My impression is that there were a lot of newbies that got real excited by the slick presentation and sales pitch without realizing that they weren't getting any real education at all, just minimal exposure to the business.Now, if you are interested in marketing and persuasion techniques, it is worth investing your money to attend.

While I am focusing on getting more familiar with the techniques and terms, there seems to me to be some realistic expectations you must have based on your home market, and the prices in that area.This leaves me with 3 options as I see it.1)   Continue to save more initial capital to meet the realistic barrier to entry- and stick in my home market.2) Entertain starting in different markets where the barrier to entry would vary significantly and therefore potentially require less initial capital.3) Attempt to creatively finance and stick in my home market.I guess what I am wondering is if anyone has any experience going the route of option 2?

You can also track your leads' email, web and phone responses to your advertising.This technique will probably work for Podio just fine, and it will have to be customized based on what you're trying to do.

1) The argument can be made that if the same marketing list was targeted by both direct mail & cold calling techniques, you would get in front of more people, or "opportunities" with cold callers with the same cost. 

I've primarily been marketing for multi-family homes and plan to use the BRRR technique to further my investing.

I wanted to know who's has had some success using RUBS or any other technique in Chicago (maybe even Illinois) to help alleviate the heavy hit of this expense.

Adam, one piece of advice would be to leave your check book and credit cards at home.Every free seminar I've even been to has been an upsell to a seminar that does cost money, and/or a book/tape course and/or (the trend seems to be toward) a coaching program that has either a big up-front cost or a monthly ongoing fee.If you would like to go study how a salesman pitches a room of people however, it will probably be a great case study in sales techniques, especially the last 15-30 minutes where they really ratchet up the sales techniques.You'll get to see all the techniques like getting the audience to agree with simple statements to build rapport, presenting the "total cost" and then "slashing" it for a "today only discount", the old classic "limited time only, while supplies last" and its variant "for the first ___ people at the back of the room", etc.I've gotten good value out of seminars over the years.

I have a possible no money down opportunity to acquire a triplex using this technique!

I taught my wife the technique. 

I HAVE STUDIED  CERTAIN PHONE TECHNIQUES AND CREATED MY VERY OWN..I SAY THE SAME THING EVERY DAY OVER THE PHONE...