You'll get a wealth of REI knowledge and learn how to take full advantage of Bigger Pockets (including how to connect with other Columbus investors:).Listen to the podcasts , get active on the forums & set up key word alerts to be notified when people are discussing topics you're interested in. 

After lots of reading and listening to podcasts (with lots more still to read, listen and learn) and joining the Stark County Real Estate Investors Association my wife and I have decided to start with a buy and hold strategy using single family home rentals in the Stark and Summit County areas.

Look at the podcasts on this site listen to the advice on the forums and try to find local real estate meetup groups and also read up on partnerships cuz most times they don't work out and if they do they always come to an end at some point

@Gustavo PerezI listen to a lot of audiobooks and have several close friends in property investment and management so I try to pick their brain every chance I get.

@jamesmiller I was listening to a blog today and it had a lawyer from Texas who mentioned domiciling your llc in Texas had benefits because of homestead rights?

I'm very new to all this, I'm currently in the research phase where I'm reading & listening & watching videos on anything that involves REI.

I make sure I dive deep into there motivation while I try to listen to their true concerns.The main thing I would suggest is to remember that most people will give you a cookie cutter concern, based on something they've heard or read, however if you ask a few extra open ended questions you should get the real concerns.  

Make sure to listen to all the BP podcasts, read the articles on the main blog and be active in these forums to learn a ton very quickly about any topic in real estate you want to know more about.This is also a great place to meet people that can be assets to your business.

As a newbie to BP, I'd strongly suggest listening to the BP podcasts.  

Listen to the podcasts while you drive back and forth from work.