A powerhouse of ideas is coming to the 2026 NAHB International Builders’ Show® (IBS). IBS Education* is where the top pros break down real-world problems and share actionable solutions across AI, design efficiency, customer experience, attainable housing and more. Leading the conversation is Matt Riley, co-owner of the home building company New Home Inc.
Meet Matt Riley
If you’ve ever heard Matt Riley speak, you know he doesn’t waste time on fluff. With nearly 25 years in the home building industry — from on-site sales to leading marketing operations for the top 100 builders to co-owning his own home building company — Matt has seen every trend, every tech shift and every tool the industry has thrown at us. And here’s his secret. While everyone else chases shiny objects, he’s laser-focused on fundamentals, execution and practical digital strategies that move the needle.
Matt’s IBS Education Session
At IBS 2026, Matt is bringing that no-nonsense, high-impact approach to the stage with The New Search Landscape: 5 Moves to Outrank & Outperform in a Zero-Click World. His session helps builders understand what’s working right now in SEO and how to future-proof their digital presence as AI reshapes buyer behavior.
What to Expect from Matt’s Session
Matt isn’t delivering theory. He’s giving you a blueprint.
Attendees will walk away with a hands-on roadmap to improve their digital presence, identify the SEO gaps costing them leads today, and learn proven strategies to fix them — starting the minute they’re back in the office. Whether rebuilding strategy from the ground up or fine-tuning what already exists, Matt will break down what matters in search right now and how to execute with confidence.
What Matt’s Most Excited About at IBS
For Matt, IBS is more than education sessions. It’s those hallway conversations, coffee-break brainstorms and dinner-table deep dives with other industry pros who are solving the same challenges. That’s where the breakthroughs happen. Matt loves real builders helping real builders, one conversation at a time.
Matt’s Advice for First-Time Attendees
Don’t try to see it all.
IBS is massive. Trying to hit everything is the fastest way to leave overwhelmed instead of inspired. Matt recommends choosing 3 – 5 focus areas that serve your business goals right now — whether that’s marketing, operational efficiency, tech or vendor relationships — and building your schedule around them. Allow time for spontaneous conversations, skip what doesn’t matter and soak in what does.
Where Matt Thinks You Should Spend Your Time
It depends on your goals:
- Want to sharpen your sales, marketing or operational skills? Head to Centrals. They’re filled with people who speak your language and are wrestling with the same challenges.
- Focusing on product research or supplier relationships? The show floor is your playground — the place to compare innovations, meet vendors face-to-face and discover solutions that can differentiate your homes.
Intentionality is everything. Know your why and let it guide your time at the show.
Matt’s Take on 2026 “Trends”
Trend-chasing? Hard pass.
While others debate what’s hot, Matt is doubling down on fundamentals: documented processes, consistent execution, better customer communication, disciplined follow-up and strong project management. Because the biggest problem in the industry isn’t trends — it’s a lack of follow-through. Builders who master the basics will win in 2026 and far beyond.
Where the Industry is Heading in the Next 5 Years
AI will transform estimating, scheduling, communication, marketing and everything in between in home building. But success won’t come from adopting everything quickly. It’ll come from discerning what works. Matt’s advice? Test small, measure results and scale only what delivers ROI. Let results, not FOMO, drive your decisions.
The Biggest Challenge Builders Face Today
It’s the shiny-object syndrome. New tools, new tech, new trends — it’s endless. Matt recommends having one or two trusted people on your team tasked with vetting possibilities, testing them responsibly and saying “no” more often than “yes.” Innovation matters, but strategy matters more.
Where You’ll Find Matt at IBS 2026
In Matt’s sessions, they’re addressing that search is shifting fast, how AI is changing how buyers find information and zero-click search means they often get answers without ever visiting your website. SEO isn’t dead. It is evolving and builders need to evolve with it.
Matt and his co-presenters will cover:
- How AI and zero-click search are reshaping buyer behavior.
- How to build digital trust with stronger brand signals, faster site performance and clearer content.
- Which SEO metrics matter most today — Core Web Vitals, indexed pages, engagement signals and more.
- Real-world insights from builders who are already adapting and winning in this new landscape.
Leave with practical steps to strengthen visibility, build authority and set up your digital strategy for long-term success.
Matt Riley brings clarity to a crowded digital world. At IBS 2026, he’s ready to help you cut through the noise, sharpen your strategy and take control of your online performance.
Get ready to level up your SEO, your processes and your perspective. Matt’s session is one you won’t want to miss. To attend Matt’s and choose from the other 120+ IBS Education sessions, an Expo+Education registration is required.
*To attend IBS Education, you must have an Expo+Education registration.