If you’re dependent on Zillow for lead gen, it’s time to build resilient funnels, own your data, and beef up your referral and content engines, Josh Ries writes.
Source: Inman News
FTC sues Zillow: A wake-up call for real estate agents and brokers
Published in Agent, agent advice, Antitrust Law, broker advice, Brokerage, Columns, compass, Content Marketing, costar, Facebook, federal trade commission, ftc, google ads, homes.com, Housing Category Restriction, Housing Category Restrictions, Josh Ries, Lead Funnel Ownership, Lead Generation, Lead Systems, Marketing, new agent, Opinion, portals, Redfin, referral marketing, Regulations, rental advertising, search engine optimization, Select, SEO, service, Social media engagement, teams and Zillow
More from AgentMore posts in Agent »
- This team is jumping on the private listing platform trend (EXCLUSIVE)
- Redfin on 2026: Affordability improves, sales rise only slightly
- Dual licensing is on the rise. Is it the right move for your business?
- Future-proof your digital footprint for 2026 (and beyond)
- Change strategy as the market shifts to win the listings long game
More from agent adviceMore posts in agent advice »
- 41 years, 8 lessons, 1 truth about real estate that never changes
- What Tom Ferry’s latest poll reveals about the future-focused agent
- Yes, the current market is brutal, but ‘boomsday’ is on the way
- Why a better morning routine is your secret lead gen weapon
- Got $20? Here’s how to fulfill your marketing needs (with AI) in 2025
More from Antitrust LawMore posts in Antitrust Law »
- Zillow scores final win as Supreme Court declines to take up REX case
- Zillow-ChatGPT, Compass-Anywhere, SCOTUS-REX: Top 5
- Supreme Court just might give REX another shot at NAR, Zillow
- California broker challenges NAR rule over dues for non-members
- Crye-Leike joins efforts to remove judge overseeing Gibson lawsuit
More from broker adviceMore posts in broker advice »
- 7 things real estate brokers should do before the end of the year
- C21’s Mike Miedler speaks on the power of a ‘to-don’t’ list
- 5 things your broker is too nice to tell you, but you need to hear
- 3 tips to help budding brokers go from surviving to thriving
- The secret to this brokerage’s culture? Being approachable
More from BrokerageMore posts in Brokerage »
- Redfin on 2026: Affordability improves, sales rise only slightly
- Dual licensing is on the rise. Is it the right move for your business?
- Future-proof your digital footprint for 2026 (and beyond)
- Change strategy as the market shifts to win the listings long game
- Listing leverage: How to win the game of securing sellers
More from ColumnsMore posts in Columns »
- Dual licensing is on the rise. Is it the right move for your business?
- Future-proof your digital footprint for 2026 (and beyond)
- Listing leverage: How to win the game of securing sellers
- Can agents use AI to help with contracts and disclosures?
- 5 lead-generation metrics you must review before 2026 begins
More from compassMore posts in compass »
- This team is jumping on the private listing platform trend (EXCLUSIVE)
- Real CEO talks growth in hard times — and how everyone loses in real estate ‘wars’
- Shutdown blip, or worrying trend? Agent pipelines thin in November
- In crowded virtual staging category, Collov AI offers ease, affordability: Tech Review
- Zillow’s listing ban hangs in the balance after 4-day hearing
More from Content MarketingMore posts in Content Marketing »
- Make 2026 your breakout year: Audit, refresh and reignite your real estate marketing
- Head of Instagram: You’re missing reach if you don’t do these 5 things
- Why your brand needs a ‘vibe’ (not red and green) this holiday season
- What it takes to build a $100M real estate brand with heart
- If price is king, why do we even market new listings?
More from costarMore posts in costar »
- Dispatches from NAR NXT as real estate grapples with AI
- Realtor.com CEO talks ‘serious competitors,’ says ‘quality is really what we’re interested in’
- Will Anywhere merger launch M&A arms race? It’s not yet clear: Intel
- Zillow defends private listing rule, criticizes Compass in new filing
- Realtor.com puts ‘spotlight’ on listing agents with new feature
More from FacebookMore posts in Facebook »
- Why your brand needs a ‘vibe’ (not red and green) this holiday season
- 7 things real estate brokers should do before the end of the year
- 7 tips for walking away from a recruitment offer (the right way)
- 7 last-minute Halloween marketing tricks (and treats) for agents
- 11 ways to rebuild if your internal ‘check engine light’ comes on
More from federal trade commissionMore posts in federal trade commission »
- Zillow’s listing ban hangs in the balance after 4-day hearing
- Zillow hit with new class-action suit over alleged broker kickbacks
- Zillow says CoStar uses litigation ‘playbook’ to ‘attack’ competitors
- Zillow ignores ‘noise,’ jabs from CoStar, as revenue climbs
- Supreme Court just might give REX another shot at NAR, Zillow
More from ftcMore posts in ftc »
- Zillow’s listing ban hangs in the balance after 4-day hearing
- Zillow ignores ‘noise,’ jabs from CoStar, as revenue climbs
- Zillow may be surrounded, but it’s not checkmate just yet
- CoStar says Zillow ‘always ready to play the victim’ in latest response
- Lingering questions, NAR opinion, new lawsuit: Inman Top 5
More from google adsMore posts in google ads »
More from homes.comMore posts in homes.com »
- Dispatches from NAR NXT as real estate grapples with AI
- Realtor.com CEO talks ‘serious competitors,’ says ‘quality is really what we’re interested in’
- Realtors reject proposal to require disclosure of more referral fees
- Will Anywhere merger launch M&A arms race? It’s not yet clear: Intel
- Zillow defends private listing rule, criticizes Compass in new filing
More from Josh RiesMore posts in Josh Ries »
- 5 lead-generation metrics you must review before 2026 begins
- If price is king, why do we even market new listings?
