Comments on: zillow.com Lays Off 25% of Workforce, What Future Does it Have? http://www1.propertyportalwatch.com/2008/10/opinion-zillow-lays-off-25-of-workforce-what-future-does-it-have/ Everything You Need to Know About Property Portals. Thu, 18 Mar 2010 21:27:10 +1100 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.6 hourly 1 By: zillow.com Regains Strength | Property Portal Watch http://www1.propertyportalwatch.com/2008/10/opinion-zillow-lays-off-25-of-workforce-what-future-does-it-have/comment-page-1/#comment-1850 zillow.com Regains Strength | Property Portal Watch Tue, 05 May 2009 23:41:22 +0000 http://www1.propertyportalwatch.com/?p=371#comment-1850 [...] to pre-lay off levels, according to a report on bizjournals.com. In October last year, the company laid off 40 staff members, citing the effects of the global economic downturn. The bizjournals.com report [...] [...] to pre-lay off levels, according to a report on bizjournals.com. In October last year, the company laid off 40 staff members, citing the effects of the global economic downturn. The bizjournals.com report [...]

]]> By: snoop http://www1.propertyportalwatch.com/2008/10/opinion-zillow-lays-off-25-of-workforce-what-future-does-it-have/comment-page-1/#comment-709 snoop Tue, 25 Nov 2008 00:32:40 +0000 http://www1.propertyportalwatch.com/?p=371#comment-709 Well I think you have to give them credit for building a new site and in a little over two years getting 5m ubs. Consumers always want to know what their house is worth and hate handing their details over to lead gen sites or too agents until they have a guide. Simply the site would not get 5m ubs if consumers didnt think their was a value prop. So can they monetise this trafiic is the big answer? Well I think you have to give them credit for building a new site and in a little over two years getting 5m ubs.
Consumers always want to know what their house is worth and hate handing their details over to lead gen sites or too agents until they have a guide.
Simply the site would not get 5m ubs if consumers didnt think their was a value prop.
So can they monetise this trafiic is the big answer?

]]> By: The Storm Revisited | Real Estate Blog http://www1.propertyportalwatch.com/2008/10/opinion-zillow-lays-off-25-of-workforce-what-future-does-it-have/comment-page-1/#comment-166 The Storm Revisited | Real Estate Blog Mon, 20 Oct 2008 22:18:50 +0000 http://www1.propertyportalwatch.com/?p=371#comment-166 [...] Similarly, Simon Baker at Property Portal Watch says today the portal is “in for tough times“. [...] [...] Similarly, Simon Baker at Property Portal Watch says today the portal is “in for tough times“. [...]

]]> By: reguy http://www1.propertyportalwatch.com/2008/10/opinion-zillow-lays-off-25-of-workforce-what-future-does-it-have/comment-page-1/#comment-165 reguy Sat, 18 Oct 2008 22:53:17 +0000 http://www1.propertyportalwatch.com/?p=371#comment-165 As I've seen noted elsewhere the fundamental problem is that the primary driver of their audience (valuation estimates) is so hugely irritating to their primary advertiser base (real estate agents, brokers, franchisors). Any business who's constituents are so much in conflict has no hope of being a big success. While zillow says they are all about giving free tools and marketing to help real estate agents and brokers drive efficiency in online marketing and lower their costs. Every agent I know tells me that zillow's existence has created far more cost and frustration than any other single company they can think of. While most management teams would have realized this from the start and tried an alternative approach, the arrogance and egos of the founders and executive team is of truly epic proportions. Zillow is probably not going anywhere soon, but I suspect they will end up as a footnote in the real estate industry just like Microsoft's homeadvisor. As I’ve seen noted elsewhere the fundamental problem is that the primary driver of their audience (valuation estimates) is so hugely irritating to their primary advertiser base (real estate agents, brokers, franchisors). Any business who’s constituents are so much in conflict has no hope of being a big success. While zillow says they are all about giving free tools and marketing to help real estate agents and brokers drive efficiency in online marketing and lower their costs. Every agent I know tells me that zillow’s existence has created far more cost and frustration than any other single company they can think of.

While most management teams would have realized this from the start and tried an alternative approach, the arrogance and egos of the founders and executive team is of truly epic proportions.
Zillow is probably not going anywhere soon, but I suspect they will end up as a footnote in the real estate industry just like Microsoft’s homeadvisor.

]]> By: Susan Kishner http://www1.propertyportalwatch.com/2008/10/opinion-zillow-lays-off-25-of-workforce-what-future-does-it-have/comment-page-1/#comment-164 Susan Kishner Sat, 18 Oct 2008 20:27:57 +0000 http://www1.propertyportalwatch.com/?p=371#comment-164 Great Blog post. I am going to bookmark and read more often. I love the Blog template ? if you need any assistance customizing it let me know! Great Blog post. I am going to bookmark and read more often. I love the Blog template ? if you need any assistance customizing it let me know!

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