We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Darcy Cudmore. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Darcy below.

Darcy, appreciate you joining us today. Before we get into specifics, let’s talk about success more generally. What do you think it takes to be successful?

In my journey building RepuLinks, I’ve come to believe that success is earned—not handed out—and it’s built on three simple but powerful principles:

– Put in the time. There’s no shortcut. You have to consistently show up, do the work, and prove to the universe that you’re serious.

– Treat people the right way. Success comes through others—through relationships, referrals, and trust. That only happens when you lead with respect and integrity.

– Be honest. Especially in an industry like SEO and linkbuilding, where shortcuts are everywhere, long-term success only comes to those who play the long game and stay honest in their work.

I’ve grown RepuLinks over time not just through hard work, but through the support of good people around me—and by staying committed to honest, consistent effort. That’s the foundation I continue to build on.

Darcy, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?

My story isn’t unique or include a ton of crazy stories, but it’s been a fun journey!

I graduated from Journalist and immediately flipped sides when I was hired by a PR agency in Toronto. I gained valuable experience through this job before going out on my own with Darcy Allan PR.

Eventually, as SEO became more valuable, I realized that there was a large market for people who wanted to secure organic backlinks through earned media pitches. We then dedicated ourselves to using platforms like HARO, Qwoted, and Featured to pitch our clients, with the goal of securing valuable backlinks and organic brand mentions!

It’s been a wild journey, but I’m extremely proud of what we’ve done. Landing clients in top-tier publications still has the same level of excitement as it done almost 10 years ago, and the list of our successes continues to grow. RepuLinks is now working with dozens of brands and we continue to do exactly as we promise – secure the best organic backlinks available.

It’s true that the journey is often the most exciting part. From my failures and through the mistakes I’ve made, I’ve learned the most. I now use all of these lessons in order to be better, do better, and secure better results.

Any advice for managing a team?

One of the most important lessons I’ve learned in running RepuLinks is that being a founder doesn’t mean you have to be the one managing everything. In fact, knowing when to step back is one of the best things you can do for your team. I naturally gravitate toward the creative and strategic sides of the business—things like SEO strategy, linkbuilding innovation, and long-term growth planning. But when it came to team management and maintaining morale, I realized that my co-founder had a far better instinct for it.

She’s exceptional at creating structure, supporting people individually, and keeping the team motivated day to day. Rather than forcing myself into a role that didn’t suit me, I chose to pass the torch to her—and it’s been one of the best decisions we’ve made for the company. Morale improved, communication became clearer, and our culture grew stronger.

My advice? Don’t let ego get in the way of doing what’s best for your team. Surround yourself with people who complement your strengths and let them lead where they shine. Leadership isn’t about doing everything—it’s about making sure the right people are doing the right things.

How do you keep in touch with clients and foster brand loyalty?

At RepuLinks, we approach every client relationship as if we’re part of their internal team—not an outside vendor. From the beginning, we make it clear that we’re here to integrate into their workflow, understand their goals, and adapt to their communication style. Whether it’s hopping into their Slack channels, joining weekly standups, or aligning with their project management tools, we do everything we can to blend into their existing systems. This helps eliminate the “us vs. them” dynamic that often creeps into agency relationships.

By positioning ourselves as an extension of their team, we build trust faster and create more open, consistent communication. They don’t have to chase us for updates—we’re already looped in and collaborating daily. That closeness also helps us proactively identify opportunities or challenges they might not even see yet, which builds even more value over time.

Brand loyalty comes from relationships that feel natural and dependable. When your clients stop seeing you as a service provider and start seeing you as part of their internal crew, they stick with you. That’s been key to our growth—real integration, real communication, and real commitment to their success.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.repulinks.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/darcycudmore
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/repulinks
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/darcy-cudmore/