism efforts. Ignoring this will limit your reach. https://blog.hootsuite.com/best-time-to-post-on-instagram Spyware Warning: Protecting Digital Evangelism CISA warned that high-tech commercial spyware is targeting messaging apps like Signal and WhatsApp to steal private data from people's phones, sometimes using tricks that install the bad software without the user even clicking anything. This spyware can steal all your private messages and other information, which is a major threat to privacy. For Mission Teams This alert is vital because a spyware hack could immediately expose missionaries' identities, locations, and the contacts of new seekers in sensitive areas, gravely impacting the mission team's security and overall effort. Teams should practice good cybersecurity hygiene and avoid clicking or engaging with with messages from users they do not know. https://www.theregister.com/2025/11/25/cisa_spyware_gangs/ Signal’s Secure Backups for iOS Signal has launched its optional Secure Backups feature for iPhone users, allowing people to save their private, encrypted chat history. When enabled, this feature stores an archive of conversations on Signal’s service, protecting it with a unique 64-character recovery key that only the user possesses—without which Signal cannot access the data. For Mission Teams This new backup capability drastically improves the operational resilience and digital effort of mission teams, as losing a phone will no longer mean losing valuable discipleship chats and critical ministry data. While the end-to-end encryption maintains necessary security and protects sensitive communications from prying eyes, the team must implement a secure system for storing the 64-character recovery key, which is the sole means to restore the backup and execute this key strategy. https://www.theverge.com/news/828091/signal-secure-backups-ios-launch Critical Security Update for Firefox Users A serious, hidden software flaw called a WebAssembly bug was recently discovered in the Firefox browser, putting more than 180 million users at risk for several months. Attackers could exploit this bug through a malicious website to take control of the browser and potentially the user’s computer. For Mission Teams This vulnerability poses a major threat to the security and effort of mission teams, as a compromised browser could allow attackers to steal sensitive information like passwords, digital ministry contacts, and internal project details. To protect their digital strategies, all team members must immediately update Firefox to the latest version (Firefox 145 or Firefox ESR 140.5) to apply the critical patch, ensuring their browsers cannot be exploited by a malicious web page. https://www.esecurityplanet.com/threats/critical-firefox-bug-leaves-180m-users-exposed/ Yoast and Microsoft - SEO and AI A company called Yoast is working with Microsoft to make sure websites are easy for new AI tools to understand. Yoast is a popular tool (plugin) used for WordPress websites that helps them rank better in search engines (SEO). This is important because soon, people won't just type simple keywords into a search engine; they will ask complicated questions, and AI will pull the answers straight from your website instead of sending the person to the website. For Mission Teams Website traffic has been dropping globally since the introduction of AI chat tools. If your team uses a WordPress site, the Yoast tool can help you structure your content in line with this change so that AI can easily find and surface the right answers. If you don’t adjust to this shift, your content may disappear from search results as more people rely on AI, but there are no direct security concerns associated with this change. https://yoast.com/press/yoast-nlweb-microsoft-251125/ 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. YouVersion Reading Plan– Jon Ralls, CEO of Kavanah Media, just launched a powerful 4-day devotional on YouVersion called "Love Where You Are." 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: November 28, 2025