ZIPVO: not just for video hosting

ZIPVO LLC has launched a subscription-based premium version of its free Web-based video, photo, blogging, news and agent profile service.

ZIPVO.com launched a year ago as a database of real estate videos accessible by ZIP Code or town. Realtors can upload videos to the site for free, embedding them in IDX-compliant MLS listings or in social networking sites like ActiveRain, Twitter, and Facebook.

"It's an effective way for real estate professionals to communicate with video through something other than a YouTube, where they can get lost in the shuffle," said Greg Afarian, co-founder of the North Andover, Mass.-based company.

Making videos and photo tours embeddable and searchable is the key to helping consumers find them, Afarian said. ZIPVO clients can either upload their own videos to ZIPVO for hosting or use the company's PhotoVideo application to create videos using still photos, text and music.

ZIPVO and MLS Property Information Network (MLS PIN), the largest MLS in New England, announced a partnership in July in which agents who send listings to ZIPVO get a free profile, blog, and videos created from photo-based listings.

Although many companies offer to host video -- and some, like WellcomeMat and AgentCasts, are geared specifically to real estate professionals -- Afarian said ZIPVO is also competing with services like vFlyer and postlets, which enable users to create visually appealing listings in HTML for e-mailing to clients or posting to sites like craigslist.

This week the company began offering ZIPVO Platinum, a premium service that includes single property Web sites, an online video editor, address book for tracking and e-mailing clients, and the ability to create PDF listing fliers. An analytics tool also helps users track the traffic generated by their videos, blog posts and single property sites.

"Our core model of ZIPVO is a free service we're offering to our customers, and it will always be that way," Afarian said. ZIPVO Platinum, which will initially be offered on an invitation-only and referral basis, will be a fee-based, subscription service.

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