Weekly Training

Weekly Marketing Rundown - May 24th, 2024 Hi everyone, In this week's edition of Kavanah Media's Weekly Marketing Rundown, we'll talk about new updates to Meta Ads, a recap from Google Marketing Live, and more. Let's dive in.  Meta Rolling Out Sitelinks for Ads to the Public After beginning testing last month, Meta is rolling out site links for Facebook ads to the public. When creating a new ad, you may notice an 'Ad sources' section at the ad level, where you can input their website URL. Meta will attempt to automatically generate useful site links from the provided URL. If the automatic suggestions are not suitable or if no suggestions are found, advertisers have the option to manually add site links. To implement site links in an ad, at least three links must be added. Meta optimizes the display of these links, showing them when it believes they will enhance ad performance. For those interested in tracking, custom UTM parameters can be added to the destination link of each site link, allowing for detailed monitoring of traffic from these links in tools like Google Analytics. For more on this, click the link below: https://www.linkedin.com/posts/bramvanderhallen_facebookads-digitalmarketing-digitaladvertising-activity-7198579240152244224-25cu/ Updates from Google Marketing Live At Google Marketing Live, Google rolled out some updates in ad tech using generative AI. With new AI tools, businesses can now easily create a variety of ad assets quickly. New features include image editing tools and immersive Shopping ads that make it super easy to produce diverse, high-converting ads quickly. While mostly geared towards e-commerce, updates include virtual-try-ons and 3D ads. New image editing tools that let advertisers add objects, extend backgrounds, and crop images to fit any format or size could prove particularly useful to advertisers in the digital engagement world. For a full update from Google Marketing live, click the link below: https://blog.google/products/ads-commerce/ai-creativity-google-marketing-live/ Survey: Instagram Outpaces TikTok in Video-Based User Acquisition: A recent survey by app marketing firm Zoomd reveals that Instagram has surpassed TikTok in attracting users through video content. According to the survey, 79% of marketers allocate at least 75% of their user acquisition budget to Instagram, compared to TikTok. This preference is attributed to Instagram's more mature advertising platform and established user base, making it a more reliable choice for marketers aiming for video-driven user growth. The survey highlights the evolving landscape of social media marketing, with Instagram's robust analytics and advertising tools providing a competitive edge. Marketers find Instagram's ecosystem conducive for achieving higher engagement and conversion rates, despite TikTok's rapid growth and popularity among younger demographics. This trend underscores the strategic decisions businesses must make in optimizing their social media investments to maximize returns. For more on this, click the link below: https://www.marketingdive.com/news/instagram-beats-tiktok-video-based-user-acquisition-zoomd-survey/715598/ X to Require ID Confirmation from Ad Revenue Share Participants X, formerly known as Twitter, is implementing a new policy that will require participants in its ad revenue-sharing program to confirm their identities. This move aims to enhance the transparency and integrity of its advertising model, ensuring that revenue is shared with verified content creators. By mandating ID confirmation, X intends to build a more secure and reliable environment for both advertisers and creators, potentially leading to higher trust and increased participation in the revenue-sharing program. This requirement is part of a broader effort by X to revamp its advertising and content monetization strategies. It reflects an industry-wide push towards greater accountability in digital advertising, where ensuring the authenticity of content creators has become crucial. For creators, this means they will need to complete an identity verification process to benefit from ad revenues, which could impact the ease of entry or continuation for some. For more on this, click the link below: https://www.socialmediatoday.com/news/x-require-ad-revenue-share-participants-confirm-id/716946/ 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 our social media channels using the link below.  https://linktr.ee/kavanahmedia Author: Sean Ralls, Cody Adams, and Yari Soto Article Published: May 24th, 2024

In this episode, Jon will be sharing several things to think through, tools to use, and types of groups that you may want to consider as you move a seeker from online to offline connections. To watch this training, go here: https://youtu.be/ANmGwLu4eXE

