The MDB Journal
Ideas with an edge.
Reporting, analysis, and useful perspective on leadership, AI, communications, and growth.
Missed Calls Are Missed Revenue: AI Receptionists, Reviewed
Voicemail, text-back, human receptionists or AI? We compared the main ways service businesses answer calls they can’t pick up, with published prices and honest trade-offs.
Q4 Ad Costs Are Rising: Where Small Businesses Should Shift Budget
Holiday advertisers pour money into ad auctions every fourth quarter. Here is what the numbers show and where small service businesses should move budget now.
Best Brand Strategy Agencies for Small Business (2027)
Eight brand strategy agencies that publish a price or minimum, compared on cost, small-business focus and reviews, with a best-for pick for each.
What a Website Strategy Audit Checks, and How to Score Your Own Site
A website strategy audit scores two things: whether your site turns visitors into calls and whether Google and AI can find it. Here is a scorecard you can run yourself.
SailWell to be featured at two events during Canyon Ranch Lenox’s Enchant retreat
Co-founders Justine Charmley and Taylor Ondrejca join the November 1-4 beauty and wellness retreat in the Berkshires LENOX, Mass. (Oct. 28, 2026) — SailWell, a functional sparkling beverage brand created by women, for women, will be featured at two events during Enchant at the Ranch, the beauty and wellness festival at Canyon Ranch Lenox, Nov….
Google Business Profile Changes This Fall: What to Do Now
Google gave owners four days to answer suggested edits and tightened rules on posts and listings. Here is what changed and a short checklist for this week.
Before You Redesign: 9 Questions That Decide If a Site Brings Calls
A new website can bring more calls or quietly lose the ones you have. These nine questions tell you which way yours is headed before you sign.
America’s Christian Credit Union named to Newsweek’s America’s Best Regional Banks and Credit Unions 2026
The Glendora-based credit union earns a five-star rating in the Newsweek and Plant-A Insights Group ranking of the nation’s top 500 credit unions Glendora, Calif. (October 16, 2026) — America’s Christian Credit Union, a faith-based financial institution serving Christian families, schools and churches nationwide, has been named to Newsweek’s America’s Best Regional Banks and Credit…
ChatGPT Is Sending Local Customers Now: How to Show Up in AI Answers
New BrightEdge data shows ChatGPT referrals doubled from January to August 2026. Here is what that means for local businesses and how to get named in AI answers.
Where Small Businesses Can Get a Free Website & SEO Audit (2026)
Small businesses can get a free website and SEO audit in 2026 from Google Search Console and PageSpeed Insights, Bing Webmaster Tools, the free Ahrefs plan and a free Semrush account. For a person to look at your site, SCORE offers free mentors, and our team at MDB Consultancy offers a free Growth Leak Audit that names your top three leaks.
Why Your Website Gets Traffic but No Calls: 7 Conversion Leaks
Visitors are arriving but the phone stays quiet. Here are seven common conversion leaks on service-business websites, the research behind them, and a fix for each.
Mama Bears Rising launches free online community where moms get real support instead of more noise
The platform brings mothers together with mentors and peers for honest conversation, free of the hidden sales pitch that comes along with most influencer content Montgomery, Texas, (Oct. 6, 2026) — Mama Bears Rising, a free online community for mothers all over the world, recently launched by founder, Jessica Brassington. The platform is built around…
everbowl lands in Beverly, Massachusetts, celebrating with a free-bowl sneak peek
The fast-casual superfood brand celebrates the debut of its new location with a Friends and Family Event on October 8, offering free bowls to guests ahead of its Grand Opening. BEVERLY, Mass., (October 8, 2026) — everbowl®, the fast-casual superfood brand with more than 100 locations nationwide, is bringing its craft superfood bowls, smoothies and…
Aexa Tech brings holographic AI to Grand Central Terminal in House of Vanderbilt partnership
The interactive experience blends AI, holography and the Vanderbilt legacy inside one of New York’s most iconic landmarks. Houston, Texas, (September 3, 2026) — Aexa Tech, a Houston-based holographic AI company, announced a partnership with the House of Vanderbilt, debuting Sept. 15 during New York Fashion Week inside Vanderbilt Hall at Grand Central Terminal. As…
