Just received an email from Zillow as follows:

Improve your Google ranking with Zillow’s help

Want to show up higher in results on search engines like Google? We can help. Zillow has a lot of “Google Juice” and we want to share it with you. By using Zillow and Search Engine Optimization (SEO),
you, too, can boost your Google search results.

Don’t be scared - it’s pretty easy. Here are 3 tips:

1. Post your listings on Zillow with good links to your site - Zillow is one of very few sites where your listings actually improve your Google ranking. To enjoy this, make sure your listings on Zillow link to your Web site - preferably with links to the exact listing pages on your site.

2. Join the Zillow Professional Directory - When you create an active profile on Zillow, it will automatically load into our “Find a Pro” directory. Make sure the link to your Web site
from the Zillow Directory is accurate so your ranking on Google improves. Join the Directory

3. Update and optimize your Zillow Profile - Complete or update the “About Me” section of your Zillow Profile. In your description, use keywords that you want to be recognized for in Google and link those words to your Web site or blog. By using links to your Web site within Zillow, your profile gains authority in the search engines. Update My Profile

Bottom line: The more active you are on Zillow - through your listings, profile, directory, or discussions - the better your Web site or blog performs. Learn more about how to ensure that your listings are helping you to rank in Google.

As always, thanks for using Zillow.

Advising members to “use keywords that you want to be recognized for in Google and link those words to your Web site or blog” lends itself to abuse and could lead to Google nuking this as a link source.

In the Google Webmaster Guidelines it states:

# Avoid tricks intended to improve search engine rankings. A good rule of thumb is whether you’d feel comfortable explaining what you’ve done to a website that competes with you. Another useful test is to ask, “Does this help my users? Would I do this if search engines didn’t exist?”

# Don’t participate in link schemes designed to increase your site’s ranking or PageRank. In particular, avoid links to web spammers or “bad neighborhoods” on the web, as your own ranking may be affected adversely by those links.

I’ll be interested to see how this plays out.