Meet Rachel Silva | Content Creator

We had the good fortune of connecting with Rachel Silva and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Rachel, what do you attribute your success to?
I think my ability to tell a story. My content has gone through multiple iterations over the years and seasons, finally landing on recommendations. If you scroll through my profile, most of my videos are me green screened in front of a single promotional image, yapping away. I wouldn’t look to me for high production value and stunning visuals. In fact, I feel like my content gets more inorganic the more effort I try to put behind it. The most common comments I receive on my videos are about people trusting my recommendations, reporting back on something I recommended that they loved or how they intend on watching something because I gave it a good review. These are by far my favorite compliments and ones I will never get tired of!

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
I think the most important thing about content creation is keeping myself in the headspace that this is a hobby and not a career. I actually have no aspirations to be a full-time content creator as I’m realistic that this isn’t sustainable in the long-term for most (also, I love company health benefits). Having no expectations has allowed things to come naturally for me and relieves some of the stress of needing to have a certain amount of brand deals per month or make a certain amount of revenue. The largest challenge, if any, has been navigating an industry as it’s forming around me. Influencer marketing is a newer industry and there wasn’t a lot of publicly available guidance or industry standards established when I first started getting approached my brands. Everything that I’ve learned from building a media kit (think influencer resume) to setting rates and negotiating contracts with company’s who have their own legal team has been a self-taught process. Someone had to be the guinea pig for the rest of my friends!

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
I grew up and San Diego and have explored every neighborhood at this point so I will admit, the glamour has well worn off on me by now.

Some activity ideas:
– Torrey Pines hike for a nice touristy beach view
– Ho Chi Minh trail down to Black’s Beach to really make them work
– Walk around Liberty Station and grab a bite to eat at the Public Market
– Picnic and read on the grass at Liberty Station
– Paddle boarding (dog’s welcome!) at Liberty Station
– Rent a touristy 4-person bike and pedal around Coronado Island
– Museum day in Balboa Park (obligatory activity)
– Sunset pictures at La Jolla Cove

Favorite food:
– Walk the Saturday Farmer’s Market in Little Italy and grab lunch at Nonna (their fruit tarts are my favorite!)
– Dinner and soju at Min Sok Chon or Zzan Sushi & Soju
– AYCE hotpot from Shabu-Works
– Souffle pancakes for dessert from Cake de Partie
– My beloved black sesame cake from Hinar
– Ramen from Ramen Nagi
– I’m more of a burrito than taco person, but I’m from Chula Vista so everyone always makes me take them to Tacos el Gordo! It seems like a rite of passage for tourists.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
I’d have to thank everyone in my personal life, really, especially my Dad! The largest hurdle that people seem to face when they decide to pursue content creation is judgement from the people in their personal lives. You know, those people from high school who still gossip about what you’re doing 5 years later? That’s something I’ve never had to care about. I’m grateful that everyone who’s been in my life since starting this little hobby has not only been receptive, but supportive. They think it’s really cool what I do and will often help me film/star in my content. My Dad has had his all-start moments in my content on a handful of occasions.

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rachelszero/

Other: https://www.tiktok.com/@rachelszero