A little advice about how to handle new players--
Before they start buying minis sit down with them and teach them the rules and help them build an army on paper that they like--that way they can plan what to buy first and so on. Make sure you help them pick a good balanced army!
If you have multiple armies loan them one of yours for a game. They are motivated by playing with real (hopefully painted) troops rather than cardboard units. If you design both lists and give them choice of army they begin playing with a good army straight off. Better yet give them the better list. Youderive experience in its use by playing against it too.
Experience is a better learning tool than lots of theoretical ramblings on the experts part.
There is also lots of scope for loaning them troops they don't have for experimentation: "Here, try these ogres instead of your empire knights against my RBT's" (Sorry Mark, couldn't resist- any newbies reading this should be warned that this advice is heresy in some circles)
For their first game keep it small and simple--2000pts max. Also limit the troop types used by both sides. There is so much to learn at first that it will help them if you can reduce information overload.
Help them set up and explain why they should set up that way. And explain why you set up the way you did. Set up first and then tell them which of their units are effective against yours, and vice versa.
For their second game you should each make up your army as normal-ie.secret. and only help with strategy and tactics if they want help. I find that they still generally benefit from lots of instruction at this stage though you do have to try to be aware of their need for self-determination. After a while you can begin pointing out better options after they have committed themselves and later still as they are starting to become a decent challenge only offer this advice at the end of the game.
Build local contact lists so you can encourage them to play people of their own levels. While theyare learning from you with your active participation it is still discouraging to lose. Give them the opportunity to test what they have learned against other novices. That way they win occasionally by putting your suggestions into practice. Those strategies often will not work against you because you are likely to already know its counter. If they don't see it working they are likely to stop using it.
Never do a complete smear job on a Newbie even if it means you have to initiate some charges that won't win. These guys have to be left with some glimmer of hope.
Give them a points advantage.
The reader's suggestion of playing multiplayer games was a good one. Combine the best and worst player together and face the two least experienced players against each other.
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Regards,
Sage.
DRAGONOGRE