What does it take to go from $5 gigs on Fiverr to running a digital PR and SEO agency that consistently earns media coverage in outlets like GoDaddy, HubSpot, Entrepreneur, and Forbes?

In this episode of Small Business, Big Engine, host Grant Fisher sits down with Darcy Cudmore, founder of RepuLinks, to share how he scaled from solo freelancer to business owner with a growing remote team and a reputation for results.

Darcy started out on platforms like Fiverr and Upwork, using every opportunity to build his skills, collect five-star reviews, and earn repeat business. That foundation eventually opened the door to larger clients, agencies, and long-term growth. Today, RepuLinks focuses entirely on organic link building and digital PR, helping clients gain valuable backlinks and expert mentions without paying for placements or cutting corners.

Whether you're new to PR or trying to grow your SEO the right way, Darcy offers a practical roadmap based on real experience.

In this episode, you'll learn:

✔ How Darcy turned Fiverr gigs into a full-scale business
✔ What makes organic backlinks more valuable than ever
✔ How platforms like HARO, Qwoted, and Featured help you earn press
✔ Why speed, quality, and consistency are key to media outreach
✔ What to know before hiring or scaling a small team
✔ How to build trust and visibility without a traditional PR budget
✔ Why AI is increasing the value of earned, expert-driven content
✔ The biggest lessons Darcy learned while growing RepuLinks

What is RepuLinks?
RepuLinks is a white-hat digital PR and SEO agency that helps brands grow online visibility by securing earned backlinks through expert quotes, journalist pitches, and organic media opportunities. The team monitors platforms daily, responds with tailored insights, and helps clients get featured in highly trusted publications. This process increases domain authority, builds brand credibility, and drives long-term SEO performance.

Darcy and his team offer a done-for-you service that delivers guaranteed link volume through consistent, human-centered outreach.

Who is this episode for?
This conversation is a must-listen for:

• Small business owners trying to grow organic traffic
• Founders looking to build long-term SEO authority
• Freelancers aiming to move from service provider to business owner
• Marketers seeking real-world PR strategies that don’t rely on pay-to-play tactics
• Anyone interested in modern link-building, SEO, and visibility

Resources Mentioned:

• Platforms: HARO, Qwoted, Featured, SOS
• RepuLinks: www.repulinks.com

Connect with Darcy:

• LinkedIn: Darcy Cudmore
• Website: www.repulinks.com
• Darcy offers free 20 to 30-minute calls for those interested in learning how to manage organic media outreach in-house. No strings attached.

Enjoyed this episode?
Make sure to subscribe to Small Business, Big Engine and leave a review. It helps other listeners discover the show and brings more visibility to stories like Darcy's. Thanks for listening.

How Brady Built a $2M+ Agency With No Full-Time Staff

Brady shares the evolution of Taste Network, which started in 2002 with wine and cheese pairings and scaled into a multi-city culinary festival that brought together chefs, farmers, winemakers, and food lovers in an entirely new way.

You will learn how he:

• Turned relationship equity into his main growth strategy

• Built community through story-driven events

• Scaled Cochon555 into a 20-city tour with more than 20,000 attendees per year

Brady explains why people connect with narrative over names.

"Narrative is still king."

He breaks down how crafting a meaningful story—not just for your product, but for your audience—is the fastest path to resonance, referrals, and retention.

The Offset Strategy: High-Impact Events Without High Budgets

Brady shares one of his most effective and repeatable strategies for producing high-quality events without breaking the bank. Known as The Offset Strategy, it is rooted in building long-term relationships with aligned vendors instead of short-term sponsorships with random brands.

"I only included products I’d want in my own house."

It is a playbook for building brand integrity and curating experiences that feel cohesive and memorable.

AI Adoption for Operators: Why It Matters

Brady compares avoiding AI today to refusing the internet in 2002.

