I'm new to Vladimir and was wondering if anyone had any advice?

As a side note, I bought Vlad with RP two days before the sale

Email support and explain the situation, more than likely they'll refund you the RP.

Use transfusion every time it's up. Use it to last hit and harass. It has not cost, use it use it use it. Don't pool unless you really need to avoid some serious damage or need to dive tower, it costs a huge chunk of health to cast. Tides of blood is great for clearing and pushing waves. I usually rush a hextech revolver and then a haunting guise on vlad, though the HG is definitely optional.

One tip is that later in the game, it's pretty common for Vlad players to keep 4 stacks of tides of blood going pretty much permanently for the enhanced damage and healing. You'll just occasionally cast E even with no targets hit so you don't lose your stacks, provided you're going to fight relatively soon.