Weekly Marketing Rundown - May 17th, 2024 Hi everyone, In this week's edition of Kavanah Media's Weekly Marketing Rundown, we'll talk about advertiser-branded QR codes on YouTube, Netflix entering the ad technology space, and more. Let's dive in.  YouTube Introduces QR Codes for Advertisers to Enhance Viewer Engagement YouTube is set to enhance interactivity within its advertising platform by introducing QR codes that advertisers can incorporate into their ads. This new feature allows viewers to scan QR codes displayed in video ads to directly access websites, promotions, or additional information, bridging the gap between advertisement and action seamlessly. The introduction of QR codes aims to simplify the process for viewers to engage with ad content, potentially increasing conversion rates and providing advertisers with a direct and measurable way to gauge ad performance. The deployment of QR codes within ads represents a strategic move by YouTube to adapt to evolving digital marketing trends, where convenience and quick access are highly valued by consumers. This feature not only facilitates a smoother viewer experience by eliminating the need to manually search for the advertised product or service but also enhances the ability for advertisers to offer more complex and interactive content. As this feature rolls out, it could significantly shift the dynamics of viewer engagement on the platform, offering a more interactive and integrated approach to video advertising on YouTube. For more on this, click on the link below: https://9to5google.com/2024/05/15/youtube-advertiser-qr-codes/ Google to Limit Functionality in Suspended Ads Accounts Starting June 2024 Starting in June 2024, Google will enforce new restrictions on the functionality of suspended Google Ads accounts. Advertisers whose accounts have been suspended will still be able to access them, but their capabilities within these accounts will be significantly reduced. The following capabilities will still be there for suspended accounts: - Billing options: Make a payment, download tax documents, add a payment method - Account settings: Cancel account and claim refunds - Appeals and verification: Appeal a suspension, complete advertiser verification - Security Settings: Update security settings within the Google Ads account - Navigate to any page on their Google Ads account - Read information and download associated reports from their Google Ads account All other actions will be disabled until the suspension is removed.  For more on this, click on the link below: https://support.google.com/adspolicy/answer/14899401?hl=en#:~:text=Advertisers%20will%20be%20informed%20in,documents%2C%20add%20a%20payment%20method Netflix is Developing In-House Advertising Technology  Netflix is taking significant steps to advance its advertising capabilities by developing an in-house advertising technology platform. This strategic move is aimed at improving the efficiency and effectiveness of ad delivery on its streaming service. By transitioning to a proprietary system, Netflix seeks to better control the integration and management of advertisements, offering a more seamless viewing experience for subscribers who opt for ad-supported plans. This shift suggests a potential decrease in reliance on third-party advertising partners and technology, which could streamline operations and potentially increase ad revenue. As Netflix continues to innovate within the competitive streaming market, this in-house approach may provide the flexibility and agility needed to adapt quickly to changing market demands and viewer preferences. For more on this, click on the link below: https://techcrunch.com/2024/05/15/netflix-in-house-advertising-technology-platform/ Meta Faces New EU Probe Over Allegations of Addictive Algorithms Harming Children Meta is under scrutiny once again as it faces a new probe by the European Union regarding its algorithms. This investigation aims to determine if Meta's algorithms violate EU laws designed to protect minors from digital harms. Concerns have been raised about the nature of content delivery mechanisms used by platforms like Facebook and Instagram, which may prioritize engagement at the risk of exacerbating issues related to mental health among young users. The EU's inquiry will examine the specific ways in which Meta's algorithms engage users and the extent to which these methods may be considered harmful. This probe is part of broader efforts by the EU to enforce stricter regulations on digital platforms, ensuring they uphold a high standard of responsibility, especially when it comes to protecting younger audiences. Meta's practices have come under increasing pressure as regulators push for more transparency and accountability in how social media companies operate their algorithms and manage user data, particularly for vulnerable groups such as children. 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 our social media channels using the link below.  https://linktr.ee/kavanahmedia Author: Sean Ralls Article Published: May 17th, 2024

