Welcome to the Berridge Media Blog!
At Berridge Media, we believe in the power of visual storytelling. Whether it’s through stunning photography, dynamic video, immersive 3D tours, or breathtaking drone footage, we help businesses stand out in a crowded digital landscape.
This blog is your go-to resource for marketing insights, industry trends, and expert tips on leveraging professional media to elevate your brand. From real estate and hospitality to small businesses and tourism, we’re here to help you make a lasting impression.
Stay tuned for insider strategies, success stories, and creative inspiration to take your marketing to the next level.
Have a topic you'd like us to cover? Let us know! And if you're ready to upgrade your brand’s visuals, contact us today to see how Berridge Media can help.
Welcome aboard!
Zillow has long been a dominant force in real estate, promising leads, exposure, and simplified marketing. However, for many agents, the relationship feels increasingly one-sided. Rising costs, reduced control, and a system that often favors Zillow more than the listing agent have left many realtors wondering: Is it time to walk away from Zillow?
📉 You’re Paying for Your Listings – Agents are being charged to promote listings they already worked hard to secure. Leads are often sold to competing agents on the same listing.
👥 Lead Scrambling – Zillow often redirects buyer leads to Premier Agents, even if they aren’t the listing agent, creating confusion for consumers and frustration for sellers.
💸 Skyrocketing Costs – Monthly fees for advertising on Zillow continue to rise, while ROI has become less predictable.
🧩 Loss of Control Over Branding – Your professional media, client relationships, and listing efforts are ultimately presented under Zillow’s branding, not yours.
✅ Build a Strong Personal Brand – Your brand should be what buyers and sellers associate with trust and results, not a third-party platform. Invest in a solid brand identity across your website, social media, and print materials.
✅ Own Your Online Presence – Use your IDX-integrated website to showcase listings and capture leads directly. Tools like kvCORE, Sierra Interactive, or Showcase IDX can power your site without relying on Zillow.
✅ Utilize Social Media Strategically – Platforms like Instagram, Facebook, TikTok, and YouTube allow you to connect directly with buyers and sellers through videos, market updates, property tours, and testimonials.
✅ Leverage Google Business Profile – Optimize your Google Business Profile to drive organic traffic, collect reviews, and show up in local searches—without paying Zillow.
✅ Partner with Media Experts Who Support You – Berridge Media provides high-quality photography, video, drone footage, 3D tours, and floorplans—content you can use anywhere, anytime, without needing a Zillow subscription.
Zillow doesn’t build your business—you do. It’s time to stop renting visibility and start owning your marketing. With the right media, strategy, and systems in place, you can generate leads, build trust, and close deals without giving another dollar to Zillow.
📩 Need help making the shift? Contact Berridge Media to power your listings with pro-level content that works, with or without Zillow.
Zillow remains the most visited real estate platform in the U.S., but its dominance is being challenged. After launching its new Listing Showcase product (premium listings with enhanced visuals and branding), Zillow is doubling down on monetizing listings by charging agents for higher visibility. Some agents appreciate the exposure; others are skeptical of the rising costs and Zillow’s control over leads.
Compass, a major real estate brokerage, has long branded itself as a tech-forward company. Recently, however, it’s been caught in the middle of ongoing lawsuits and financial scrutiny. Despite turbulence, Compass continues to invest in its proprietary tools and agent marketing platform. It's positioning itself as a competitor to Zillow not by owning the portal space, but by offering agents a high-end, in-house alternative to generate leads and manage listings.
Backed by CoStar Group (a commercial real estate giant), Homes.com has emerged as Zillow’s most vocal challenger. With a “your listing, your lead” philosophy, Homes.com is winning favor among agents by promising to send all inquiries directly to the listing agent without selling the lead to competitors. They’re investing heavily in marketing, touting themselves as a pro-agent alternative—and it’s gaining traction.
Zillow still commands the most traffic, but expect more costs and competition for leads.
Compass is building tools for agents who want to market and manage listings internally.
Homes.com is betting big on agent-friendly practices and transparent lead handling.
No matter where you choose to list, stunning visuals are the common denominator for success. Berridge Media offers professional photography, video, drone media, floorplans, and 3D virtual tours that make your listings stand out—on Zillow, Homes.com, Compass, and beyond.
📩 Want to future-proof your marketing? Contact us today to elevate your listing strategy with media that sells.
Regarding online real estate marketing, Zillow is one of the most powerful platforms available. But is Zillow Showcase worth the investment for realtors looking to generate more leads and close more deals? Let's break it down.
Zillow Showcase is a premium listing service designed to help real estate agents stand out by providing enhanced property listings. These listings include high-quality media, premium placement, and additional exposure to home buyers searching on Zillow.
✅ Increased Visibility – Your listings appear more prominently in search results, giving them an edge over standard listings.
✅ Higher-Quality Leads – Showcase listings attract serious buyers, leading to more meaningful inquiries.
✅ Enhanced Listing Features – Professional media, 3D tours, and interactive floorplans help create an immersive experience for potential buyers.
✅ Brand Exposure – Your name and contact details are prominently displayed, reinforcing your personal brand as a real estate expert.
❌ Cost Considerations – Zillow Showcase can be expensive, and ROI depends on market conditions and competition.
❌ Competing Agents on Listings – In some cases, multiple agents may appear on the duplicate listing, potentially diverting leads.
