Weekly Training

Weekly Marketing Rundown - February 28, 2025 Hi everyone! In this week's edition of Kavanah Media's Weekly Marketing Rundown we discuss ad quality and it's affects on engagement, Meta AI's new updates, YouTube's untapped potential and more.  Enjoying the Weekly Marketing Rundown? Support our work and keep it free for missions teams worldwide: https://www.kavanahmedia.com/donatetoKM Meta AI Expands to the Middle East and Africa Meta AI is now available in Algeria, Egypt, Iraq, Jordan, Libya, Morocco, Saudi Arabia, Tunisia, the UAE, and Yemen, supporting Arabic for the first time. This expansion brings Meta AI to 42 countries and 13 languages, with 700 million users across WhatsApp, Instagram, Messenger, and Facebook. Many missions teams have integrated AI tools into their digital strategies, ranging from full chatbots to custom GPTs that assist online responders. With Meta AI’s recent expansion into the Middle East and North Africa, offering Arabic language support, teams operating in these regions now have enhanced opportunities to integrate these tools into their strategies. For more details, visit Meta AI’s expansion. Ad Copy Quality and Engagement In this post, Jon Loomer discusses ads with poor conversion rates. One key area is ad quality. Poor quality ads will not lead to conversions, messages, etc. Here are Jon's examples contextualized for Digital Engagement: 1. No Clear Call to Action – If people don’t know what to do next, your ad fails. 2. Clear and Effective Offer – - Make sure your ad clearly shows what you’re offering, whether it’s prayer, hope, or encouragement. Would you click it? 3. Sloppy Copy – Typos and poor wording hurt credibility and trust. 4. Poor Visuals – Blurry or unpolished images make your ad look unprofessional. 5. Bad Formatting – Ads should fit platform specs to avoid awkward cropping. 6. Ignored Negative Comments – Unaddressed feedback can damage conversions.   https://www.jonloomer.com/ads-arent-converting/?utm_source=cornerstone&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=cornerstone&inf_contact_key=b81f45ce87637612b942c69d8e418242cc0558ed5d4c28cbfab114022b1ec50d Meta Introduces Community Notes for Fact-Checking Meta will soon roll out Community Notes, a crowdsourced fact-checking system similar to X (Twitter). This feature allows selected users to add context to posts, aiming to reduce misinformation. Notes will only appear if contributors from different perspectives agree on their accuracy. This new systems has potential to effect digital engagement in many ways, including: - Potential for bias – Christian content could be flagged depending on the reviewing users. - Opportunity to provide clarity – Ministries can engage by adding well-sourced, truthful notes to counter misinformation. - Impact on ads – Misinformation flags could affect outreach campaigns. It is unclear at what pace Community Notes will be rolled out in other languages and countries. Mission teams should be prepared to adjust strategies as its effects become clearer. https://www.socialmediatoday.com/news/meta-community-notes-overview/740592/ YouTube's Untapped Potential YouTube remains a powerful yet underutilized tool for digital outreach. For example, in the US 90% of teens use YouTube, far surpassing TikTok (63%) and Instagram (61%). The platform is experiencing similar impact globally as well. Key insights: - YouTube Shorts are highly engaging (5.91% engagement rate), outperforming TikTok and Instagram Reels. - YouTube Ads are taking over TV, with 39% of ads now viewed on TV screens, up 13% in a year. - Despite its high ROI (25%), only 51% of marketers use YouTube for ads, compared to Facebook (86%) and Instagram (79%). YouTube offers a lot of potential for digital engagement. As with all platforms, usage may vary greatly based by country, and teams should experiment with it in their context. https://www.stackedmarketer.com/data-stories/is-youtube-an-underrated-marketing-channel-right-now/ Intentional - Kavanah Media's Newsletter Subscribe to Intentional, Kavanah’s monthly newsletter, and stay inspired by stories of lives transformed, ministry milestones, and the latest business updates on how we’re intentionally leveraging digital platforms to make God known across the globe. Join us on this journey of purposeful digital engagement and global impact! For more on this, click the link below: https://www.kavanahmedia.com/sign-up  Christian Media Marketing Podcast Looking for more in depth information regarding all things digital engagement? Look no further than the Christian Media Marketing Podcast. For 5 years Kavanah Media CEO Jon Ralls has gone in depth on everything from websites to online messaging. Subscribe here ( https://www.kavanahmedia.com/podcast) or wherever you listen to your podcasts. 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: February 28, 2025

