The stock market is perhaps one of the few avenues on the planet where investors have become millionaires overnight (and bankrupt). What makes the stock market such a potent earning ground is the fact that it is unbiased, the stock market is not regulated by a single person or company, and people with acumen and proper knowledge can make the most of the stock market. If you are also planning on investing in the stock market, here are four (4) tips to help you make more informed decisions:

1.Research your first buy thoroughly

There is no shortage of reference material on the internet and on television. Most first time buyers are excited about their investment and often fail to research their first buy thoroughly. Make sure you read up on the stock you want to buy and spend some time reading/watching expert advice. It is also a good idea to visit websites that offer a quick reference chart that outlines the stock's price over a period of time. Once you are confident what stock you want to buy, go ahead and make the investment at the right ?Phase? of the stock cycle. It is important to remember that there is a stock market price cycle. Prices fluctuate appreciably (or depreciably) and you should invest in the stock of your choice at the most opportune moment.

2.Start with a low number of shares

To get a ?feel? of the stock market start by buying a small number of shares (or better yet, paper trade first) and then increase the size of your portfolio slowly. You should ideally start by buying only as many shares as you are comfortable with buying, and once you are confident you have grasped buying/selling techniques, start trading a larger number of shares.

3.Know when to cut your losses

You will make a poor investment now and then, so it is important to know when you should sell and cut your losses. If the stock you have bought has shown considerable depreciation over a period of time (hopefully, you'll have your stop losses in place), don't hesitate to sell and cut your losses. Have a game plan for your stock and decide on the exit points for all your stock. It is equally important to know when you should sell your stock in a favourable uptrend since it will not continue forever (remember the stock market price cycle). You should not hold on to stock in the hope that prices will continue going up indefinitely.

4.Plan on diversifying your portfolio

There is an old saying ?don't put all your eggs in one basket?. Any stock market expert will tell you that diversification is a vital exercise. Instead of investing all your money in stocks for a single company, you may want to consider investing in a few different stocks. Portfolio diversification is a complicated procedure and requires considerable research, but it is a common approach to protecting your capital.

Stock trading is not rocket science. People with patience and an analytic mind are making profits and a living in the stock market. It is always a good idea to carry out extensive research before entering any venture, and for more stock market tools, tactics, and trading secrets visit www.tradingeveryday.com