If you were to pick one key rule to follow when shopping for credit cards, that rule would be: Think credit first.

One of the first things the issuer will do is pull a copy of your credit report. Issuers take a close look at your credit history to determine whether to take the risk of giving you a credit line.

Before you go card hunting, it would be wise to obtain a copy of your credit report. This way there will be no surprises when you're shopping, and you will have the time you need to correct any errors in the report.

For detailed advice on how to get your credit in order, check out: Your Credit: The basics.