❌ Dependence on Zillow's Platform – While Zillow is widely used, relying too heavily on one platform can limit overall marketing strategy flexibility.
Zillow Showcase can be an excellent tool for agents in competitive markets who want to gain an edge with premium listing placement and high-quality visuals. However, weighing the costs and benefits based on your specific market and budget is crucial.
For agents who want to maximize their listings' impact, professional real estate media—high-quality photography, video, drone footage, and 3D virtual tours—is often just as effective (if not more so) at generating buyer interest. Investing in top-tier media for your listings can make them stand out across multiple platforms, not just Zillow.
Zillow Showcase can be valuable if you have the budget and operate in a highly competitive market. But don't overlook the power of professional real estate media as a cost-effective way to elevate your listings and attract serious buyers.
📸 Looking to enhance your real estate marketing? Contact Berridge Media today for stunning real estate photography, video, drone services, and 3D tours that make your listings shine—whether or not you're using Zillow Showcase!
For years, joining the National Association of Realtors (NAR) was considered a given for real estate professionals. It was seen as a requirement to be taken seriously in the industry, gain access to Multiple Listing Services (MLS), and enjoy various member benefits. However, in recent years, more agents and brokerages have questioned the necessity of NAR membership. With changing industry dynamics, legal concerns, and shifting professional standards, many realtors are now opting not to join NAR—and they’re seeing real benefits in doing so.
Here’s why not joining NAR might be the right move for you.
NAR membership fees are no small expense. Between national, state, and local dues, many real estate professionals pay well over $600–$800 per year just to remain members. If you can operate successfully without NAR, that’s a significant amount of money that stays in your pocket—money that can be reinvested into better marketing, lead generation, or business tools.
For a long time, realtors joined NAR because they needed access to the MLS (Multiple Listing Service)—a critical tool for buying and selling homes. However, not all MLSs require NAR membership anymore. Many local and regional MLSs now allow non-NAR members to subscribe directly, eliminating the need to pay for an NAR membership just to list properties.
If your MLS offers this option, there’s no reason to pay for NAR membership when you can get MLS access for a lower cost.
NAR has faced multiple lawsuits in recent years, particularly regarding commission structures and antitrust concerns. These legal battles have raised ethical and financial concerns, and some brokerages are distancing themselves from the organization to avoid potential fallout.
By not joining NAR, you avoid liability risks and distance yourself from any legal or ethical complications tied to the association.
NAR enforces a strict Code of Ethics, which dictates how realtors conduct business. While ethical standards are important, some professionals find NAR’s policies to be overly restrictive or even outdated.
For instance, NAR’s rules regulate how you can advertise, communicate, and interact with clients. Some realtors prefer the freedom to set their own ethical standards while still maintaining compliance with state real estate laws.
NAR likes to promote its REALTOR® trademark as a badge of credibility, but in reality, clients care more about results than memberships. Your reputation, marketing strategy, and track record of success speak louder than an NAR membership.
Many top-producing agents have built their brands without being NAR members, proving that success in real estate is about service, marketing, and relationships—not just an association badge.
One of the biggest shifts in real estate today is commission transparency and negotiation. NAR’s past policies have been criticized for keeping commission structures rigid. By operating outside of NAR, you have more flexibility in how you structure your fees and negotiate with clients, giving you a competitive edge.
NAR has come under scrutiny for its political lobbying efforts, leadership controversies, and alleged misconduct within the organization. Many realtors choose not to support NAR’s initiatives due to ethical concerns.
By staying independent, you retain control over which organizations you support and how your money is used in the industry.
Opting out of NAR isn’t for everyone, but it’s becoming an increasingly viable option for real estate professionals looking to reduce costs, gain flexibility, and operate independently. If your local MLS allows non-NAR membership and you’re confident in your branding and business strategies, there’s no reason you must stay tied to NAR.
Ultimately, your success in real estate depends on your skills, client relationships, and marketing efforts—not whether you carry a REALTOR® designation.
Thinking about dropping NAR? Make sure to check your state and local regulations first, and explore how you can still access the tools you need—without paying for a membership that may not serve you.
As a busy realtor, your time is valuable. Between showings, client meetings, and closing deals, the last thing you need is a complicated process to book high-quality real estate media. That’s why at Berridge Media, we’ve made scheduling professional photography, video, drone services, and more quick and seamless.
Forget the back-and-forth emails and long phone calls—our easy-to-use online booking system lets you schedule services in minutes. Just head over to our order form, select your desired services, and choose a convenient time slot that works for you. It’s that simple!
✅ 24/7 Availability – Book anytime, anywhere, at your convenience.
✅ Clear Pricing & Packages – Know exactly what you’re getting with upfront pricing.
✅ Instant Confirmations – Receive immediate booking confirmations so you can plan accordingly.
✅ Multiple Services in One Order – Need photos, video, drone, and a floor plan? Add them all in one go!
✅ Easy Rescheduling – Life happens! Quickly reschedule or modify your appointment if needed.
At Berridge Media, we provide stunning real estate photography, cinematic video tours, 3D virtual tours, floorplans, and aerial drone footage—all designed to make your listings stand out and sell faster.
📍 Ready to simplify your real estate marketing? Visit our booking page today and schedule your next real estate media package with ease.
Let us handle the visuals so you can focus on closing deals! 🚀