We talk about:

• Why founders need to engage with AI daily

• How ChatGPT can replace clunky internal meetings and reports

• A simple weekly AI reflection ritual that drives team clarity and alignment

He introduces a 3-question system he uses with his team every Friday:

• 1. What were my highs and lows this week?
• 2. What can I do to radically increase revenue?
• 3. What can I do to radically increase accountability?

This is a practical and fast habit that can work for nearly any kind of business.

Brady also breaks down Accelerator, his white-labeled CRM ecosystem built on GoHighLevel, designed for hospitality, creative, and service-based entrepreneurs.

Accelerator integrates:

• CRM and pipeline tracking
• Funnel and landing page builders
• Multi-channel messaging and engagement
• Automated review generation and email/SMS marketing
• Fully built websites with connected automations

Quotes from this episode

• "If you are still managing customer touchpoints in spreadsheets or disconnected tools, this part of the episode will give you the systems-level thinking you need to modernize."
• "If you’re not using AI first, you’re already falling behind."
• "You can’t throw an epic event if you’re cheap. But you don’t have to go broke if you build the right relationships."
• "It’s like walking into a restaurant and the hostess doesn’t even look at you. That’s what ghosting your audience feels like."
• "I want to scale from a lazy $2M to a focused $10M, and I want to take 100 people with me."
• "Your business needs a North Star. If you don’t have one, you’ll burn out chasing tactics."

• Who this episode is for:
• Small business owners who want to scale with purpose
• Marketing professionals looking to connect more deeply with their audience
• Event planners and brand builders searching for smarter systems
• Creative entrepreneurs navigating how to apply AI in their workflow
• Coaches, consultants, and service providers ready to operationalize growth

• Taste Network: https://tastenetwork.com
• Accelerator CRM Platform
• Next10 Coaching Program
• ChatGPT (for team engagement, weekly check-ins, and playbooks)

• Website: https://tastenetwork.com
• Instagram: @bradylowe75
• LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/tastenetwork

In this episode of Small Business, Big Engine, we explore how to use storytelling and communication to grow your business, even if you don't see yourself as a speaker.

Grant sits down with Robert Kennedy III, a professional speaker, storytelling strategist, and founder of Kennetik Kommunications. They talk about how small business owners can craft messages that connect, convert, and build lasting trust.

You’ll learn:

• Why every business needs three core stories: origin, client, and conversion

• A simple framework (E.A.S.E.) to structure your message with impact

• How to overcome fear and start speaking with confidence

• How to keep your voice authentic in a world filled with AI-generated content

• Why showing up on camera as yourself is a powerful visibility tool

Whether you're leading a team, pitching to clients, or building your brand online, this episode will help you communicate with more clarity, confidence, and purpose.

Love this episode? Got feedback? Email Grant at [email protected]

AI is everywhere... But how do you actually use it in a way that supports your business instead of distracting from it? In this episode, I’m talking with Erin Stewart, founder of Scenic West Consulting, about how small teams and product-focused businesses can build AI strategies that are both practical and powerful.

We get into the real talk around AI implementation, including:

• What most teams get wrong about using AI tools

• How to think about AI in your product roadmap

• Tools Erin’s team actually uses for UX and product strategy

• Why senior talent matters more than ever in the age of AI

• How to know when AI shouldn’t be part of your solution

Whether you’re a founder, product leader, or designer experimenting with AI, this conversation will give you a grounded, smart approach to using AI in your business—without the hype.

🔗 Learn more about Erin at scenicwest.co

Subscribe to Small Business, Big Engine for more real conversations about what it takes to grow something that lasts.

In this episode, Grant talks with Elyse Peterson, founder of Tealet, a global tea marketplace that connects independent farmers directly to buyers.

Elyse shares how she went from working in the food industry to joining the Peace Corps, then unexpectedly launching a startup that took her to 500 Startups in Silicon Valley. She did it all without a pitch deck or formal business plan.

