Marketing Simplified with Adam Benjamin

The FIFA World Cup is one of the biggest sporting events on the planet—but behind the goals, trophies, and unforgettable moments is one of the most fascinating business models in sports. In this episode of Marketing Simplified , we break down how FIFA generated billions of dollars by selling attention, scarcity, media rights, sponsorships, hospitality, and licensing. We discuss: • How FIFA is proj...

In the first episode of Educating the Uncs , Gwen brings Adam, Richard, and Emerson up to speed on the biggest trends shaping culture—and what marketers and business owners can learn from them. In this episode we discuss: • Why Love Island has become one of the biggest entertainment and marketing successes in the world • How NBC Universal turned a reality dating show into an advertising machine •...

In this episode of Marketing Simplified , Adam Benjamin and the team break down some of the biggest shifts happening in business, marketing, and culture right now. They discuss why the work-from-home movement is starting to reverse, how AI is rapidly changing the job market, why most businesses completely misunderstand social media, and how brand collaborations are becoming one of the most powerfu...

Most businesses don’t fail because of bad marketing—they fail because their strategy doesn’t match their reality. In this episode, we break down a simple but powerful framework every business owner needs to understand: Resources, Objectives, and Timeline —and how these three variables dictate what’s actually possible in your business. If your expectations don’t align with your constraints, your st...

In this episode, we break down the real state of AI in business—and why most people are still barely scratching the surface. From comparing ChatGPT, Claude, and Gemini, to discussing how AI is actually being used inside a marketing agency, this conversation dives into what’s working, what’s overhyped, and what business owners should be paying attention to right now. We cover:  The real differences...

2025 was a transformative year for marketing and advertising. Businesses need to know that what worked even a year ago may not work today.  There's been a complete shift in the marketing landscape. Most of this is due to skyrocketing CPMs, AI, the economy, and competition in the marketplace.  In this episode we breakdown what changed in 2025, and how to adapt in 2026.

It’s a Friday-afternoon roundtable with Adam, Richard, and Emerson—covering what’s actually top-of-mind in business, marketing, and culture right now. We start with the “Super Bowl vs. The Big Game” trademark nuance (and the surprisingly fun debate: are there 1,000 U.S.-born adults who don’t know what the Super Bowl is?). From there, we break down why alcohol brands are largely sitting out this ye...

The traditional social media advertising formula is broken for most businesses. CPMs have made the cost advertising much more expensive. Increased competition has made advertising noisy. And most smaller brands aren't seeing success with social ads. We've spoken to so many entrepreneurs who have been frustrated they're not seeing the same results they were on social media from years...

I had the honor of sitting down with my good friend, Jessica Kennedy. I wanted to talk to Jess because she's got a fascinating journey, one that I've witnessed from the start of her business. Jess had a very successful career at a Top 4 Accounting Firm. But even with all her professional growth, she felt like she was in the wrong line of work. So she left and pursued her passion, coachin...

In this episode we talk about marketing specifically for small businesses. We go through the common challenges and mistakes many smaller businesses make, how to overcome them, and how to grow into a larger business.

In this episode I had our CMO and COO join me to discuss what marketing and business strategies will change in 2025. We discuss everything from paid ads to creative trends, as well as new platforms that will emerge as opportunities for brands. Follow Adam Benjamin https://instagram.com/adamcbenjamin/ https://tiktok.com/@adamcbenjamin Visit the Agency Website https://wearestarke.com/

In this episode we talk about how to create a real marketing strategy. I say "real" not to imply that other strategies aren't. But many strategies are conceptual and lack practical application. In this episode you'll learn: 1. Determining where to advertise 2. Building a funnel based on consumer psychology 3. Understanding the variables for conversion 4. How to track success 5....

In this episode we talk about creating ads that actually work. If you're going to run social advertising, creating high performing ads is essential. It doesn't  matter how good you are at platform execution if you don't nail the ads. 

In this episode I sit down with our CMO, Emerson Guerrero, to discuss how a brand can go from $0 to $1,000,000 in sales. This information comes directly from the work we've done and brands we've worked with at our agency. $1M is an arbitrary number, but it signifies a milestone. I hope you enjoy this, but more importantly I hope it provides value that you can use in your company.

We started testing TikTok shop when it launched, and after 6 months we've determined that it can be a massive opportunity for ecommerce brands.  In this video, we'll talk about the 3 main features that make TikTok shop powerful. Combine that with the fact that TikTok has the highest daily usage rate of of all the social platforms, and you're got massive potential.

META Ads have changed. What worked in years past doesn't work today. In this episode, we'll cover: - What's different about META Ads in 2024 - What strategies are working now - Testing and scaling campaigns - Measuring the success of creative - The importance of the actual ads now vs in years past - How to think through attribution - The correlative effect of META on other platforms...

If your marketing strategy isn't working, you may be going to broad.  There's a common mistake a lot of brands make, they try to appeal to everyone. And when you try to appeal to everyone, you actually reach no-one.  This episode breaks down how to take the attributes of your product or service, and tailor them to the specific demo you're trying to reach. 

Are you struggling with generating revenue?  Do you understand the metrics behind profitability? Knowing your customer acquisition cost vs the lifetime value of that customer will help you understand the path to profits.  It'll also help you learn whether a campaign is doomed from the beginning.  The CAC to LTV ratio changes based on the industry. We'll break down 3 examples.  1. Busines...

Business is going back to basics. Social advertising and pixel changes combined with higher CPMs are making marketing fundamentals a priority.  In this episode we run through the three stages of growing a business in 2024. If you want to get the visuals to this episode, check it out on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MN-KAq48rBw&t=98s

SEO isn't dead, but it's changed and you should rethink whether it's a viable strategy for your business. Ultimately, your goal is conquer search, not SEO. That means you need to think through whether Google ads or SEO is the best way to do so.  I'll break down where and when to invest in SEO, and the three rules behind determining whether SEO is right for you.

Too many entrepreneurs spend way too much time on the wrong aspects of growing a company. This leads to wastage and ultimately failure. Knowing what to focus on and what isn't actually that important is key to success. In this episode we'll break down where to focus your energy, and what to avoid.

Great brands know how to build hype before launching new products, but you can too. We'll explore how companies like Apple and Tesla strategically build hype that leads to massive sales, and how you can do so too.

Building a business is nuanced and very specific based on the vertical and the resources available to the entrepreneur. However, there are some fundamentals that everyone should keep in mind. In this episode we'll break down the six stages that you'll need to progress through on the road to building a profitable company.

This is a question I get a lot, go all in on content creation to build awareness or focus on paid advertising. It's a nuanced question and it really depends on your goals and resources. In this episode I break down what you need to keep in mind as you make your decision.

Henry Ford said "Stopping advertising to save money is live stopping your watch to save time".  Pulling back on your ad budget when times are tough, especially if paid ads is the primary driver of your business, is a road to disaster. What you want to do is instead focus on increasing the efficiency of your marketing spend.