As the crypto market is a risky business, I'd probably start by getting an in-depth insight into this advancing technology and cryptocurrencies. Besides following some blogs and telegram groups, I'd seek to advise from an experienced person. Further, I'd start by investing a little and increase the amount I move further into this world.
This research does not help in most cases. If you were a new guy again, I bet, you would act spontaneously. In case you would have money, it could be invested in "trends" and mainstreams. Suppose, the first step of each newbie is learning. Self-education will help to avoid mistakes in the future, and trading further, you will be more successful with this business.
Most newbies, the aspect that mostly entice them is the part where the person that introduce them to crypto only explain how they can make moment without telling them the risk in it and how to be cautious with their investment, so like many of us did to when we first started, we just look at the coin, imagine that it would be good because the name sounds nice, and then invest in them randomly lol.
This is why many of us are still holding loads of shitcoins in our portfolio right now, but it is a good thing that the scammers has forced majority of us into knowing that we have to fully know the project we pick before investing in them which is by researching on them, although like you said, it does not work easily like that, but at least it still help a whole lot.