We talk about:

• How a chance invitation to a Startup Weekend changed everything

• Why she’s building a transparent, decentralized supply chain

• How blockchain and crypto help her avoid high banking fees

• What it’s like to grow a global business as a solo founder

• Why she’s now buying back her company from early investors

• The big idea behind sailboat shipping and the new Boston Tea Party

• What she wishes she had known before taking investment

Elyse’s story is full of insight, grit, and thoughtful innovation. If you care about doing business differently and building something with purpose, you’ll enjoy this conversation.

🔗 Learn more about Tealet: https://tealet.com
📲 Follow Elyse on TikTok: @tealettea

What does it really take to build a product-based business from scratch—and grow it profitably without outside investors?

In this episode of Small Business, Big Engine, host Grant Fisher sits down with Jonathan Fisher, founder and CEO of Bevanda, a growing product brand best known for its insulated lunchboxes and stainless steel beverage dispensers designed for the trades. Jonathan shares how he scaled the company with intentionality, overcame inventory nightmares, made bold manufacturing decisions, including a $250,000 printer purchase while doing just $200K in revenue—and why he turned down acquisition offers and VC funding to stay true to his vision.

We also dive into:

• How to validate your product through feedback from non-buyers

• Why Bevanda is rebranding to focus entirely on the trades

• The risks of trying to be everything to everyone

• How bootstrapped brands can grow without burning out

• Lessons learned from failed marketing campaigns and expensive live events

If you're a founder, entrepreneur, or small business owner trying to grow a product-based company, this episode is packed with hard-earned wisdom you won’t hear on most highlight-reel podcasts.

🔗 Visit bevandaproducts.com to explore Bevanda’s latest products
📱 Follow Jonathan on LinkedIn: Jonathan Fisher, CEO of Bevanda

00:00 – Intro
02:00 – From Retail Store to Product Business
04:45 – Early Growth and Big Risks
07:30 – Inventory Challenges & Seasonality
10:20 – Turning Down Big Retail Deals
12:00 – The Power of Focused Product Development
17:15 – A Failed Live Event and What It Taught Them
20:00 – Positioning Mistakes and the Path to Rebranding
23:15 – Bevanda’s New Focus on the Trades
25:15 – Direct-to-Consumer Challenges
27:30 – Hiring for Marketing After Years of Hesitation
30:30 – What the Future Looks Like
35:30 – Advice for Entrepreneurs in Manufacturing
39:00 – What to Ask the Customers Who Don’t Buy
42:40 – Where to Find Bevanda Products

What does it take to keep a creative agency relevant for over 30 years - especially in a world where consumer behavior shifts overnight?

In this episode, Grant sits down with Sam Sohaili, Partner at DMA United, a New York-based agency known for shaping global brands at the intersection of fashion, sports, and culture. From early collaborations with Mercedes-Benz at Fashion Week to navigating today’s AI-driven marketing landscape, Sam shares a behind-the-scenes look at how DMA has stayed agile, relevant, and ahead of the curve.

Key sections

00:00 - The power of being nimble: Fashion Week, Mercedes-Benz, and value-based branding
03:15 - Marketing as plate tectonics: Pressure, time, and brand alignment
06:30 - How AI changed the branding process overnight
09:10 - Staying relevant for 30+ years in a fast-changing industry
11:45 - How belief forms faster now - and what that means for brands
14:20 - Why consumers are ahead of brands - and how to catch up
17:05 - Marketing on gaming platforms: From fringe to foundational
19:30 - What small businesses can learn from big brand strategy
21:10 - The role of brand voice, strategy, and consistency across teams
23:40 - Final thoughts on staying innovative and building long-term trust

Whether you’re running a small business or leading a growing brand, this conversation is packed with insight on how to stay relevant in a culture that won’t sit still.

Keywords for SEO:
Brand strategy, agency growth, marketing trends, consumer behavior, small business marketing, AI in branding, brand voice, long-term brand relevance, creative agency, DMA United, Sam Sohaili, fashion and marketing, brand innovation, customer trust, brand alignment

Follow the show for more real stories and smart strategies behind small business success.
New episodes drop on Tuesdays and Thursdays. Subscribe, share, and leave us a review!

What does it take to build a business that thrives, even when you’re not in the room?