In this episode, Jon will be sharing 3 tips and techniques that your online responders can begin using today. He will also talk about a platform that helps create "Next Steps" for those who are seeking.  To watch this episode, go here: https://youtu.be/17EYXfIDJrc To learn about Next Steps Software, go to https://about.nextstep.is  

Weekly Marketing Rundown - May 10th, 2024 Hi everyone, In this week's edition of Kavanah Media's Weekly Marketing Rundown, we'll talk about new updates to Meta ads, simplified YouTube ad creation and more. Let's dive in.  New Updates to Meta Ads Meta Enhances Advertiser Tools with New AI-Driven Image and Text Generation Features: - Meta is expanding its toolkit for advertisers by integrating advanced AI features that include new image and text generation tools. These AI capabilities are designed to streamline the creation of engaging and dynamic ad content, enabling advertisers to produce high-quality visuals and copy more efficiently. With this new feature, advertisers will be able to input an image as a prompt, then Meta will generate multiple variations of the provided visual.  For more on this, click the link below: https://digiday.com/media-buying/meta-adds-more-ai-features-for-advertisers-with-new-image-and-text-generation-tools/ Meta renaming Advantage + within Ads Platform - Meta is revising its audience targeting strategy by renaming the 'Advantage+ audience' targeting to simply 'Audience', setting it as the new default method for audience targeting. This change simplifies the naming convention and suggests a shift towards more streamlined targeting practices. The new default setting will treat targeting inputs as 'suggestions', allowing Meta's algorithms to potentially expand audience selection to optimize ad performance. However, advertisers still have the option to use a more controlled setup where they can specify targeting parameters such as location, age range, gender, and custom audiences. For more on this, click the link below: https://www.linkedin.com/posts/bramvanderhallen_facebookads-digitalmarketing-digitaladvertising-activity-7193561825655824384-yV4e/?utm_source=share&utm_medium=member_desktop Meta Introduces 'Compare in Chart' Feature in Ads Manager for Enhanced Data Analysis - Meta is enhancing its Ads Manager with a new feature called 'Compare in Chart,' aimed at improving the analytical capabilities available to advertisers. This update comes as a significant addition, especially after the removal of the 'Inspect tool,' which was a favorite among users. The 'Compare in Chart' feature allows advertisers to select multiple campaigns, ad sets, or ads and visually compare them across different metrics within a new panel. This capability simplifies the process of assessing and contrasting the performance, engagement, and conversion metrics of various advertising efforts. For more on this, click the link below: https://www.linkedin.com/posts/bramvanderhallen_facebookads-digitalmarketing-digitaladvertising-activity-7193174233483464704-Qkc_/?utm_source=share&utm_medium=member_desktop YouTube Launches Simplified Ad Campaign Creation YouTube has introduced a new streamlined approach to ad campaign creation with its latest update to the Campaign Creation Studio. This development is designed to make the process of setting up ad campaigns on the platform more accessible and less time-consuming for users. The simplified studio aims to assist advertisers in quickly launching effective campaigns by reducing the complexity traditionally associated with digital advertising setups. The new Campaign Creation Studio enhances the user interface with a more intuitive layout and clearer guidance through each step of the campaign creation process. This update is particularly beneficial for small businesses and individual marketers who may not have extensive experience with digital advertising. Keep in mind that using this form of ad set up, you will have less control over settings than you would using the traditional Google Ads interface.  For more on this, click the link below: https://www.socialmediatoday.com/news/youtube-simplified-ad-campaign-creation-studio/715465/ Meta Expands Paid Verification Service for Businesses Meta is broadening its paid verification service to include businesses, a move aimed at increasing authenticity and security across its platforms. This expansion allows businesses to gain a verification badge, which confirms the legitimacy of their profiles, by paying a fee. Originally available for individual users, this service is designed to help businesses enhance their visibility and credibility among consumers, which is particularly crucial in an era where trust is paramount. By implementing a paid verification model, Meta is not only looking to improve user confidence in the authenticity of business pages but also to create a new revenue stream. This service could potentially help reduce the prevalence of fake accounts and misinformation, making it easier for users to identify and engage with genuine businesses. The verification process involves rigorous checks, ensuring that only legitimate businesses can display the verification badge. Initially, this will only be available in Australia and New Zealand.  For more on this, click on the link below: https://www.engadget.com/meta-is-expanding-its-paid-verification-service-for-businesses-200412634.html Google Tests Adding Notes and Comments Section to Search Results Google is reportedly developing a new feature that would allow users to add notes and comments directly in search results. This function aims to enhance user interaction with search content by enabling personal annotations or comments that could be visible to other users. Such a feature could significantly alter the way information is consumed and interacted with on the internet, providing a more dynamic and social component to Google Search. The development of this feature is still in its early stages, and it's not yet clear how these notes and comments will be integrated with existing search results or how they will impact the overall user experience. For more on this, click on the link below: https://www.androidpolice.com/google-search-results-notes-comments-section-in-development/ 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 our social media channels using the link below.  https://linktr.ee/kavanahmedia Author: Sean Ralls Article Published: May 10th, 2024

