Trading.. the long and short of it...

[Ayiranorea]

Be cautious as you are a beginner in trading, even a small mistake will cause you loss the entire investment. Right now analyze the best ICO and invest into it, with majority of the ICO the growth is assured for certain extent. Wait for the token distribution and trade it, you'll get an capital amount as profit to invest on further altcoin trading.

[Pursuer]

You can pick up and buy some altcoin when their price falls to be around -50% cheaper before the price pushes back up at least you can buy it

I would characterize current altcoin market as unpredictable at best. and this means if you want to catch a falling knife like this at after a -50% drop it is best to be ready to throw that knife as soon as you catch it both if it drops more or if it rises back up because the market that I am seeing has a higher chance of bigger drop and entering a dead bear market than it has chance for rising.

[nisya]

I'm interested in alt coins and would like to invest a small amount of money into the market. I'm thinking of making an initial investment of around $300-$500. what would be the best way for me to get experience with minimal risk?

for that amount, i will suggest to you to buy bitcoin only and hold it. you can buy right now or waiting for the end of this month so you can buy in cheap price. but if you want to buy altcoin, then there is many good coins you can buy like ltc, etc, eth, xrp, dgb, waves. you only need to search by yourself for the coins and then place your order buy.

[asyakashi]

You can pick up and buy some altcoin when their price falls to be around -50% cheaper before the price pushes back up at least you can buy it

Not all coins fall deeper, 50% much time is spent waiting. I think 20% is enough. Taking 10% profit in 1 week is good. Target sales and focus.

[BTCLovingDude]

I'm interested in alt coins and would like to invest a small amount of money into the market. I'm thinking of making an initial investment of around $300-$500. what would be the best way for me to get experience with minimal risk?

first sign up on one of the good exchanges such as poloniex or bittrex and then choose the coin you want to invest in and do it.
the first step is easy, you just check the platform and check their rules and if you liked it you sign up.
the second step however is where things get complicated. you need to choose wisely not based on emotions. find the things that can lead to a price rise and try to speculate the future of each coin.
and most important of all, don't trust anyone. specially those who are saying buy .... most of them are doing it for their own benefits

[MiXxe]

I'm interested in alt coins and would like to invest a small amount of money into the market. I'm thinking of making an initial investment of around $300-$500. what would be the best way for me to get experience with minimal risk?

Explore the exchanges and try to observe the movements of every market don't put all you money on it spread it then observe again . Have a research in coins that you are going to put your money .
Don't afraid to lose go for it because you will learn from exploring with losing times. Havea patience wait for the market to bounceback or to pump /dump.