Check this out.  I wrote this a couple weeks back and now it's getting all this attention.  Go figure..

 http://blog.sellsiusrealestate.com/sellsius-real-estate-blog/zillow-bans-unzillowable-ad/2007/06/05/

This morning I received about 20 emails from Zillow asking me to manually update those listings which I reported for sale on their site a few weeks back.  Initially, I wasn't sure if I wanted even to participate in posting my listings for sale on Zillow, but I did so anyway as a protectionary measure against having anyone other than myself lay claim to these listings.  At the time I was disturbed that Zillow would allow ANYONE to "report a home for sale" on their site, that is to say realtors and non-realtors alike.  They introduced a category of claimant called "other" that I thought was a rather insipid, perhaps even devious but not quite ingenious, call-to-action marketing approach, which put just enough fear in my real estate marketing soul and just enough bend, twist and pressure on my broker arm, and just enough concern and doubt in my agenct mind about the extent of my fiduciary duties owed to my clients--just enough I say--to compel me to take action.  So, yes I did, ultimately and after more than a little bit of soul searching, report my listings for sale on Zillow.

Ah, but alas, this morning I understood better what Zillow seeks from me and from you--my fellow real estate professionals.  They want us to do their work for them and, thus be compliicit in their success by adding value to their online shop--er community.  The 20 email notices I received this morning asked me to update each of my listings which I reported for sale on Zillow.  They ask me to confirm:

1. Is the property still for sale
2. Have their been any price changes
3. Is the property pending
4. Has the property been sold (requires input of sale price and date

Now, the issue for me is this: Do I really want to spend my time, energy and resources--of which I have precious little to spare--updating Zillow's records.  Isn't it enought that I do so in MLS--which then notifies a variety of websties AUTOMATICALLY for me.  How much duplication of effort can I subject myself to? 

I find myself at another crossroad in terms of my 'relationship' with Zillow, and I respectfully seek advice from any and all Active Rainers on how they might proceed here.  I am wrestling with the idea of having to take onon yet another resposibility--and if I do, I ask, what web 2.0 company is lurking around the next corner looking for another piece of the stress-fractured database of a mind.  What would you do? 

Oops...Have I offended the Zillow gods?  The powers that be at Z have taken offense to my advertisments on their site, citing some obscure rule in their ad policy.  Apparently, their rules state (somewhere) that you can't use the word Zillow in any advertising you place on their site.  

Well, as far as I'm concerned I did not violate that rule anyway.  I used the term Un-Zillowable in my headline.  Last time I checked the term unzillowable had not been trademarked or copyrighted by the big Z.  Apparently, there advertising rules apply to terms that are not even considered English words (although I can not speak for other languages with any authority).  Let me ask you Active Rainers: Does the term unzillowable have the same meaning as the proper noun Zillow?  What d'ya think?

 UPDATE:  I had to change my ad before Zillow would lift the suspension on my account.  Here it is...

A slightly lower layer, but I like it.  Start my ad enzines Zillow and full steam ahead...