In this episode of Small Business, Big Engine, Grant Fisher sits down with Ryan Timmons, founder of Heritage Barbershop in Middle Tennessee, to explore how he scaled a local barbershop into a high-performing, reputation-driven business with 9 barbers and nearly 2,000 monthly clients, all while managing it from over 1,000 miles away.

Ryan shares his journey from the restaurant industry to barbering at age 37, why he emphasizes experience over ego, and the simple rules that keep his team aligned.

You’ll learn:

• How to lead a service business without being on-site

• Why customer loyalty is built through consistency, not just skill

• What makes a great barber, and why soft skills matter more than the fade

• How to plan growth without losing culture or profitability

Whether you're running a barbershop, salon, or any service-based business, Ryan’s story is packed with real-world insights on sustainable growth, team culture, and operational leadership.

💈 Learn more or book an appointment: heritagebarbershoptn.com
📱 Follow on Instagram: @heritagebarbershoptn

In this episode of Small Business, Big Engine, host Grant Fisher sits down with Lucy Wahl, founder of LMW Edits - a San Francisco-based home organizing company known for its practical systems, high-touch service, and life-enhancing impact on busy professionals and young families.

Lucy didn’t set out to be a business owner. Her journey started in nonprofit fundraising before earning her MBA at UCLA. But instead of returning to the fundraising world, Lucy took a risk: she asked what she was really good at - and turned her gift for organization into a thriving business. Over 10 years later, LMW Edits is known not just for transforming spaces, but for improving lives.

In this conversation, Lucy shares the behind-the-scenes of growing a service-based business that’s both personal and professional. You’ll hear how she:

• Discovered her niche by listening to what friends and family already saw in her

• Built a brand in a “high-trust” industry where marketing has to feel real and human

• Navigates the tension between being the face of the brand and building a scalable team

• Thinks about recurring clients, word-of-mouth marketing, and long-term growth

• Approaches business differently as someone not chasing traditional startup scale

• Balances mission, profitability, and lifestyle as a founder grounded in service

She also opens up about:

• How COVID forced her to rethink her services and offer virtual organizing

• Her strategy for training new team members through a paid apprenticeship model

• The ceiling she sees in service-based business models - and why she’s exploring thought leadership and mentorship as her next chapter

Whether you’re a solo entrepreneur, service provider, or someone just trying to make home life less chaotic, Lucy brings clear insights and relatable honesty about what it means to build a business with intention.

Topics covered include:

• Finding your niche in a crowded market

• Building trust-based relationships with clients

• How to train and scale a team without compromising quality

• Why organizing is about systems, not just aesthetics

• The real ROI of an organized home - less stress, fewer arguments, more freedom

• How to transition from in-the-business to on-the-business thinking

• Why recurring revenue isn’t always the holy grail - and what to do instead

New episodes of Small Business, Big Engine drop every Tuesday and Thursday. Remember to subscribe so you don't miss future episodes. Thanks for listening!

In this episode of Small Business, Big Engine, host Grant Fisher sits down with Austin Schulenburg, founder of Pen and Mug, a Nashville-based creative studio that grew from a solo freelance practice into a thriving nine-person team.

Austin shares the behind-the-scenes story of how he made the leap from corporate designer to full-time entrepreneur... and why doing it slowly and intentionally was the best decision he ever made. We dive into the turning point that made his business feel “real,” the power of retainer clients, and how he balances creativity with the demands of business ownership.

You’ll hear:

• Why Austin didn’t name his company after himself - and how that choice shaped his vision

• The slow, steady, and smart approach to going full-time

• How retainer clients became the backbone of his studio

• The challenges of letting go and scaling a creative team

• Why he’s not chasing explosive growth - and what he’s focused on instead

Whether you're a freelancer dreaming of building a team or a founder figuring out how to delegate without losing your edge, this episode is packed with honest insights and practical takeaways.

👉 Learn more about Pen and Mug: penandmug.com
📸 Follow them on Instagram: @penandmug