In this episode, Jon will be sharing a tool that can use AI to create realistic testimonial video audio in multiple languages. This powerful tool can work from text or even audio to make the translation and content.  To watch this content, go here: https://youtu.be/BpRULJdDyj4

  In this episode, Jon will be sharing about an online, multi-lingual site that allows for continual education and improvement in marketing skills and so much more. To watch this training, go here: https://youtu.be/kSoyu1D-b_I

Weekly Marketing Rundown - May 3rd, 2024 Hi everyone, In this week's edition of Kavanah Media's Weekly Marketing Rundown, we'll talk about sitelinks coming to Meta Ads, Google automatically pausing low-activity keywords, and more. Let's dive in.  Meta Introduces Sitelinks for Ads Meta is rolling out an exciting update to Facebook Ads. Advertisers now can add site links to their ads within the Facebook Feed placement, a feature similar to that of Google Ads. This allows for the inclusion of multiple landing pages under a single ad's creative, enhancing the ad's interactivity and directing users to various pages directly from the ad itself. When users click on any of the site links, they are redirected to the designated landing page within the in-app browser. This will initially only be available in the Facebook feeds placement when rolled out to the public. For more on this, click the link below: https://www.linkedin.com/posts/bramvanderhallen_facebookads-digitalmarketing-digitaladvertising-activity-7191687738402684929-tpGL/?utm_source=share&utm_medium=member_ios Google Ads to Pause Low Activity Keywords Automatically Starting in June, Google Ads is set to implement a significant change by automatically pausing keywords that show low activity over the last 13 months. This update is designed to help advertisers streamline their campaigns and focus on keywords that generate more significant interactions and results. The change is aimed at optimizing ad performance by reducing clutter and focusing resources on more effective keywords. Advertisers will be notified through their Google Ads interface if any of their keywords are being paused due to inactivity, allowing them to make informed decisions about their keyword strategies. For more on this, click the link below: https://searchengineland.com/google-ads-will-pause-low-activity-keywords-starting-in-june-440085?utm_source=linkedin&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=hootsuite&utm_content=editorial YouTube Introduces Pause Screen Ads, Starting with TV Devices YouTube is set to roll out a new ad format that will appear when viewers pause videos, initially targeting TV screens. This move marks a strategic expansion of advertising real estate, aiming to capture viewer attention during moments typically free from advertising. The pause screen ads will display static or dynamic content relevant to the viewer's interests, leveraging the moment when a viewer actively engages with the playback interface. This ad format is expected to roll out to other devices following the initial launch on TV screens, suggesting a broader strategy to monetize different user interactions across the platform. For more on this, click the link below: https://mashable.com/article/youtube-pause-screen-ads-coming-for-tvs-first Roblox to Introduce Video Ads for Users Aged 13 and Up Roblox is set to launch video advertisements accessible to its users aged 13 and older, a significant shift for the platform traditionally known for its immersive user-generated content without disruptive ads. This initiative is part of Roblox's broader strategy to tap into new revenue streams while providing advertisers with access to a largely youthful demographic. The advertisements will be integrated in a way that aims to be non-intrusive, maintaining the user experience that Roblox is known for. As of right now, Roblox has 71.5 million daily active users in the 13 and older age group.  For more on this, click on the link below: https://variety.com/2024/gaming/news/roblox-video-ads-users-13-and-up-1235987232/ 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 our social media channels using the link below.  https://linktr.ee/kavanahmedia Author: Sean Ralls Article Published: May 3rd, 2024

