Research Tips:

Compile as much information as possible about your family. Start with yourself, parents, and grandparents.

Ask your relatives about your family history. Often, family members remember stories or information, or possess documents, that can help start you on your way.
Look in family records (letters, family Bibles, scrapbooks, diaries, photographs, baptisms, and new clippings, etc).
Write everything down, even something that seems trivial. That trivial piece of information can later turn out to be a invaluable clue later in your research.

The most important rule of genealogy, document everything. You want to remember 6 months or a year down the road where you found that Deed for Uncle John. Document where your information came from, Document the sources you searched and didn't find information, this will prevent duplicate work.