Kind of re-repeating what is stated in many other threads, but:
try to get 100point armors for your guys asap. Better if possible. Buy them damaged or get them from dagger-stabbed bodies. These are more important than weapons.
use your shieldwall, but know when even that favorable early game tactic won’t work. Consider your enemies and your situation carefully. Don’t be afraid to retreat.
bros with a melee attack lower than 50 get spears. Lower than 60 get swords. Very good bros should get the best armor and weapons, or be in the back, using pikes. Ranged bros with low ranged values get crossbows. When high enough, say +60, they can get bows.
don’t disparage your FAT. You need it. Chronically dead-tired bros are dead already, they just don’t know it yet.
not having ranged superiority means that the enemy will often camp and fire at you from afar. Charging at them in the early game is just stupid (unless you really know what you are doing. Since this is a thread on how to help in the early game, this point really stands). In the early game you might be able to have ranged superiority. If so, enjoy and play defensively. If not, pick your fights. Use cover, fight during the dark hours, use shields and shieldwalls, use higher terrain, chokepoints, etc.
you aren’t a hero. If you start believing you are, you will get killed trying to save some villager from a direwolf attack. Even if you have to retreat often, you might just get enough experience from that encounter, for you or your men.
beware of armored enemies, and of each enemy’s defense or special immunities. Spearwalling zombies might work for a bit, but then having to poke them to death might not be the best alternative after the wall is breached. It depends.
get surround bonuses on the enmy, whenever possible. Don’t let your guys get surrounded. Avoid injuries and morale penalties. Try to have the enemy break and run whenever possible. An enemy that is panicked won’t fight back.
remember what you are trying to achieve. It is arguable that quite a lot of early bros are much less important than that bandit leader’s greatsword. I would often agree with such an argument.
take care of your money, it pays wages. Take care of your food, tools and ranged weaponry. You don’t want to run out. Remember how deeply about economics this game is. You want to keep on running a profit, either by a steady income or bursts. Pace yourself.
many more tips if you search for them. Read Fritz’s guide. He had an interesting approach to the game back in the day.