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Trulia for Lead Generation: A Critical Look at its Pros and Cons

 

What if you could reach over 55 million potential clients every month?

That might sound like a pipe dream, but it’s something you can achieve with Trulia.

Trulia is one of the top online platforms for buying and selling homes, with over 2 million active listings across the US.

It’s one of the big three lead generation portals used by realtors nationwide, along with Zillow and Realtor.com. 

These platforms have a huge market share and influence in the online real estate space, and they can help you reach more buyers and sellers than ever before.

But is Trulia the right platform for you and your business?

In this article, we’ll explore the pros and cons of using Trulia as part of your lead generation strategy. But first, a quick overview of the lead generation tools you want in your toolkit in 2024:

By the end of this article, you’ll have a clear picture of the benefits and drawbacks of using Trulia, so you can make an informed decision about its value in your lead generation efforts. Ready? Let’s dive in!

 

Chapter 1: What is Trulia and How Does it Work?

Trulia offers comprehensive real estate listings, interactive maps, detailed neighborhood insights, and more—basically Zillow and Realtor.com.

Since 2005, Trulia has carved a niche for itself in the online property search market as a place where people can find their next home and learn about the local community.

Trulia also provides tools and resources for home buyers, sellers, renters, and landlords, such as mortgage calculators, home value estimators, and local market reports.

Trulia is actually now owned by the Zillow Group, and shares some of its data and features with Zillow. However, Trulia still operates as a separate brand and website from Zillow, with its own design and functionality.

It’s main differentiator as one of the big three is its focus on providing rich information about neighborhoods, schools, crime, commute, and local amenities. 

Trulia aims to help home buyers and renters discover the places where they want to live, not just the homes they want to buy or rent.
screenshot of homes for sale on trulia's website

For that matter, Trulia also caters to different segments of the real estate market, such as luxury homes, foreclosures, new construction, and rentals.

How it works is that you can list your properties on Trulia, providing comprehensive details and high-quality images to attract potential buyers. When a user shows interest in your listing by clicking on it or inquiring about it, you've essentially got a lead.

Trulia also offers premium services such as Trulia Premier Agent.

As a premier agent, you're provided with additional exposure for your listings, potentially bringing in more leads.

That roughly translates to 15 times more views than standard listings, according to the platform, meaning more chances to connect with interested buyers and sellers who are browsing Trulia.

You can also leverage the platform's analytics feature to understand your audience better, know which listings are performing well, and identify potential areas of improvement.

Real Estate Lead Generation with Trulia’s Tools and Features

For many, Trulia is THE place to get leads.

They claim that Trulia can help them generate more leads, increase their exposure, and grow their business. Trulia offers various tools and features for real estate professionals, such as:

  • Trulia Pro: A subscription service that allows agents to feature their listings, get more leads, and track their performance on Trulia.

  • Trulia Local Ads: A pay-per-click advertising program that lets agents target potential buyers and sellers in specific zip codes or neighborhoods.

  • Trulia Seller Ads: A pay-per-lead advertising program that connects agents with motivated sellers who want to know the value of their home.

  • Trulia Voices: A Q&A community where agents can showcase their expertise, answer questions, and interact with potential clients.

The draw, of course, is the huge traffic and audience that Trulia attracts. 55 million people potentially viewing your ad is an astounding prospect.

The question is, are people actually seeing your ad?

 

Chapter 2:Does Trulia Work?Pros and Cons

It’s the same story when you ask realtors about Zillow and Realtor.com. Some swear by it. Some won’t touch it with a ten-foot pole. Some are in the middle.

But while not set in stone in any way, there are some well-established pros and cons to the portal, which we will discuss in some detail below.

From its large user base to its neighborhood-focused features, Trulia has some advantages that make it appealing to real estate professionals. Here are some of the pros of using Trulia for lead generation:

The Mass Appeal: A Broad User Base

We have already established that Trulia’s user base is simply massive.

With 55 million monthly unique visitors, Trulia has a huge reach and appeal among potential buyers and sellers. There’s a reason why the platform has over 2 million active listings. That’s a lot of exposure and opportunities for agents who want to get more leads.

For perspective, that means one in every six Americans will visit Trulia every month, looking for homes or real estate information.

Think about the implications for lead generation!

But it's worth noting that potential is not necessarily reality; just because you can reach a lot of people on Trulia doesn’t mean you will. More on this later.

Data-Driven Analytics

One can argue that the heart of effective lead generation lies in data analysis, a facet Trulia doesn't take lightly. It equips realtors with advanced analytics tools to delve into their performance.