Weekly Marketing Rundown - April 26th, 2024 Hi everyone, In this week's edition of Kavanah Media's Weekly Marketing Rundown, we'll talk about changes to location targeting on Google Ads, a likely TikTok ban in the United States, and more. Let's dive in.  Google's Two-Hop Proxy Development Raises Concerns and Implications for Advertisers Google is in the process of developing a two-hop proxy for Chrome users aimed at enhancing user privacy, but this move introduces significant implications for advertisers. The proxy, which masks user IP addresses to protect their identities, has three major consequences: First, it restricts ad location targeting to only broad regions predefined by Google, resulting in less precise targeting capabilities. Second, as it obscures user identities, advertisers will face challenges distinguishing between genuine users and bot traffic. Third, Google’s control over the collection of location data may lead to increased costs for advertisers as the company could monopolize valuable geolocation insights. This development is pivotal as the two-hop proxy will be exclusive to Chrome, granting Google a monopoly over this advanced privacy feature. Competing search engines will lack access to similar data, potentially sidelining them in the search ad market and impacting competitive dynamics. Google justifies the use of IP-based geolocation within this framework to comply with local regulations and to enhance content relevance, including geo-targeting for ads. However, while user data will be more private from advertisers, Google itself will still access this data, raising concerns about true privacy. For more on this, click the link below: https://searchengineland.com/google-chrome-ip-masking-439820?utm_source=linkedin&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=hootsuite&utm_content=editorial TikTok's Potential Sale or Ban: Key Points  President Biden has signed a significant legislative package that includes a clause potentially leading to the ban of TikTok in the U.S. unless its Chinese owner, ByteDance, divests its stake within the next 9 months. The requirement for ByteDance to sell its stake in TikTok stems from concerns that the Chinese government could access the personal data of millions of U.S. TikTok users. If ByteDance fails to sell, TikTok could face a ban, significantly impacting the platform's operations and its large user and business base in the U.S.  TikTok has ~170 million users in the U.S. and has become a huge piece of many marketers' digital strategies. Barring any big developments, it'll be business as usual for TikTok advertisers for the remainder of the year. However, if the result of this ends up being a ban, most TikTok users will likely shift to watching content on Reels and YouTube Shorts, though some other platforms could certainly compete. TikTok has already said they will be launching a legal battle against this legislation.  For more on this, click the links below: https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/congress/congress-biden-bill-ban-tiktok-when-2024-election-rcna148792 https://www.fastcompany.com/91112180/what-u-s-could-learn-indias-tiktok-ban Threads Reaches 150 Million Monthly Active Users  Meta's Threads has recently surpassed 150 million monthly active users, showing significant growth from 130 million in just two months. Meta originally planned to introduce paid advertisements on Threads only after reaching a user base in the hundreds of millions, but recent reports indicate that this could happen much sooner, possibly within the second half of this year. The acceleration in advertising integration reflects Meta's confidence in Threads' growth trajectory and its potential to reach 200 million users by October.  For more on this, click the link below: https://www.socialmediatoday.com/news/threads-now-up-150-million-monthly-active-users/714239/ 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 our social media channels using the link below.  https://linktr.ee/kavanahmedia Author: Sean Ralls Article Published: April 26th, 2024

