We each want to find some new exciting form of fossil, but what should a new collector, or just a person seeking help, do when they find a 'suspect' rock/fossil? Well, first I recommend that they search the Internet for the term 'fossils' and use the Image category. Familiarize yourself with the types of fossils that are out there. Books are also a good source. Try the common ones like the ones from the Smithsonian Field Guide series.
Also consider where the item was found. If it was found amongst a lot of volcanic material, or in a pile of Granite or Schist, or some other form of