In this episode, Jon will be sharing about the need (still) for SEO (Search Engine Optimization), and how you can leverage your content for multiple ways and strategies. To watch this content, go here: https://youtu.be/HZ7qN-1BTVE

In this episode, Jon will be sharing about word choice and different phrases and concepts that Meta is sharing that can get your ads denied. He will walk through several examples straight from Meta's help page including the use of the word "You". To watch this training, go here: https://youtu.be/EHaIdN8sB-I

Weekly Marketing Rundown - February 21, 2025 Hi everyone! In this week's edition of Kavanah Media's Weekly Marketing Rundown we discuss retargeting ad strategies on Meta, data leaks, Signal's latest update and more. Thanks for reading! Enjoying the Weekly Marketing Rundown? Support our work and keep it free for missions teams worldwide: https://www.kavanahmedia.com/donatetoKM Rethinking Remarketing in Meta Ads A few years ago, Meta’s remarketing tools were a game-changer. Missions groups around the world, including Kavanah Media, utilized and coached others on multi-level marketing funnels using audience segments and retargeting. However, things have changed significantly since then. Here are two major shifts we have seen: 1) The algorithm used by Meta’s Advantage+ systems now prioritizes retargeting your audiences automatically. 2) Meta's new restrictions on religious data sources prevent retargeting through the Meta Pixel and website traffic. Technically, remarketing is still possible using original audience targeting. However, with these changes, separate ad sets or campaigns for remarketing may no longer be necessary or easy to implement. Mission teams should test what works best in their context but may need to adjust their strategies accordingly.” https://pubcast.jonloomer.com/the-new-role-of-remarketing/ 20 Million OpenAI Accounts Hacked A recent breach exposed credentials from 20 million OpenAI users, with stolen logins being sold on the dark web. The data was gathered through malware, not a direct OpenAI hack, highlighting the dangers of poor password management and weak security practices. For mission teams using AI tools, this reinforces the need for strong cybersecurity habits. Use unique, complex passwords, utlize physical security keys, enable two-factor authentication (2FA), and avoid logging in from compromised devices to protect sensitive data. https://www.pcworld.com/article/2602780/20-million-openai-users-hacked-heres-how-to-stay-safe.html DeepSeek AI Raises Safety Concerns Researchers found major safety issues with DeepSeek, a Chinese AI chatbot, exposing vulnerabilities in handling harmful prompts. Unlike OpenAI and Google, DeepSeek struggles with filtering sensitive content, raising ethical and security concerns. For mission teams using AI tools, this highlights the importance of selecting platforms with strong safety measures. Poorly moderated AI could pose risks, especially in sensitive regions where digital security is critical. Kavanah Media CEO Jon Ralls discussed this same topic on the Christian Media Marketing Podcast. Listen here. http://gizmodo.com/deepseek-gets-an-f-in-safety-from-researchers-2000558645?utm_source=tldrai Meta’s 50,000 km Undersea Cable Project Meta announced Project Waterworth, a massive undersea cable network connecting the U.S., India, Brazil, and more. This $10B+ investment aims to boost global internet speed and support AI services, with completion expected by the decade’s end. Meta already subsidizes data usage in many countries around the world. Many ISP's offer free social media usage to users because of these subsidies. Meta's move to build this cable will undoubtedly strengthen it's position in the social media world and it's viability as a platform for digital strategies. https://techcrunch.com/2025/02/14/meta-confirms-project-waterworth-a-global-subsea-cable-project-spanning-50000km/ Signal Adds Security Against QR Code Phishing Russian hackers have used fake QR codes to hijack Signal accounts. In