Such data-driven insights can prove invaluable in adjusting strategies and honing their lead generation tactics.

Understanding who interacts with their listings, when and why, can help them refine their approach and generate more quality leads.

Nevertheless, it's critical to remember that analytics are only as useful as the interpretation and application of the data provided. Merely having access to data doesn't imply results; it's the insightful analysis and action on this data that truly counts.

Price vs. Performance: Affordability Matters

Trulia's pricing stands as a key selling point, often found to be more competitive than many other lead generation platforms. For agents watching their budget, this competitive pricing can significantly lower the barrier to entry, making lead generation more affordable.

Yet, like any other investment, agents should consider the potential return.

While lower costs are an enticing factor, it's essential to balance the equation by factoring in the quality of leads generated.

After all, generating many leads at a lower cost, but with a lower conversion rate, might not be as profitable as generating fewer, but higher-quality leads.

The Ease of Navigation: User-Friendly Design

In the age of digital convenience, user experience has risen to be a key differentiator. Here, Trulia shines with its user-friendly interface, making the process of finding and showcasing properties as smooth as possible.

This seamless user experience can potentially shorten the lead generation cycle, making it faster and more efficient for agents to connect with interested buyers.

However, remember that while crucial, this is only one piece of the puzzle. A lead's journey encompasses far more than just initial interactions on the platform.

A New Agent’s Playground

For those new to the real estate industry, Trulia offers a welcoming platform to dip their toes into lead generation waters. 

That said, while Trulia can be a good starting point, new agents should avoid becoming overly reliant on a single platform for leads.

Expanding their lead generation strategies to multiple platforms will likely yield more rounded results over time.

Showcasing Properties: A Visual Treat

As visual creatures, humans are naturally attracted to engaging imagery.

Trulia understands this well, enabling agents to showcase properties through detailed listings and vibrant pictures. 

This not only enhances the property's appeal but also provides a rich context for potential buyers, helping them visualize their future homes.

However, while Trulia makes it easy to present properties in their best light, it’s crucial for agents to ensure the authenticity of their listings. Misrepresentations could lead to disappointed clients, harming an agent's reputation in the long run.

A Research Powerhouse: Initial Investigation

The final feather in Trulia's cap is its capability to serve as a research tool. For those just beginning their journey into the residential real estate industry, Trulia provides a plethora of data for initial research.

Agents can get a feel for market trends, buyer interests, and even competitor strategies.

Nonetheless, while a good starting point, Trulia's data shouldn't be an agent's only source of market information.

Overreliance here could cost you the big picture. Other real estate platforms, government housing reports, and even direct conversations with buyers and sellers can provide additional, invaluable insights.

 

Chapter 3:Exploring the Limitations of Trulia for Lead Generation

If you've been closely following our journey so far, you might be getting excited about Trulia’s potential as a lead generation tool. But don’t go calling their number yet! It’s time to bring those expectations down to reality, where they belong.

Yes, Trulia provides a unique platform that attracts an immense volume of traffic, providing realtors with opportunities to find potential leads. But before you invest all your efforts into this platform, let's ensure you have the full picture.

Every rose has its thorns, so they say, and just like other platforms, Trulia has its cons which may make it less than ideal for certain real estate professionals.

Not Entirely Reliable

First off, although Trulia is a substantial tool for initial research in the residential real estate realm, it may falter when it comes to providing precise information.

Some of the data listed may be outdated or incorrect, posing a risk to realtors who solely rely on it. 

This means your reputation is at risk.

Put yourself in your leads’ shoes: you take the time out of your day to schedule a call or even visit the property because you saw that it’s available on Trulia, only to be told that it’s no longer even active and that the new owners have been living there for months!

It's a hassle, but it’s crucial that you validate information from Trulia against other sources or databases to ensure accuracy.

Fierce Competition

With so many real estate professionals vying for the attention of potential buyers, competition on Trulia can be fierce.

But that’s actually an understatement.

You’re sharing valuable ad real estate (pun intended) with dozens, even hundreds of other agents and brokers who are trying to do the same thing as you: attract qualified leads.

This is especially true in hot markets where many properties are listed, and numerous agents are fighting for the same leads.

It’s like fishing in a pond teeming with other anglers, which can often make it hard to get your bait noticed.

And who wants to be just another face in the crowd? You don’t.

Not Ideal for Commercial Real Estate

If you are an agent specializing in commercial real estate, Trulia may not be your best bet.

The platform is heavily focused on residential listings, which means commercial properties are often overlooked or not adequately represented.

