This is my first grow but for my first germ (started day before yesterday) I took my seeds and put them in a cup of water for 24 hours. Then the next day when they had all sunk to the bottom I put them into a fairly moist paper towel.
Then I set the fairly moist towel with my seeds inside into a small plate/saucer then covered it with another plate/saucer of the same size upside down. The plates on top of each other gives them the dark place they like while they germ so the room doesn't have to be completely dark.Then I put that shiz on top of my cable box and it keeps them nice and cozy.
I got lucky and about 15 of my 20 bag seeds started showing a taproot by 24 hours.
I've also heard of people lightly scuffing the seeds to help them pop easier.
As I said this is my first grow so I'm by no means an expert but I've read until my eyes burn and this is what worked for me. Thanks a lot guys for all the great knowledge you're nice enough to enlighten us all with.
Forgot to say, it sucks to wait but be patient and you should be golden.