response, Signal now requires user verification when linking new devices to prevent unauthorized access. Mission teams using Signal should update their apps and avoid scanning unverified QR codes. Verifying device links is crucial for secure communication. https://www.wired.com/story/russia-signal-qr-code-phishing-attack Foundations of Digital Engagement Strategy Enroll in this 5-week course by Missions Media U to strengthen your digital engagement strategy whether you are just beginning or have been doing digital for years. Each week will have a one hour live class session via Zoom as well as resource material and practical application tasks tailored to your specific context and mission. The Spring cohort begins February 27. https://www.missionmediau.org/foundations-of-digital-engagement-strategies/ Intentional - Kavanah Media's Newsletter Subscribe to Intentional, Kavanah’s monthly newsletter, and stay inspired by stories of lives transformed, ministry milestones, and the latest business updates on how we’re intentionally leveraging digital platforms to make God known across the globe. Join us on this journey of purposeful digital engagement and global impact! For more on this, click the link below: https://www.kavanahmedia.com/sign-up  Christian Media Marketing Podcast Looking for more in depth information regarding all things digital engagement? Look no further than the Christian Media Marketing Podcast. For 5 years Kavanah Media CEO Jon Ralls has gone in depth on everything from websites to online messaging. Subscribe here ( https://www.kavanahmedia.com/podcast) or wherever you listen to your podcasts. 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: February 21, 2025

Weekly Marketing Rundown - February 14, 2025 Hi everyone! In this week's edition of Kavanah Media's Weekly Marketing Rundown we discuss Meta's Advantage+ Audience targeting, ad restrictions, the world's most downloaded apps, and more. Enjoying the Weekly Marketing Rundown? Support our work and keep it free for missions teams worldwide: https://www.kavanahmedia.com/donatetoKM Meta Expands Advantage+ Sales for App Leads and Conversions Meta has announced a new "streamlined Advantage+ campaign creation," automating audience targeting and optimizing conversions for sales, app install, and leads ads. Advantage+ audience targeting has existed for some time, but now will be on by default for these ad objectives. This type of optimization has been expected. For now, not many missions teams utilize sales, app install, or leads ads, but Meta is likely to make Advantage+ audience targeting optimizations for traffic, engagement, and awareness in the future. https://www.jonloomer.com/advantage-plus-sales-app-leads-campaigns/ The Pronoun "You" and Advertising Restrictions A recent wave of Meta advertising restrictions has affected missions teams. Kavanah Media team members suspect that some of these restrictions have occurred because of AI moderation flagging ads based on Facebook's policy related to prohibited personal attributes in advertising. Ads cannot imply personal attributes or ask questions related to age, religion, gender identity, disability, physical or mental health, financial status, voting status, criminal record, and more. Recently, Meta's AI advertising moderations systems have become more robust and are flagging ads in both English and other languages as violations that are not, in fact, violations. Caution is urged when using the word "You" in combination with these prohibited personal attributes in your ad copy in order to mitigate the risk of getting an ad rejected by the AI moderation. Even if an ad is not violating the policy, if it gets flagged in error it can lead to significant delays. Meta's policy on personal attributes can be found here: https://www.facebook.com/business/help/2557868957763449?id=434838534925385 Meta’s Advantage+ Audience Targeting Not Following Gender Settings Some teams using Meta’s Advantage+ audience targeting have noticed that their audience preferences, such as gender or age, are not being followed. For example, even when ads are set to show only to men or women, Meta’s system still delivers ads to the excluded group. This issue affects campaign efficiency and can lead to wasted ad spend. Advantage+ audience controls are merely suggestions. The algorithm initially follows targeting settings but adjusts if it predicts better engagement elsewhere. For mission teams using Meta ads, extra