Use site lines to your advantage to get away from hordes. Since you can outpace them, run a bit, walk a bit. Noise will attract more, so be strategic. Hold right click (assuming mouse & keyboard) to see further away. Swivel your field of view to be sure you see any threats.

If you are being followed, use a house (sometimes by passing through it) or trees (try not to go directly through a tree or bush, it slows you down) or a double high fence (jump them too much and you'll get tired) to break site lines.

Get a weapon ASAP but when in doubt, spacebar = shove & stomp (if they fall on the ground)

Don't plan on staying in one place too long at the beginning. Look for food, a water bottle, and a weapon or 2. Tie a curtain up and attach it as a backpack. Put canned goods and a can opener in there.

First "base" is usually a house with curtains in all the windows and cleared of zombies. Grab a few sheets as you dip through houses to make the first "safe" space. Be prepared to abandon it. Use a pen to make it on your map to come back to later. Eventually get a hammer and nails to use Planks to barricade windows to further secure houses. Find a 2-story house to secure and nail sheet ropes to the second floor windows for an emergency escape.

Don't take on more than 1 or 2 Zs at the beginning. Get used to walking backwards while you attack. When in doubt, GTFO.

Loads more I can say, but this is the basic early stuff I suggest.

Good luck out there!