The problem with the "gurus" and free advice is that none of it, that I've seen, takes into account the present economic situation in each local market or, across the country. Sure, a newbie, which I claim to be, can use the tried and true tricks for marketing, negotiating, etc, but if due to local economic conditions you don't have enough motivated sellers in your market, there's nothing you can do to change that. Or, to borrow a favorite "guru" analogy about prospecting for gold, if you have a barren claim there's no amount of prospecting tactics that will bring back the gold.
A lot of "gurus" made their money during the Great Recession, a once-in-a-lifetime set of economic conditions in especially distressed markets like Phoenix and certain areas of California and Florida. Observe how many have turned toward establishing academies and mentorship programs. Why are they doing this? Because the bottom of the motivated seller bucket is visible and their respective markets are racing toward it. Prospects are drying up across the country, but there are sooooo many aspiring wholesalers willing to pay for advice that, while useful when homeowners couldn't ditch their houses fast enough several years ago, might not apply today. Fair play to the "gurus" though, they'll sell whatever is salable according to economic and market conditions; it could be Iranian carpets, vacuum cleaners or wholesaler education courses. Whatever the market will bear.
This is my long winded way of urging vigilance and adherence to your local market conditions. Spend as little as possible - lest the Yellow Letter "gurus" bleed you dry on vague assertions of outrageously rich results - and realize that scaling up costly marketing efforts might be a futile pursuit.