caution is needed when setting targeting parameters. If an ad must be shown to a specific age bracket or gender group, using original audience targeting is recommended. Read the article below for more information on Advantage+ Audience targeting and its weaknesses: https://www.jonloomer.com/meta-ads-targeting-and-optimizations-fatal-flaw/ The Most Downloaded Apps in the World in January 2025 The top 10 downloaded apps globally for both iOS and Android: 1. Tiktok 2. Instagram 3. Facebook 4. Whatsapp 5. ChatGPT 6. Temu 7. Telegram 8. Capcut 9. Threads 10. Snapchat With four of the ten slots claimed by Meta's platforms, it's dominance continues to make it an excellent option for digital strategies. https://appfigures.com/resources/insights/20250207?f=5 How The Instagram Algorithm Works  Instagram’s algorithm determines which posts users see based on several key factors. These include how long users watch your content, the number of likes, and how often your posts are shared. The algorithm prioritizes content that keeps users engaged and encourages interaction.  Posts are analyzed to see if they break Instagrams standards in the following categories: Posts are analyzed to see if they are clickbait, have a low quality picture, are watermarked or spam/ scam. Compliant posts are shown to 20% of a pages followers. https://www.socialmediatoday.com/news/instagram-algorithm-infographic/739633/ Foundations of Digital Engagement Strategy Enroll in this 5-week course by Missions Media U to strengthen your digital engagement strategy whether you are just beginning or have been doing digital for years. Each week will have a one hour live class session via Zoom as well as resource material and practical application tasks tailored to your specific context and mission. The Spring cohort begins February 27. https://www.missionmediau.org/foundations-of-digital-engagement-strategies/ Intentional - Kavanah Media's Newsletter Subscribe to Intentional, Kavanah’s monthly newsletter, and stay inspired by stories of lives transformed, ministry milestones, and the latest business updates on how we’re intentionally leveraging digital platforms to make God known across the globe. Join us on this journey of purposeful digital engagement and global impact! For more on this, click the link below: https://www.kavanahmedia.com/sign-up  Christian Media Marketing Podcast Looking for more in depth information regarding all things digital engagement? Look no further than the Christian Media Marketing Podcast. For 5 years Kavanah Media CEO Jon Ralls has gone in depth on everything from websites to online messaging. Subscribe here ( https://www.kavanahmedia.com/podcast) or wherever you listen to your podcasts. 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, Cherry Messimer, AJ Article Published: February 14, 2025

In this episode, Jon will be sharing recent developments and challenges that we are seeing with Meta's Advantage + audiences. From ads not going to the right people, to much more, Jon will share the best way to regain control (currently) to show your ads to the right people and at the right time. To watch this training, go here: https://youtu.be/2fmGuHZt8Uw

Weekly Marketing Rundown - February 6, 2025 Hi everyone! In this week's edition of Kavanah Media's Weekly Marketing Rundown we discuss new changes to Meta's audience types with catalogue ads, Meta's latest suggestions for marketing, ChatGPT's effect on search traffic and more.  Enjoying the Weekly Marketing Rundown? Support our work and keep it free for missions teams worldwide: https://www.kavanahmedia.com/donatetoKM Meta Updates Ad Targeting in Advantage+ Catalog Ads Meta is removing the “Audience Types” option from its Advantage+ catalog ads, aiming to simplify and enhance automated ad targeting. This change is part of Meta’s broader strategy to rely more on AI-driven ad placements.  