We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Sarah Silberg a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Sarah, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today The first dollar your business earns is always special and we’d love to hear how your brand made its first dollar of revenue.

My first client came straight from my Instagram page, *The Slutty Spoon*, where I feature the best experiences in Philadelphia and New York. Most of my clients come from posting there, and this one was no different—I received a DM from a small, women-owned wedding company asking if I’d consider managing their social media. They had been following my content and loved my approach, so we hopped on a call. I walked them through my strategy, and they were in! Seeing that first payment hit my account was such an exciting moment—it proved that my personal brand could turn into a real business. Now, most of my book comes from messages to *The Slutty Spoon*, and I love helping businesses grow while sharing the cities I love!

Sarah, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?

I’m Sarah Silberg, a Philadelphia-based content creator, marketer, and founder of *Matcha Raye Media*, a boutique social media management and consulting agency. I’ve always been passionate about storytelling and digital marketing, but my journey into this space wasn’t linear. I started my career in consulting, working with Fortune 500 companies on digital strategy, project management and change management. While I gained invaluable experience, I found myself craving a more creative and hands-on role in shaping brands’ digital presence.

Outside of my corporate career, I built *The Slutty Spoon*, a social media platform where I highlight the best food, drinks, and experiences in Philadelphia and New York. Over time, my audience grew, and I started getting inquiries from small businesses asking for help with their own social media. That’s when I realized I could turn my skills into a business. My first official client came from a DM—a women-owned wedding company that had been following my content and wanted me to manage their social media. That moment validated everything for me, and *Matcha Raye Media* was born.

Now, I offer a range of services, including full-service social media management, content creation, strategy consulting, and influencer collaborations. I specialize in Instagram marketing but also provide support for TikTok, LinkedIn, and Facebook. My clients range from restaurants and hospitality brands to real estate professionals and small businesses looking to grow their digital footprint.

What sets me apart is my ability to blend strategy with creativity. Many social media managers focus solely on aesthetics, while others are purely data-driven—I bridge the gap. With my background in corporate strategy and my experience as an influencer, I understand both the analytical and creative sides of digital marketing. I don’t just post content; I craft data-backed strategies that drive engagement, visibility, and sales.

One of the things I’m most proud of is how organic and community-driven my brand has become. Most of my clients find me through *The Slutty Spoon*, and I love that I get to help local businesses thrive while sharing the cities I love. My goal is to empower businesses to show up authentically online, create content that resonates, and ultimately turn their social media into a revenue-generating asset.

For potential clients, followers, and fans—know that I’m passionate about what I do, and I genuinely care about the brands I work with. Whether it’s helping a restaurant go viral, refining a realtor’s digital presence, or crafting a strategic launch for a new business, I bring the same level of energy, creativity, and expertise to every project. If you’re looking to elevate your social media, let’s make it happen!

What’s a lesson you had to unlearn and what’s the backstory?

A lesson I had to unlearn was that *more content always equals better results*. When I first started managing social media, I thought success meant posting as often as possible—daily, sometimes multiple times a day. I believed that constant activity would drive engagement and growth.

But then, I saw one of my clients burn out trying to keep up with a relentless posting schedule, and despite all the effort, their engagement wasn’t improving. That’s when I shifted my mindset. I started focusing on *quality over quantity*, prioritizing intentional, high-value content that resonated with their audience rather than just filling the feed.

This shift changed everything. My client’s engagement actually increased with fewer posts, and their brand started building a more loyal community. I applied the same approach to my own brand, *The Slutty Spoon*, and my business, *Matcha Raye Media*, and saw the same results. Now, I preach to my clients: posting for the sake of posting won’t grow your business—*strategy, storytelling, and consistency will.*

Any insights you can share with us about how you built up your social media presence?

Building my audience on social media, particularly through The Slutty Spoon, was a gradual but exciting process. It all started with my genuine love for food, drinks, and experiences in Philadelphia and New York, and I wanted to share that passion with others. Initially, I posted for fun—sharing my favorite spots in the city, food reviews, and recommendations for hidden gems. But I quickly realized that consistency, authenticity, and engagement were key to growing an audience.

One of the first things I did was engage with other local influencers and businesses. I made a point to leave thoughtful comments on their posts, tag them in relevant content, and support their work. This helped me build relationships and get on the radar of people in the same space. I also made sure my content wasn’t just about me—it was about the experiences I was sharing. I focused on telling stories rather than just posting photos. This helped my content feel more relatable and personal, which resonated with my followers.

Another pivotal moment in growing my audience came when I started collaborating with local restaurants and small businesses. Instead of just posting reviews, I partnered with these businesses for giveaways, events, and features, which helped me reach new audiences and get noticed. People loved that my content wasn’t just promotional but also focused on supporting local businesses and sharing authentic experiences.

The key to growing my audience wasn’t about trying to go viral overnight but rather being consistent, authentic, and community-focused. I used strategic hashtags to get in front of a broader audience and made sure my feed was visually appealing, but the real growth came when people began to see me as a trusted resource for recommendations.

For those just starting to build a social media presence, my advice is:

Be authentic: Share your true voice and interests. People follow people they can connect with, not just brands or products.

Engage with others: Building relationships with your audience and other creators/businesses is essential. Social media is a two-way street.

Consistency is key: Whether it’s posting regularly or engaging consistently, showing up is important. Create a content calendar and stick to it.

Collaborate and share value: Don’t be afraid to reach out to others for collaborations. Partnerships can help you reach a wider audience, and the value you provide to others will come back to you.

Focus on your community: Prioritize building a community over just gaining followers. The more you connect with people on a personal level, the more loyal your followers will be.

Lastly, remember that growing an audience takes time and patience—there’s no shortcut to success. Stay focused, keep experimenting, and be adaptable to what your audience resonates with!

Contact Info:

• Website: https://matcharayemedia.com
• Instagram: TheSluttySpoon, SarahSilberg, MatchaRayeMedia
• Linkedin: Sarah Silberg

Image Credits

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