In this episode, Jon will share how a principle from the 1800's still impacts our digital engagement efforts in the 21st Century. By focusing on the 20% that brings the 80% results, we can have more impact, more ministry fruit, and less burnout. To watch this training, go here: https://youtu.be/V3mJU95_-TA

Weekly Marketing Rundown - April 19th, 2024 Hi everyone, In this week's edition of Kavanah Media's Weekly Marketing Rundown, we'll talk about new updates to Meta Ads, premium placement ads for YouTube shorts, and more. Let's dive in.  Meta Ads Updates from This Week - Meta is introducing 'Instagram Profile Reels' as an ad placement. This would have ads show up within the reels feed of public Instagram accounts.  - You can now access Region-wide reports for Advantage+ App Campaigns - A new Facebook group reporting preset, including statistics such as 'Join group requests' and 'Cost per join group request' For more on this, click the link below: https://www.linkedin.com/posts/bramvanderhallen_facebookads-digitaladvertising-digitalmarketing-activity-7185907985959768064-lAw4/?utm_source=share&utm_medium=member_desktop Premium Placement Option for Ads on YouTube Shorts YouTube is enhancing its advertising offerings with the introduction of "YouTube Select Shorts," a new feature designed to help advertisers secure prime ad placements alongside the platform’s top-performing Shorts content. This option allows brands to specifically choose their ads to appear with the best Shorts in five distinct categories: Entertainment, Beauty, Fashion & Lifestyle, Food & Recipes, Gaming, and Automotive. This targeted approach gives advertisers greater control over their Shorts promotions and maximizes exposure to viewers within specific interest niches. YouTube reports that Shorts now attracts 2 billion logged-in users each month For more on this, click the link below: https://www.socialmediatoday.com/news/youtube-launches-premium-placement-option-for-shorts-ads/713524/ Threads Expected to Have Ads This Year Meta is set to introduce advertising on Threads, its text-based platform and rival to X, earlier than anticipated. Industry insiders have revealed that marketers could start buying ads on Threads as early as the second half of this year, according to information shared with ad executives. This development marks Meta's continued expansion of its advertising landscape just over a year after Threads was launched. While the specifics of how these ads will be integrated into Threads remain under wraps, discussions so far have focused more on the timeline of the rollout rather than the exact details of the ad placements. For more on this, click the link below: https://digiday.com/marketing/metas-threads-expected-to-have-ads-this-year/ The European Data Protection Board Issues Guidance Impacting Ad Platforms The European Data Protection Board (EDPB) has released new guidance with significant implications for adtech giants like Meta and other large platforms operating in the European Union. The guidance addresses the contentious issue of "consent or pay" models used by some platforms to obtain user consent for data processing. Meta, the owner of Facebook and Instagram, has been requiring users in the EU to consent to being tracked and profiled for ad targeting purposes since November 2023, or opt to pay a monthly subscription fee for ad-free services. However, the EDPB views this binary choice as potentially problematic, citing concerns about an imbalance of power between individuals and data controllers. Despite Meta's claims that its subscription model complies with EU laws, the EDPB's opinion challenges the notion that the Court of Justice of the European Union (CJEU) explicitly sanctioned such models. The Board emphasizes that the CJEU's ruling did not focus centrally on subscription models and suggests that Meta's interpretation may be flawed.  The EDPB's guidance as of now is simply an opinion, though it is certainly possible that the EU makes that opinion law before too long.  For more on this, click the link below: https://techcrunch.com/2024/04/17/edpb-consent-or-pay-opinion/?guccounter=1 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 our social media channels using the link below.  https://linktr.ee/kavanahmedia Author: Sean Ralls Article Published: April 19th, 2024

In this episode, Jon will be sharing several ways that we can walk with the Spirit and trust Him to work through the Word of God in our Digital Engagement efforts.  To watch this training, go here: https://youtu.be/t52o1lrMXY0