- The IDX lie agents still believe: 5 common misconceptions about real estate websites
- The urgency trap: Are you training clients to ignore your boundaries?
- Are 50-year mortgages an affordability fix or a time bomb?
More from Lead GenerationMore posts in Lead Generation »
- 5 lead-generation metrics you must review before 2026 begins
- How this agent-turned-coach went from no social media to 10M monthly organic views
- If price is king, why do we even market new listings?
- The IDX lie agents still believe: 5 common misconceptions about real estate websites
- How this team leader built a 90% repeat and referral business
More from MarketingMore posts in Marketing »
- Future-proof your digital footprint for 2026 (and beyond)
- 5 lead-generation metrics you must review before 2026 begins
- How this agent-turned-coach went from no social media to 10M monthly organic views
- Make 2026 your breakout year: Audit, refresh and reignite your real estate marketing
- Head of Instagram: You’re missing reach if you don’t do these 5 things
More from new agentMore posts in new agent »
- Listing leverage: How to win the game of securing sellers
- Can agents use AI to help with contracts and disclosures?
- 5 lead-generation metrics you must review before 2026 begins
- Why 2026 will reward those who plan with precision, not emotion: Mauricio Umansky
- In crowded virtual staging category, Collov AI offers ease, affordability: Tech Review
More from OpinionMore posts in Opinion »
- Why I’m still grateful to be a real estate professional
- What saved my life — and why our industry must choose compassion over judgment
- Private inventory: New competition rules that leave consumers behind
- The fallout from NAR’s big reversal: Take the Intel Index survey today
- Industry shocked as Realtors say no to referral-fee transparency
More from portalsMore posts in portals »
- Zillow reverses course and removes climate data from listings
- Zillow’s SkyTour uses complex 3D tech to simplify home search
- California Association of Realtors leans into referral fee transparency
- Zillow’s listing ban hangs in the balance after 4-day hearing
- This week was all about NAR: Inman’s Top 5 stories
More from RedfinMore posts in Redfin »
- Redfin on 2026: Affordability improves, sales rise only slightly
- Bayview merger positions Guild Mortgage for refinancing boom
- Zillow reverses course and removes climate data from listings
- Delistings and discounts jump as holiday season approaches
- The IDX lie agents still believe: 5 common misconceptions about real estate websites
More from referral marketingMore posts in referral marketing »
More from RegulationsMore posts in Regulations »
- Rep. Eric Swalwell sues Pulte, FHFA, Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac
- Letitia James mortgage fraud case thrown out, but can be refiled
- Pulte’s role in mortgage fraud indictment under scrutiny
- Don’t merge Fannie and Freddie, says their biggest investor
- Fallout over Fed policymakers’ investments reshaping the board
More from rental advertisingMore posts in rental advertising »
More from search engine optimizationMore posts in search engine optimization »
- Future-proof your digital footprint for 2026 (and beyond)
- The IDX lie agents still believe: 5 common misconceptions about real estate websites
- Dispatches from NAR NXT as real estate grapples with AI
- Recession? Membership? Blessings? Inman Top 5
- Want AI to recommend you in online search? Do these 7 things
More from SelectMore posts in Select »
- This team is jumping on the private listing platform trend (EXCLUSIVE)
- Redfin on 2026: Affordability improves, sales rise only slightly
- Dual licensing is on the rise. Is it the right move for your business?
- Future-proof your digital footprint for 2026 (and beyond)
- Change strategy as the market shifts to win the listings long game
More from SEOMore posts in SEO »
More from serviceMore posts in service »
- Dual licensing is on the rise. Is it the right move for your business?
- Future-proof your digital footprint for 2026 (and beyond)
- Change strategy as the market shifts to win the listings long game
- Listing leverage: How to win the game of securing sellers
- Can agents use AI to help with contracts and disclosures?
More from Social media engagementMore posts in Social media engagement »
More from teamsMore posts in teams »
- This team is jumping on the private listing platform trend (EXCLUSIVE)
- Dual licensing is on the rise. Is it the right move for your business?
- Future-proof your digital footprint for 2026 (and beyond)
- Change strategy as the market shifts to win the listings long game
- Listing leverage: How to win the game of securing sellers
More from ZillowMore posts in Zillow »
- Real CEO talks growth in hard times — and how everyone loses in real estate ‘wars’
- Zillow reverses course and removes climate data from listings
- After failed NAR vote, brokerages beef up referral disclosures
- Zillow’s SkyTour uses complex 3D tech to simplify home search
- Delistings and discounts jump as holiday season approaches
Be First to Comment