Keynote speaker and confidence coach Justin Guarini teaches professionals to command any room in new book ‘Center Stage Confidence’
Arriving October 6, the Broadway star, longtime entertainer and entrepreneur offers professionals a practical framework for building real-world confidence FURLONG, Pa., Oct. 5, 2026 — Justin Guarini, keynote speaker, confidence coach and seven-time Broadway leading man, releases “Center Stage Confidence: How to Own Your Story and Command Any Room” on October 6. Published by Entrepreneur…
Called to Lead brings 600 women executives and founders to Boca Raton, Florida on October 1
The one-day event features keynotes, breakout sessions and networking, with sponsor Publicity For Good hosting an on-site media den BOCA RATON, Fla., (September 23, 2026) — Business growth strategist and 8-figure founder Kelly Roach and entrepreneur and best-selling author Sandi Glandt will host Called to Lead 2026, a one-day leadership and business growth event for…
Tim Storey brings his two-day Lead With Love Mastermind to Scottsdale this October
The weekend event gathers high performers, entrepreneurs and leaders around growth in leadership, wealth, health and faith. Scottsdale, Ariz., (Sept. 8, 2026) — Life coach and author Tim Storey will host a two-day, in-person Lead With Love Mastermind in Scottsdale, Arizona, on Oct. 17-18, 2026, guiding attendees through his approach to growth in leadership, wealth,…
Surfer Laird Hamilton to Speak and Surf With Blind Entrepreneur Sean Callagy at ACTi Unblinded Mastery Event on LBI
The two will take to the ocean off Beach Haven before appearing on stage together Saturday at the Long Beach Island Historical Museum. BEACH HAVEN, N.J., September 17, 2026 — Big-wave surfing pioneer Laird Hamilton will surf with and speak alongside blind New Jersey entrepreneur Sean Callagy at an exclusive event on Long Beach Island…
Publicity For Good founder Heather Holmes to speak at The Thing Roadshow Nashville
Award-winning publicist will teach entrepreneurs how to leverage media to amplify their message at the September 17 LOUDER event. NASHVILLE, Tenn., (September 15, 2026) — Heather Holmes, co-founder and CEO of Publicity For Good, and author of Seen by AI, Found by Customers, will join the speaker lineup at The Thing Roadshow Nashville on Thursday,…
Publicity For Good Headed to Limitless Live 2026 to Support Client Speaker Garry Lineham
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Publicity For Good CEO Heather Holmes heads to Limitless Live focused on human performance, growth, and AI integration. GREENWICH, Conn., Sept. 10, 2026 — Publicity For Good (PFG) will join industry innovators, wellness leaders, and growth strategists at Limitless Live 2026, taking place Sept. 11–12 at the Hyatt Regency Greenwich. PFG CEO…
Publicity For Good Brings AI Visibility to Nashville Home Show
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Publicity For Good CEO Heather Holmes to meet with home, design, and service founders at the Music City Center. NASHVILLE, Tenn., Sept. 10, 2026 — Publicity For Good (PFG) will join the Nashville Home Show at the Music City Center to support entrepreneurs across the lifestyle home sectors. CEO Heather Holmes will…
Publicity For Good represents at the 2026 Renaissance Women’s Summit to support women entrepreneurs
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Publicity For Good CEO Heather Holmes will be at the Riverwood Mansion event to connect with women founders across Nashville. NASHVILLE, Tenn., Sept. 9, 2026 — Publicity For Good will be joining the 2026 Renaissance Women’s Summit on Sept. 10 at Riverwood Mansion in East Nashville. CEO Heather Holmes will be connecting…
everbowl opens new location in South Peoria
The fast-casual superfood brand celebrates its debut with a community preview on September 3, offering free bowls to the first 300 guests ahead of its Grand Opening. PEORIA, Ariz., (September 2, 2026) — everbowl®, the fast-casual superfood brand with more than 100 locations nationwide, is bringing its craft superfood bowls, smoothies and toasts to Arizona’s…
Kelly Roach and Sandi Glandt bring 600-attendee leadership event to Boca Raton
Called to Lead returns Oct. 1 with a growing speaker roster and limited general admission tickets remaining BOCA RATON, Fla., Aug 26th, 2026 — Business growth strategist Kelly Roach and entrepreneur Sandi Glandt will co-host Called to Lead, a one-day leadership and business growth event for women executives and founders, on Oct. 1 in Boca…
