Depending on the nature of what causes the zombie outbreak, there are several survival techniques that may require changing or become irrelevant (which I will specifically discuss when I come to it). The first most-likely part of the outbreak involves, well, the outbreak.
Step 1: Arm yourself.
You need to get from where you are when you first find out about the outbreak to your "safe" location. Regardless, the first thing I would do is get my hands on the most effective weapons I can find. Preferably, a modern carbon-steel Katana (the most effective cutting weapon, and will take a LONG time to dull), because as long as it has an edge, it can kill zombies. If you have no idea how to use a melee weapon outside of what you see in movies, then I'd suggest you skip the swords, since you're only likely to hinder yourself. Pre-sharpened Katanas (and other swords) can be often found at local stores and malls, so take a few if you can manage the weight encumbrance. Next I would get a few guns, ideally a few pistols (in case of jamming), a semi-automatic rifle, and a sawed-off shotgun (cause who's really gonna care if it's against the law then?). All of these are available at any gun store (in the U.S.) if you don't own or have easy access to guns already, but there will undoubtedly be a mass exodus to such places for the same reason, so buy ahead! As for ammo distribution, I'd carry the most ammo for the pistols since they are the easiest and quickest to draw, plus you will likely use the most rounds with them to take out a zombie. Remember, quick and decisive will survive longer than being over encumbered with thousands of rounds of ammo.
Step 2: Protect yourself.
While having a bunch of guns with an endless supply of ammo is the best way to go, you need to realize that it only takes one zombie to get past you, or catch you during a reold to infect you. So here are some tips to protect yourself should you get surprised with an up-close encounter.
1) Work in groups. Having someone watch your back will help reduce the chance of any surprises.
2) Wear armor. Bullet-proof armor isn't going to be particularly effective (or available), and medieval armor isn't necessary. You want to stay light, so you don't tire quickly. Remember, in most cases, zombies aren't going to be wielding weapons (maybe they might swing a blunt-force weapon like a tree branch or a baseball bat), so you only need to protect from the area that zombies will infect you from, their saliva. In other words, protect yourself from bite wounds. Leather, and denim are materials that will often protect from teeth piercing your skin, but you may still suffer from blunt force trauma (such as being tackled or beaten by zombies). So you should reinforce key areas with other "armors" such as a helmet for your head (one that hopefully doesn't obscure your vision). Use what's around you. Tie the plastic siding of a house to your forearms, shins and thighs for additional protection.
Step 3: Figure out where to go.
What if your ideal location is overrun by zombies? Where do you go? If your route to safety is blocked by zombies, and looks too risky to fight through, hole up. Herr are some (basic) tips on "zombie-proofing" an impromptu location.
1) Look for the points of entry. If caught in the open with zombies approaching, quickly but thoroughly examine your options, does a house have a lot of first-floor windows? Does it have a second or third floor? Is there a store nearby with only a front and back entrance? If you're in a city, I suggest heading for an apartment since you can shut down the elevators and barricade the stairwell at the first floor, leaving the upper levels to you and whoever still around (NOTE: if the outbreak has already reached the location, the residents may already me zombies, so proceed with caution).
2) How long can you survive there? Food is not infinite, and you will eventually have to leave, however, the more time you can spend between excursions outside the better your chances of survival. Once inside your "fortress", examine your food supplies and ration them. If you somehow get to a spot where you can raise animals and grow food, then simply do that (mind the animals though, their waste can become a health danger. Imagine surviving the zombie outbreak only to die of E. coli poisoning! People often speak of how bad it is to be in an area with a lot of people (I.E. a city), but if you live there and can't get out, you CAN use it to your advantage. Work with the people (the uninfected ones... duh) to pool all the food together. Barricade the entrances and/or the 1st floor stairwells to an apartment complex. Now you suddenly have a "survivor outpost". Write a big 'S.O.S.' on the roof (in case any helicopter fly by searching for survivors), and if adjacent apartments have blockaded themselves like you have, you can build a "bridge" between buildings in order to extend your "safe" range of movement. This can be done with any available materials, such as furniture and ropes, depending on the distance between apartments. REMEMBER, remove these bridges after dark, in case the infected get inside. No reason for all buildings to fall for one's barricade failure.