This is just the latest update from Meta's push to automate audience targeting with AI. While catalogue ads are not widely utilized in digital engagement strategies, it is likely that similar changes will happen with other ad types. Kavanah Media founder Jon Ralls discussed some of these new changes to audience targeting in episode 272 of the Christian Marketing Podcast. You can watch to it here: https://youtu.be/ngzFqbyNz5M https://www.socialmediatoday.com/news/meta-advantage-plus-catalog-ad-targeting-update/738671/ Meta's Suggestions for Effective Marketing In recent discussions with Meta representatives, Kavanah Media received valuable insights on upcoming changes to Meta's platforms and how teams can adapt. Meta suggests: - Use 3-10 creatives per ad to give algorithms more options for optimization. - Use the leads objective to convert to messages if teams want more engagement. - Focus on Reels and square video formats as they are becoming more popular. - Run ads until they reach a frequency of 5 to ensure adequate exposure without causing ad fatigue. - Incorporate 9-16 videos as they are becoming increasingly important for engaging users on Meta's platforms. By following these recommendations, teams can better navigate Meta's evolving platforms and achieve their marketing goals more effectively. It is important to note, however, these are general suggestions for best practices. Team should experiment in their own context to see if these suggestions help to achieve their desired goals.  ChatGPT’s Rising Influence on Web Traffic and Search Habits ChatGPT is now directing more visitors to education and tech websites, changing how people find and interact with online content. A recent study found that by November, ChatGPT had sent traffic to over 30,000 different websites.  For mission teams using digital media, this shift highlights the growing role of AI in online engagement. As AI searches become more prevalent worldwide, it may start to affect how users find evangelism sites. http://searchengineland.com/chatgpt-growing-traffic-referrer-changing-search-behavior-451525 Sophisticated Hack Targets High-Risk WhatsApp Users Meta has confirmed a zero-click hack targeting WhatsApp users, allowing hackers to access personal data without user interaction. This sophisticated attack poses significant security risks. Some 90 users "including journalists and members of civil society,” were targeted. For mission teams using WhatsApp for outreach, this breach underscores the need for enhanced security measures. Implementing basic cyber security precautions such as two-factor authentication and regularly updating app settings can help protect sensitive communications. https://www.forbes.com/sites/daveywinder/2025/02/03/whatsapp-hack-attack-confirmed-by-meta-what-you-need-to-know/ Foundations of Digital Engagement Strategy Enroll in this 5-week course by Missions Media U to strengthen your digital engagement strategy whether you are just beginning or have been doing digital for years. Each week will have a one hour live class session via Zoom as well as resource material and practical application tasks tailored to your specific context and mission. The Spring cohort begins February 27. https://www.missionmediau.org/foundations-of-digital-engagement-strategies/ Intentional - Kavanah Media's Newsletter Subscribe to Intentional, Kavanah’s monthly newsletter, and stay inspired by stories of lives transformed, ministry milestones, and the latest business updates on how we’re intentionally leveraging digital platforms to make God known across the globe. Join us on this journey of purposeful digital engagement and global impact! For more on this, click the link below: https://www.kavanahmedia.com/sign-up  Christian Media Marketing Podcast Looking for more in depth information regarding all things digital engagement? Look no further than the Christian Media Marketing Podcast. For 5 years Kavanah Media CEO Jon Ralls has gone in depth on everything from websites to online messaging. Subscribe here ( https://www.kavanahmedia.com/podcast) or wherever you listen to your podcasts. 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, Cherry Messimer Article Published: February 6, 2025

In this episode, Jon will be sharing about a new AI platform called DeepSeek. He will share what it is, and some of the censorship, privacy, and security concerns that he has with ministry usage. To watch this training, go here: https://youtu.be/t8Hj1whTTDk

