Getting into the stock market used to be the privilege of the wealthy, but thanks to many new options, even smaller investors can do well. The Internet is perhaps one of the best tools for anyone to use to start investing, but there are some serious considerations that should come into play before an investor hits the buy button.

While there are many great, reputable sites to buy stock online from, not all sites are the same. There are even some that aren't worth the pixels on the page. With that said, potential investors should look for these things in sites before they buy stock online:

Reputation: This is perhaps one of the biggest considerations when looking at different sites to buy stock online through. To check the reputation of the company offering the purchase and sale services, look at consumer reports, visit investor bulletin boards and even seek out recommendations from friends.

A lot of the big-name stock trading companies now have their own online buying and sales sites. These are typically very good choices, but some of the smaller ones, too, can be worth a look. Just make sure a site used is one that's known to have a good reputation for doing what it says it will. If you're not sure, don't invest.

Selection: Some sites that offer to buy and sell stocks online for clients don't always offer the types of stocks a buyer might want. Check to see what markets a site has access to before deciding to use it. Some sites might cater to only foreign markets while others might offer access to both foreign and domestic.

Security: Since your financial information will be inputted into the site for buying and reaping sales benefits, it's a good idea to make sure the site and your information are well protected. Do not give out personal information over connections that aren't locked, secured and encrypted.

Fees: A lot of investors find that some sites charge more per transaction than others. When every penny counts, it's a good idea to make sure the fees are within a range that's deemed acceptable. The perk of buying online is that fees are less than those associated with dealing with a broker directly. If that's not the case, a site might not be the best one out there.

Help: Good online investment sites offer clients access to assistance when it's needed. If the sites you're looking at don't, they might be worth passing up even if the fees are reasonable. The fact is even the most knowledgeable investors sometimes need assistance. The sites should also offer access to help with technical issues to ensure that clients can use their services easily.

Deciding to buy stock online is one of the best ways for almost anyone to get involved in the market. Choosing the right site to invest through can take a little work. Research should absolutely be done before personal, financial information is given out over the Internet. While most trading sites are very reputable, there are some that are not.