First, well done on getting started investing in the stock market. Bear markets, when the market is trending down, is a great time to learn about the market, since it is more difficult to make money. When market go up it is much easier to make money, though people tend to over estimate their investing capabilities.

The best advice I can give is to focus on the firms you know and understand. Everyday you encounter companies in your daily activities. Observe them to see how well or badly they do. You can learn a lot about them before spending the time to understand their fundamentals (the financial aspects of the company) and the technical (using the chart of the price and volume to help identify good places to buy and then to sell).

If you ever have any questions, I am most happy to help, if I can.

Best Regards, Hans
www.tradingonlinemarkets.com