This means commercial property professionals may find more success with other specialized platforms.

Limited Customization

While Trulia does provide options to create a professional profile, it falls short when it comes to customization features.

Unlike other platforms where you can tailor your profile to fit your brand, Trulia’s options are fairly basic.

Like I said, this makes you another face in the crowd.

It all sounds good in theory: a small agent being in a level playing field with the big players - finally!

But in reality, they still have tons of resources, they still get the big office support, and they still get the same big clients that are selling the nicer-looking homes.

And all things being equal, leads will be drawn to these established players. 

They are attracted by the allure of big names, glamorous properties, and the perceived security that comes with established brands.

With Trulia’s minimal customization options, you don’t have the same tools to make your profile stand out from the crowd. If you’re a small agent, nothing really changes, and it’s still difficult for you to establish a foothold in the market.

Limited Targeting Options

Precise audience targeting is paramount. However, compared to other platforms, Trulia falls short in offering extensive targeting options.

For example, while platforms like Facebook provide detailed targeting based on interests, behaviors, and connections, Trulia’s options are relatively basic, focusing primarily on geographical locations and property interests.

This limitation can hinder your lead generation opportunities by making it challenging to reach specific demographics or locations.

 You’re rendered incapable of effectively targeting potential leads who have particular real estate preferences or are in specific stages of the home buying process.

And the sad part is that you’re paying for this handicap.

You might, as other agents have, end up wasting time and money on leads who are not qualified or interested in your services. And nobody wants to end up this way.

Limited Customer Support

Lastly, we cannot ignore the issue of customer support. Trulia's customer support may not be as responsive or helpful as you would find on other platforms.

Trulia users is that they have to wait for long periods of time to get a response from the customer support team, or that they get generic or automated replies that do not address their specific issues.

Some have even reported that they were unable to cancel their subscriptions or get refunds for faulty services. 

This could make problem-solving a challenging endeavor, particularly when you’re in the midst of a crucial campaign or transaction.

Final Thoughts

Trulia can be a useful tool for some agents, it may not be the best fit for everyone. All things considered, you should weigh the pros and cons of using Trulia before deciding to invest in it.

You should also consider your goals, budget, and target market, and compare Trulia with other platforms that may offer more features, benefits, and value for your business. I can help you with that if you need any guidance or advice.

But this is not a knock on the value that Trulia brings to the table. It’s undeniable that it serves as an acceptable starting point for residential real estate research and it does provide legitimate lead generation opportunities.

For me the question really isn’t whether Trulia is worth using or not, but rather how to use Trulia effectively and efficiently without compromising your brand identity or your relationship with your leads? 

Or is there a better way to generate leads without the drawbacks of limited branding and poor customer support?

To be clear, we’re not advising against Trulia as a source of leads; we’re saying it shouldn’t be your only one. Don’t get sidetracked by the potential reach; use it as a part of a more extensive toolkit.

Utilize it alongside other platforms, always cross-verify the information obtained, and have contingency plans in place for customer support.

The journey to successful lead generation is a strategic one that requires a well-thought-out plan. Exploring various platforms, identifying their strengths and weaknesses, and ultimately choosing the right mix that suits your unique needs, is what will set you apart in this highly competitive industry.

 

Find the Perfect Trulia Alternativein Ylopo

Many agents are moving away from Trulia due to its limitations and exorbitant costs for generating quality leads.

Trulia's platform bias towards premium listings, the suppression of organic content, among other things make it exceptionally challenging to stand out. 

But don’t think you have to settle for Trulia or any other portal that doesn’t meet your needs.

There is a better alternative that can help you grow your real estate business.

Ylopo is a cutting-edge platform that offers many features that Trulia and other traditional real estate portals lack.

One of the main advantages of Ylopo is that it gives you your own personalized IDX website. This means that you can showcase your listings and your brand in a way that stands out from the crowd. You can also customize your website to highlight your unique selling proposition and attract more clients.

Ylopo also uses advanced algorithms and AI technology to create dynamic ad campaigns across various digital platforms. These campaigns are tailored to your target audience and your goals, resulting in higher user engagement and superior lead generation.

Unlike Trulia, which limits your organic reach and favors premium listings, Ylopo ensures that your ads are seen by the right people at the right time.

If you’re tired of squandering precious resources on a services that overpromises but underdelivers, schedule a demo today to optimize your presence online.

You’ll be amazed by how much we can do for you and your business.

About the Author

Aaron “Kiwi” Franklin

Head of Growth