TradeFollow offers two primary modes: receiving alerts and making manual decisions, or automating trade execution entirely. Both approaches have their place. This guide helps you understand which is right for your situation.
The Two Approaches
Alert-Only Mode
How it works: 1. TradeFollow detects a relevant signal 2. You receive an instant notification 3. You review and decide whether to trade 4. You execute manually on your exchange
You control: Every trading decision
Auto-Execution Mode
How it works: 1. TradeFollow detects a relevant signal 2. AI evaluates against your rules 3. Trade executes automatically 4. You receive confirmation notification
You control: The rules, not individual trades
Comparison Overview
| Factor | Alert-Only | Auto-Execution |
|---|---|---|
| Speed | Slower (human in loop) | Fastest (instant) |
| Control | Full control each trade | Control via rules |
| Emotional bias | Present | Eliminated |
| 24/7 operation | Limited by availability | Always on |
| Learning curve | Lower | Moderate |
| Risk of errors | Manual errors possible | Rule errors possible |
When to Choose Alert-Only
You're New to Trading
Why alerts first: - Learn how signals relate to price movements - Understand your reaction time limitations - Build confidence before automating - Make mistakes without automation amplifying them
Recommended duration: 1-3 months before considering automation
You Prefer Manual Control
Good fit if you: - Want to evaluate each opportunity individually - Have specific contextual judgment to apply - Don't trust rules to capture your strategy - Trade as a focused activity, not passively
Signals Require Interpretation
Alert-only better for: - Complex, nuanced signals - Situations requiring additional research - Signals from less reliable sources - News that needs verification
You Have Time Available
Works well when: - You can respond quickly during market hours - You're not trading 24/7 markets extensively - You enjoy the active trading process
Alerts let you benefit from TradeFollow's detection speed while maintaining full decision-making control. You're using AI to find opportunities faster, not to replace your judgment.
When to Choose Auto-Execution
Speed is Critical
Auto-execution essential when: - Trading high-impact influencer signals - Competing with other automated traders - Signals decay within seconds/minutes - Manual execution consistently too slow
The math:
Signal detected → Manual trade: 30-120 seconds
Signal detected → Auto trade: 1-3 seconds
For fast-moving signals, this difference determines profitability.
You Can't Monitor Constantly
Auto-execution helps when: - You have a full-time job - You're in different time zones from market activity - Signals come at unpredictable times - You want to trade while sleeping
Your Strategy is Rule-Based
Good fit if your strategy: - Has clear, definable entry criteria - Doesn't require subjective judgment - Works consistently when rules are followed - Benefits from removing emotion
Consistency Matters
Auto-execution provides: - Same response every time (no hesitation) - No emotional interference (fear, greed) - No fatigue effects (late night signals) - Documented, repeatable process
Automation removes the weakest link in trading: human reaction time and emotional responses. The best strategy means nothing if you can't execute it consistently.
The Hybrid Approach
Many traders use both modes for different situations:
Tiered by Signal Type
High-confidence, time-sensitive signals:
→ Auto-execution (speed critical)
Medium-confidence signals:
→ Alert-only (human judgment adds value)
New/untested signal sources:
→ Alert-only (learning phase)
Tiered by Account Type
@ExchangeOfficial (listing announcements):
→ Auto-execution (high confidence, fast-moving)
@CryptoInfluencer (trade calls):
→ Alert-only (evaluate each call)
@WhaleAlert (on-chain moves):
→ Alert-only (context needed)
Tiered by Position Size
Small positions (exploratory):
→ Auto-execution (speed matters, risk limited)
Large positions (significant):
→ Alert-only (want manual confirmation)
Making the Transition
From Alerts to Automation
Step 1: Track your alert performance - How many alerts do you act on? - How consistent are your decisions? - Where does speed cost you money?
Step 2: Identify automatable patterns - Which signals always get the same response? - What decisions are purely mechanical?
Step 3: Start small - Automate one signal type/source - Use minimum position sizes - Monitor closely for first weeks
Step 4: Expand gradually - Add more automated rules as confidence builds - Increase position sizes slowly - Keep some signals alert-only
From Automation to More Control
If automation isn't working: - Review which rules are underperforming - Consider alert-only for problem areas - Don't abandon automation entirely—refine it
Risk Considerations
Alert-Only Risks
Missed opportunities: - Slow reaction loses edge - Emotional hesitation causes missed entries - Not available when signals fire
Inconsistency: - Different responses to similar signals - Fatigue affecting decisions - Emotional state influencing trades
Auto-Execution Risks
Rule errors: - Poorly defined rules execute bad trades - Edge cases not anticipated - Rules become outdated
Over-reliance: - Set-and-forget without monitoring - Missing when market conditions change - Failure to optimize
Technical failures: - API issues - Exchange problems - Connectivity issues
Managing Both Risks
| Risk | Alert-Only Mitigation | Auto-Execution Mitigation |
|---|---|---|
| Slow execution | Practice speed, use mobile | Inherently fast |
| Emotional decisions | Pre-define criteria | Rules eliminate emotion |
| Bad trades | Manual review catches | Thorough rule testing |
| Missed signals | Reliable notifications | 24/7 operation |
| System errors | Human backup | Monitoring + limits |
Self-Assessment Questions
Answer these to help choose your approach:
Speed requirements: 1. How fast do your target signals move? (seconds vs. minutes) 2. Can you consistently respond within that window?
Availability: 3. Are you available during peak signal times? 4. Do you want to trade while sleeping/working?
Decision making: 5. Are your entry decisions rule-based or intuitive? 6. Do you often hesitate on valid signals?
Trust level: 7. How confident are you in defining rules? 8. Do you trust yourself to execute consistently?
Scoring: - Mostly fast, unavailable, rule-based, hesitant → Auto-execution - Mostly slow, available, intuitive, decisive → Alert-only - Mixed → Hybrid approach
Conclusion
Neither approach is universally better—the right choice depends on:
Choose Alert-Only if: - Learning or building confidence - Signals require interpretation - You value control over speed - You're available to respond
Choose Auto-Execution if: - Speed is critical to profitability - You can't monitor constantly - Your strategy is well-defined - Consistency beats discretion
Choose Hybrid if: - Different signals need different handling - You want automation's speed with manual oversight - You're transitioning between approaches
Most successful TradeFollow users eventually use a hybrid approach—automating what can be automated while maintaining manual control where judgment adds value.
Start with what matches your current situation, then evolve as you learn what works best for your trading style.