Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Sarah Sullivan. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Sarah, appreciate you joining us today. Often outsiders look at a successful business and think it became a success overnight. Even media and especially movies love to gloss over nitty, gritty details that went into that middle phase of your business – after you started but before you got to where you are today. In our experience, overnight success is usually the result of years of hard work laying the foundation for success, but unfortunately, it’s exactly this part of the story that most of the media ignores. Can you talk to us about your scaling up story – what are some of the nitty, gritty details folks should know about?

A media agency in Maine doing fun and innovative things? Absolutely! Story Silo Media is proud to be at the forefront of creativity and innovation in the marketing world. Here’s our story:

Making big decisions is never easy, but at 17, choosing to stay home and care for my mother during her battle with cancer instead of following my peers to college was a no-brainer. The challenge of building a media agency in Maine, where marketing in 2014 consisted mostly of newspaper ads and the occasional radio spot, was daunting. Maine was behind the times in many ways when it came to marketing. Yet, I quickly realized that each small business I helped by revamping a website or updating their imagery was starting to gain significant traction. One client even said, “Until you came along, we never realized the importance of how you show up online.”

The first five years were all about wearing many hats, self-educating, and learning from every mistake. Growing up with limited resources and having loved ones rely on you ignites a fire within, making you fight harder for what you believe in. Thankfully, my mother’s battle with cancer ended victoriously in 2020, and her resilience inspired me to persevere through tough times.

Finding silver linings in life’s challenges has been crucial in shaping the agency we have today. Now, at 28, I look back and realize that growth comes from facing struggles and fears head-on. Ten years later, Story Silo Media has evolved into a small but mighty team of designers, social media managers, and photographers. We are passionate about helping innovative brands tell their stories, generate awareness, and scale their businesses to their fullest potential.

Our mission is to craft stories that captivate and engage through commercial photography, strategic marketing, and original design. We are here to ensure that every brand we work with stands out and grabs the viewer’s attention in today’s competitive market.

Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers.

Our agency helps brands scale through custom content creation and strategic marketing.
Commercial Photography, Design, Social Media & Full In-House Marketing.

We are very proud of the long-lasting client relationships we have built and our innovative approach to each. We know that everyone has a unique brand voice and that cookie-cutter plans don’t work, so we create a recipe for each of our clients that does.

Can you tell us about what’s worked well for you in terms of growing your clientele?

My company began to truly thrive when I shifted my focus from simply acquiring clients to nurturing long-lasting partnerships and dedicating my full attention to the clients I already had. By prioritizing quality over quantity and building strong, trusting relationships, I found that my efforts were much more fruitful and fulfilling.

When you work with clients who genuinely appreciate your efforts and the value you bring, the journey becomes significantly more rewarding. This satisfaction not only enhances the work experience but also naturally leads to word-of-mouth referrals and organic growth. In essence, doing what you love with people who recognize and value your talents creates a positive feedback loop, fostering both personal fulfillment and business expansion.

The key takeaway is to concentrate on excellence in service and client satisfaction. This approach not only solidifies your existing client base but also attracts new clients who are drawn to your reputation for quality and reliability. Before you know it, your business will grow organically, driven by the strength of these enduring partnerships.

How about pivoting – can you share the story of a time you’ve had to pivot?

Burnout is real, and many first-time entrepreneurs and start-ups will try to, and most of the time have to, wear a bunch of hats in order to get their name out there and make ends meet. I learned that when you juggle a bunch of projects at once, there is more chance for error, and perfection is not something you can always achieve, so instead of being hard on yourself, try and see every mistake as a growth opportunity, and once you are able to afford help, most definitely delegate the work out. Trusting others to take over your business can be like trusting someone with your baby, but after the third kid, you’re gonna need an extra set of hands. In some cases, delegating is the best way to grow.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://storysilo.com
• Instagram: @storysilomedia
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/storysilomedia/

Image Credits

I have permission to use these images by Story Silo Media.