How Youre Helping Your Competitors Zillow and Trulia Outrank You

Jeff, in a webinar today, I asked the same question - is Zillow hurting us? Though I'd still say, the ROI on investment with Zillow is good....so may not use the widgets but will use their services for sue.

Great read, thanks Jeff.

Yes, this is so sad and most agents don't realize this.  I'm in a different category (flooring) and won the Angie's List super service award again this yr.  They allow us to add a badge there.  Last yr, I had them get me one w/ a no follow link.  I need to do the same this year.  (and that Angie's List award is highly relevant for my category.

This is an excellent infometric!  I posted it into the Canadian sites as we are discussing " reposting the house data" on different providers.

The advertisers repackage and brand how ever they like then resell those leads back.

I hope teh Canadian MLS does not go they way you have.  The Canadian MLS System ( Realtor.ca ) is currently owned by the membership.

David Pylyp

Etobicoke Real Estate

Jeff - I never really understood this until I saw the infographic.  For non-geeks like me, that's very helpful.  I have the Zillow widget on two of my site and will take it down.

Incredibly important for agents to read if they hope to compete with zillow and trulia for page rank. If anyone is using a widget that doesnt create a backlink that is benificial for their site I would love to hear about it.

Hi Jeff....Great tip for everyone, I only am registered on their site, no widgets...hopefully I'm gaining instead of them.

Suggestion Here

Love your Graphics

MERRY CHRISTMAS

As the old saying goes; "What's good for the goose is good for the gander."
(This idiom means that people should be treated the same way and not be subjected to different standards.)
Apparently when it comes to backs-links Trulia and Zillow feel Agents do not deserve what they themselves demand!

In the Columbia SC real estate market Zillow and Trulia dominate Google for most of our local real estate keywords. Thanks for sharing this information about how using their widgets helps their site grow. Short term widgets seem nice for our users but In the long run using the widgets costs in many ways. We spend more on PPC and help the big guys dominate Google. Everyone in the real estate industry needs to know this information

The widgets are just a small part of the problem. We need to get our MLS's to stop giving Zillow and Trulia the listing data and then if they steel it the MLS should sue. These leaches need to be put out of business.

Guess it is nice to be behind on this particular technology. No widgets for me.

Zillow is doing very well for themselves on the backs of Realtors. Thanks for the information.

Another good post Jeff. I especially like the part about the Terms of Use and glad you've taken the time to read them because like you said, no one else has. Hopefully more people can see this and actually take action! I'll be sharing this with others in my office.

Great post Jeff. I like to read what you offer.  It is new to me..  I will bookmark for future reference.

Thanks Jeff! I guess advertising on there sites would also help them more than the agent. I have a prepaid ad campaign until April. Not much I can do about that!

Happy New Year!

Jeff, I did not realize you were on Active Rain. I just signed up myself. It is a shame that your article is not getting more popularity than it is... at least your website article is getting a ton of traffic. 

I'm doing my part to spread the word too!

I sure hope Google realizes how important and relevant local sites are in the SERPS.

We will help spread the word.

I've searched this exact information with Realtors I know and they have removed widgets from their websites.  One told me that her vendor paid her to have the widget on her site...for a $2 million a hour I might consider that....lol.