Weekly Marketing Rundown - January 31, 2025 Hi everyone! In this week's edition of Kavanah Media's Weekly Marketing Rundown we discuss how Instagram decides what content to show, Meta's latest regulatory woes, Trump's take on GDPR and more. Enjoying the Weekly Marketing Rundown? Support our work and keep it free for missions teams worldwide: https://www.kavanahmedia.com/donatetoKM How Instagram Decides What You See Instagram’s leader, Adam Mosseri, shared how the platform decides which posts to show more often. The key factors are: • Watch Time: How long people spend looking at your post. • Likes: How many people click the “like” button. • Shares: How often people send your post to others. For mission teams using Instagram, this means creating content that people want to engage with and share. More shares help reach new people, while likes ensure followers keep seeing your posts. https://www.socialmediatoday.com/news/instagram-shares-algorithm-insights-2025/738034/ Meta’s Ad-Free Service Faces Privacy Concerns in Europe Meta launched a paid service in Europe that removes ads from Facebook and Instagram. However, the European Consumer Organisation (BEUC) believes this service may still violate EU privacy laws, as Meta continues to collect personal data without offering a fair choice to users. They are urging authorities to investigate. For mission teams using Meta’s platforms, it’s important to stay informed and be prepared to make adjustments as platforms adapt to new regulations. https://www.reuters.com/technology/metas-revised-paid-ad-free-service-may-breach-eu-privacy-laws-consumer-group-2025-01-23/ Trump Criticizes EU Fines on US Tech Giants President Trump has condemned EU regulators for imposing hefty fines on US tech companies like Meta, Apple, and Google. These fines stem from violations of data protection laws, including the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), and are seen as a form of “taxation” on American businesses. It is unclear just how this will affect the data regulatory landscape, and thus, digital engagement efforts globally. However, If more world leaders also raise similar concerns more changes might be likely. https://www.techradar.com/pro/trump-blasts-eu-regulators-for-targeting-meta-apple-and-other-us-tech-giants Threads Tests Ads in U.S. and Japan Threads, Meta’s platform, is testing advertisements in the U.S. and Japan as part of its push to generate revenue. This marks a significant step as it continues to expand its advertising features, a move aimed at rivaling other social media platforms like X (formerly Twitter). If successful Threads may prove to be another viable platform for digital engagement. https://techcrunch.com/2025/01/24/threads-is-testing-ads-in-the-u-s-and-japan/?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=bluesky YouTube Tips for Shorts YouTube Product Managers share key tips for creators on Shorts: • Hook views in the first second of your video • Thumbnails aren’t vital for discovery but are important for branding and channel marketing. • Creators should focus on concise storytelling with impactful moments to keep viewers engaged. https://blog.youtube/creator-and-artist-stories/youtube-shorts-deep-dive WhatsApp Update for iOS Like Android, iOS users may soon be able to host several WhatsApp numbers. https://www.engadget.com/mobile/whatsapp-could-soon-let-ios-users-have-multiple-accounts-on-one-device-224908618.html?src=rss  Foundations of Digital Engagement Strategy Enroll in this 5-week course by Missions Media U to strengthen your digital engagement strategy whether you are just beginning or have been doing digital for years. Each week will have a one hour live class session via Zoom as well as resource material and practical application tasks tailored to your specific context and mission. The Spring cohort begins February 27. https://www.missionmediau.org/foundations-of-digital-engagement-strategies/ Intentional - Kavanah Media's Newsletter Subscribe to Intentional, Kavanah’s monthly newsletter, and stay inspired by stories of lives transformed, ministry milestones, and the latest business updates on how we’re intentionally leveraging digital platforms to make God known across the globe. Join us on this journey of purposeful digital engagement and global impact! For more on this, click the link below: https://www.kavanahmedia.com/sign-up  Christian Media Marketing Podcast Looking for more in depth information regarding all things digital engagement? Look no further than the Christian Media Marketing Podcast. For 5 years Kavanah Media CEO Jon Ralls has gone in depth on everything from websites to online messaging. Subscribe here ( https://www.kavanahmedia.com/podcast) or wherever you listen to your podcasts. 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, Cherry Messimer Article Published: January 31, 2025

