If I were a agent website vendor I might have pooped a little in my pants after reading the press release Zillow issued this morning. The gist of it is this, a WordPress based full IDX website with a CRM for only $10.00 bucks a month. $10.00 bucks! That will cause some pricing pressure out there where typically these sites run from $29.95 to $49.95 per month.
Some thoughts:
First off the landing page is great. -They do a quick video using animation to drive home their value proposition. And surprise, it’s done very well.
There’s also a quick link to see example sites (Spoiler: They look better than most agent websites I’ve seen)
When you are ordering they have a Facebook Connect link. I don’t think I would ever use this but I know a lot of people will. Smart.
The whole process of ordering an agent website is great. Contrast this to something like Homes Connect, where I’m faced with a confusing product matrix and must speak to a sales person to order product. And I have no idea how much Homes Connect is going to charge me. Zillow process makes it transparent and simple.
Instant satisfaction. In less than 2 minutes I’m on my site customizing. 2 minutes!
Plus the agent gets a domain registration and their integrated CRM included with the site. And you get Diverse Solutions IDX solution, which is top notch. Did I say $10 bucks a month?
Of course there will be challenges. I still don’t think Zillow have a full understanding of how difficult it will be to support agents (hot mess). And there is still a lot of animosity towards Zillow from the agent community.
I’m very interested to see how this plays in the market place, but my initial thoughts is that they have a hit on their hands.
Full Press Release Below:
______________________________________________________________
Zillow Launches Premier Agent Websites
Customized, easy-to-build IDX-powered personal websites for real estate agents at $10 a month
SEATTLE, May 31, 2012 /PRNewswire/ — Zillow, Inc. (NASDAQ: Z), the leading real estate information marketplace, today announced the launch of Premier Agent Websites, which allow real estate agents to quickly and affordably create a custom WordPress®-powered website for their personal brand and business. Premier Agent Websites include the option of an internet data exchange, or IDX, feed of local MLS listings and cost just $10 a month for agents not currently subscribed to Zillow’s Premier Agent advertising program. Subscribing Zillow® Premier Agents get a website for free.
“It’s incredibly important for real estate agents to have a Web presence, but building and maintaining a custom website with local IDX feeds is often time consuming and complex,” said Jay Thompson, director of industry outreach and social media at Zillow. “We created this product for the tens of thousands of agents in our Premier Agent program, as well as any agent who wants an easy and affordable website for only $10 a month.”
Premier Agent Websites are designed for agents who do not have their own website, wish to improve on their current website, or are looking for a more affordable custom website solution. Built on the WordPress platform, Premier Agent Websites can be created quickly without the need for Web expertise, and content can be updated easily at any time. Key features include:
Local, map-based IDX property search of multiple listing service-listed homes. An additional MLS fee may apply.
A personalized domain name of the agent’s choosing, at no additional cost.
A variety of templates, themes and colors.
The ability to add custom, local content such as a personal blog, video, real estate data and mortgage widgets, photo slideshows, and school information.
Integration with Zillow’s free customer relationship management platform to manage leads and customer contacts coming from the website.
Search engine optimization.
This announcement continues Zillow’s expansion of the Zillow Premier Agent program to include a wide variety of marketing and business services for real estate agents. The company’s fall 2011 acquisition of Diverse Solutions, a provider of MLS listings feeds for agent websites, allowed Zillow to accelerate this important initiative to help real estate agents better market their business online.
For more information, visit http://www.zillow.com/agent-websites. To learn about the Zillow Premier Agent program, visit http://www.zillow.com/advertising/agent-advertising.
About Zillow, Inc.
Zillow (NASDAQ: Z) is the leading real estate information marketplace, providing vital information about homes, real estate listings and mortgages through its mobile applications and websites, enabling homeowners, buyers, sellers and renters to connect with real estate and mortgage professionals best suited to meet their needs. More than 32 million unique users visited Zillow’s websites and mobile applications in April 2012. Zillow, Inc. operates Zillow.com®, Zillow Mortgage Marketplace, Zillow Mobile, Postlets® and Diverse Solutions™. The company is headquartered in Seattle.
The Zillow logo is available at http://www.globenewswire.com/newsroom/prs/?pkgid=10012
Zillow.com, Zillow and Postlets are registered trademarks of Zillow, Inc. Diverse Solutions is a trademark of Zillow, Inc.
WordPress is a registered trademark of WordPress Foundation Non-Profit Public Benefit Corporation.
(ZFIN)
SOURCE Zillow, Inc.
Thank you Greg.
Yes we’re very excited about the news. All of Zillow’s Premier Agents now can have a FREE IDX WORDPRESS Website, and non-Premier Agents can have one for $10 per month. Thank you for the nice review.
“I still don’t think Zillow have a full understanding of how difficult it will be to support agents (hot mess)”
Yes they do… Diverse Solutions will be doing the fulfilling, I bet 🙂
Jay T. from Zillow here…
Thanks for the write-up Greg! We’re really excited about this product. It’s a pretty creative community out there so it will be interesting to see how agents put this product to work.
@Kristi – Yeah, I think we know a thing or two about agent websites (rip Advanced Access). Though I for one never would have thought I’d be creating an agent website platform for the third time in the span of a decade.
@Jon – And I’m on my 3rd CMA program ; )
Hey Greg – Brad from Zillow here, thanks for posting this. I just wanted to mention to Kristi and others that we will be providing free training and support webinars and classes for agents using the websites.
We’re excited about helping agents use these successfully beyond just having a new and powerful site, the next steps will be assisting them with creating quality and valuable content, then capturing and converting contacts and prospects. 🙂
Well Done Zillow!
ZILLOW is free that is why every one goes to zillow its good and its FREE If I have to pay i can show you better website and they cost less But they are not free like Zillow so hastala vesta (cholo for good by)
I believe what you composed was very logical. However, think about this,
suppose you added a little information? I am not suggesting your information isn’t good, however what if you added a post title that makes people desire more? I mean Zillow gets in to the agent website game. | Vendor Alley is kinda boring. You should peek at Yahoo’s front page and note how they create post headlines to
get viewers to open the links. You might add a video or
a picture or two to grab readers interested about everything’ve got to say. Just my opinion, it would bring your posts a little bit more interesting.
May I just say what a comfort to find someone that truly knows what they’re discussing online. You definitely know how to bring a problem to light and make it important. More and more people have to check this out and understand this side of your story. I was surprised you are not more popular since you surely have the gift.
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