SmartShots: Your Homebuilder Marketing Update – February 2026
IBS 2026 Momentum & National Gold Recognition
February closed with significant momentum following the 2026 International Builders’ Show and The Nationals Awards Gala hosted by the National Association of Home Builders. SmartTouch Interactive was honored with Gold for Best Marketing Campaign (55+ Community) for Amblebrook, recognizing a fully integrated strategy built on measurable performance and accountable ROI. This award reflects the execution of coordinated awareness, search, social, and retargeting strategies supported by advanced CRM and marketing automation systems.
In addition to the Gold win, SmartTouch was named a finalist for Pomona – Hillwood Communities and Provence – Masonwood Developments, reinforcing the strength of data‑driven, multi‑channel execution. IBS 2026 further confirmed that builders are prioritizing performance transparency, AI‑enhanced optimization, and deeper CRM integration across the buyer journey.
Key IBS 2026 Themes:
- AI‑driven marketing automation is accelerating
- Attribution and measurable ROI are top priorities
- Integrated CRM + media ecosystems are becoming standard
Read more about SmartTouch’s attendance at IBS 2026 and how these insights are shaping client strategies for the year ahead.
AIO
AI‑driven search continues to reshape how homebuyers discover builders, communities, and new developments. ChatGPT has introduced paid advertising capabilities within its ecosystem, signaling that AI‑generated search environments are evolving into performance media channels. Visibility is increasingly influenced by structured content, authority signals, and integrated data systems rather than keyword bidding alone. Builders who prepare early will be positioned to capitalize on emerging inventory and reduced competition during initial rollout phases.
At the same time, Claude, developed by Anthropic, continues expanding enterprise partnerships with major technology providers. These integrations signal growing competition across AI ecosystems and a shift toward multi‑model marketing stacks. For builders and developers, marketing technology must now ensure AI platforms, CRM systems, analytics dashboards, and advertising channels connect seamlessly while maintaining compliance and data integrity.
Implications for Marketing Leaders:
- AI search visibility will become competitive paid inventory
- Enterprise integrations will influence marketing tech stack decisions
- CRM‑connected data will drive more intelligent targeting
- Creative quality and structured data will impact AI inclusion