Weekly Marketing Rundown - January 23, 2025 Hi everyone! In this week's edition of Kavanah Media's Weekly Marketing Rundown we discuss TikToks's US comeback, Instagram's new updates and insights into it's algorithms, and more. Enjoying the Weekly Marketing Rundown? Support our work and keep it free for missions teams worldwide: https://www.kavanahmedia.com/donatetoKM AI and End-to-End Encryption: A Balancing Act Cryptography expert Matthew Green explores the challenges of integrating AI into platforms with end-to-end encryption (E2EE). While E2EE secures communications, AI often requires access to unencrypted data to provide features like content moderation and recommendations. Balancing these needs without compromising privacy presents a significant technical and ethical challenge. With so many different options for AI tools hosted, built, and owned by companies around the world, it is impossible to know who has access to what data and where. Teams integrating AI tools into their work should be aware of this reality and take steps to ensure the tools they are using are reputable and secure. https://blog.cryptographyengineering.com/2025/01/17/lets-talk-about-ai-and-end-to-end-encryption/?utm_source=tldrnewsletter TikTok Aims to Restore U.S. Service TikTok has announced plans to work toward resuming operations in the U.S. following its recent shutdown due to a Supreme Court decision upholding a ban on the platform. The company is reportedly in discussions with regulators to address compliance issues and regain access for American users. https://nbcnews.com/tech/tech-news/tiktok-says-restoring-service-us-users-rcna188320?utm_source=tldrnewsletter Instagram Extends Reels to 3 Minutes Instagram has increased its Reels length limit to 3 minutes, up from the previous 90 seconds. This update allows creators more flexibility to produce longer video content. https://www.theverge.com/2025/1/18/24346567/instagram-announces-reels-3-minute-video-posts Major Platforms Sign EU Pledge to Address Hate Speech X, Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube have signed voluntary commitments under the EU’s revised Digital Services Act (DSA) to combat hate speech and illegal content. While non-binding, these pledges aim to help platforms demonstrate compliance with DSA regulations on content moderation. It is not yet known how this will effect teams utilizing these platforms for digital engagement, but changes are likely as these platforms adjust in accordance to new regulations. https://www.theverge.com/2025/1/20/24347876/x-facebook-instagram-youtube-eu-hate-speech-dsa-code Understanding Instagram’s Algorithms Buffer breaks down Instagram’s algorithms, explaining how they rank content across Feeds, Stories, Explore, and Reels. Each section of Instagram has its own algorithm, meaning that content is ranked differently depending on where it appears. Teams hoping to maximize their organic campaigns should optimize their content for each area of Instagram. This includes tailoring posts to encourage interaction, aligning with audience preferences, and maintaining consistency across formats. For a full breakdown of how Instagram’s algorithms work and tips for optimizing your content, check out the original article on Buffer:  https://buffer.com/resources/instagram-algorithms/ . Intentional - Kavanah Media's Newsletter Subscribe to Intentional, Kavanah’s monthly newsletter, and stay inspired by stories of lives transformed, ministry milestones, and the latest business updates on how we’re intentionally leveraging digital platforms to make God known across the globe. Join us on this journey of purposeful digital engagement and global impact! For more on this, click the link below: https://www.kavanahmedia.com/sign-up  Christian Media Marketing Podcast Looking for more in depth information regarding all things digital engagement? Look no further than the Christian Media Marketing Podcast. For 5 years Kavanah Media CEO Jon Ralls has gone in depth on everything from websites to online messaging. Subscribe here ( https://www.kavanahmedia.com/podcast) or wherever you listen to your podcasts. 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, Cherry Messimer Article Published: January 23, 2025

In this episode, Jon will be sharing several strategies and the challenges being faced by the use of AI for Ad reviews and Ad accounts being disabled. To watch this training, go here: https://youtu.be/6FpzM8xynoc

