Smart investors use online trading to their advantage and adopt some of the philosophies of long-term investors. Day trading can be fun, but it can be a risky battle, so a more holistic approach can be a bit smarter to adopt.

Online trading works in much the same manner as hiring a broker, the difference is you're in the driver's seat in most cases. This means you can buy and sell your stocks in real time, using online features to do so. If you're into watching the market, it means you can buy into stocks as they begin to show signs of life, and sell quickly when a profit's been made. The disadvantage here is that many unskilled buyers tend to get a little overzealous and lose money using online trading sites.

To protect yourself and your investments, it's wise when using online trading to:

* Understand what you're getting into. It might seem like a fun game to watch stocks go up and down, but when it's your money that's involved, it's not a game. The investments are real and so are potential losses.

* Pay heed to stocks that are good to buy into. Research your buys and don't count on a single day's returns as the only information you use before making purchases. While some higher risk buys are more than OK, you don't want your entire savings tied up in them.

* Diversify. Online trading is a fun and relatively inexpensive way to get into the stock market, but don't use this as the only means of investing for your future. Smart investors developed a mixed portfolio, which means they have stocks, bonds, CDs and other investment tools all working for them.

* Don't over-react. One bad day for a blue chip, for example, doesn't mean the stock is going to "crash" for good. Hold on to stocks that are proven winners for a fair amount of time before accepting a loss and selling.

* Don't invest more than you can afford to lose. There are no guarantees in the stock market. Even if you have a "sure winner," there is a chance you could lose a lot of money on a particular stock. It's important to make sure you invest only what you can financially handle.

* Get professional advice, if necessary. If you don't understand how the market works, or at least the basic gist of it, seek out advice before getting into online trading. The temptation to buy and sell too fast or too slow could get you into trouble if you don't understand how to watch stocks and research the market.

Online trading can be a great way to get involved in the stock market right from the security of your own home. Quick, easy and offering low handling fees, this particular means of investing is becoming a favorite investing pastime for many. Just make sure you understand what you're getting into before you do. Loses in online trading are just as real as if you'd hired a broker.