Depending on what caused the hole in the area of the drywall you are patching, you may want to clean the outline of the hole and cut out any rough edges to make sure you can easily fit a drywall patch in the hole.
This sometimes may require you to make the hole bigger, which sounds strange, but it will help in the end to create a strong patch with a smooth finish. Also, we have found it easier to patch a square hole versus a round or odd shaped hole.
Lastly, before cutting a larger area, make sure to check for any obstructions like ductwork, pipes or wire that you could risk cutting into.