Weekly Marketing Rundown - January 17, 2025 Hi everyone! In this week's edition of Kavanah Media's Weekly Marketing Rundown we will give updates regarding the looming TikTok ban, WhatsApp AI chatbots, Meta's new community notes system and more.  Enjoying the Weekly Marketing Rundown? Support our work and keep it free for missions teams worldwide: https://www.kavanahmedia.com/donatetoKM Socialmediamarketing.com's 2025 Predictions According to SocialMediaToday.com, in 2025 we are likely to see a growing popularity of short-form video, an increase in AI-generated content, the rising value of user-generated content, a stronger focus on user privacy, and more. All of which will effect missions teams. Read the entire list of predictions here: 20 Predictions for Social Media in 2025 [Infographic] WhatsApp Adds AI Chatbots WhatsApp is testing a new tab for AI chatbots, making it easier to find bots by topic and even create custom ones. This feature could change how users interact with the app. For marketing teams, AI chatbots could offer new ways of interacting with contacts. However, it is yet to be seen if users will find these beneficial. Several weeks ago Meta was forced to shutter similar AI features on Facebook. https://www.androidpolice.com/whatsapp-veritable-smorgasbord-of-ai-bots/ Meta Replaces Fact-Checkers with Community Notes Meta is switching from independent fact-checkers to a user-driven “community notes” system, similar to X’s. The move, aimed at prioritizing free speech, is drawing criticism that it could lead to more disinformation. The change will begin in the U.S. amidst political pressures, especially surrounding Meta’s relationship with Donald Trump. Teams should note- this does not mean Meta is scrapping content moderation all together. Ads on their platforms are still analyzed by AI content moderation systems and will be rejected if found in violation. https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cly74mpy8klo Instagram Shifts Focus to Original Content Ahead of TikTok Ban Instagram is planning to prioritize original content, according to CEO Adam Mosseri, as fears grow over a potential TikTok ban. The platform’s push aims to attract creators producing fresh, unique content and distinguish itself from TikTok’s trend-focused platform. This move is seen as part of Instagram’s strategy to stay competitive in the evolving social media landscape. https://www.cnbc.com/2025/01/13/ahead-of-tiktok-ban-instagram-to-prioritize-original-content-mosseri.html Data Breach Exposes Sensitive User Locations A data breach involving Gravy Analytics has exposed precise location data for millions of users of popular apps like Tinder, Candy Crush, and MyFitnessPal. The breach occurred through a real-time bidding process used for ads, revealing sensitive user movements. iPhone users who blocked app tracking permissions are less affected. This breach, once again, is a reminder that data breaches are possible and cyber security is important. Team should take steps to ensure the systems and tools they utilize are secure. Jon Ralls discussed this issue regarding phones in the most recent episode of the Christian Media Marketing Podcast. Click here to watch it. https://youtu.be/6Pdv0_8jrMo?si=n8KN6X04fMmNYziW Tiktok's Sunday Shutdown TikTok is bracing for a possible U.S. shutdown as early as Sunday, urging creators to download content and redirecting advertiser campaigns. The ban stems from regulatory concerns over ByteDance and data security. This highlights the need for mission teams to diversify digital strategies and avoid dependence on single platforms. https://www.reuters.com/technology/tiktok-preparing-us-shut-off-sunday-information-reports-2025-01-15/ Intentional - Kavanah Media's Newsletter Subscribe to Intentional, Kavanah’s monthly newsletter, and stay inspired by stories of lives transformed, ministry milestones, and the latest business updates on how we’re intentionally leveraging digital platforms to make God known across the globe. Join us on this journey of purposeful digital engagement and global impact! For more on this, click the link below: https://www.kavanahmedia.com/sign-up  Christian Media Marketing Podcast Looking for more in depth information regarding all things digital engagement? Look no further than the Christian Media Marketing Podcast. For 5 years Kavanah Media CEO Jon Ralls has gone in depth on everything from websites to online messaging. Subscribe here ( https://www.kavanahmedia.com/podcast) or wherever you listen to your podcasts. 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, Cherry Messimer Article Published: January 17, 2025