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Your First Strategy

This guide walks you through the process of going from zero to a running automated strategy. No coding required.

The Game Plan​

  1. Pick a simple strategy idea
  2. Set it up on TradingView
  3. Connect it to CrossTrade
  4. Test on a sim account
  5. Go live (when ready)

Step 1 — Pick a Strategy​

Start simple. A moving average crossover is the classic first strategy:

  • Buy when a fast moving average crosses above a slow moving average
  • Sell when it crosses below

This isn't about finding the perfect strategy — it's about learning the automation pipeline. You can refine later.

Step 2 — Set Up on TradingView​

  1. Open a chart for the instrument you want to trade (e.g., ES futures)
  2. Add an SMA crossover indicator or use TradingView's built-in strategy
  3. Configure the parameters (e.g., 9-period fast, 21-period slow)
  4. Verify the signals look reasonable on the chart

Step 3 — Create the Webhook Alert​

Create an alert in TradingView with your CrossTrade webhook payload:

key=your-secret-key;
command=place;
account=Sim101;
instrument=ES1!;
action={{strategy.order.action}};
qty={{strategy.order.contracts}};
order_type=market;
tif=day;
sync_strategy=true;
market_position={{strategy.market_position}};
prev_market_position={{strategy.prev_market_position}};
out_of_sync=flatten;

Paste your CrossTrade webhook URL into the Notifications tab.

Step 4 — Test on Sim​

Always start on a sim account. Watch for:

  • Are orders being placed correctly?
  • Is the position sizing right?
  • Are entries and exits firing as expected?
  • Check your Alert History for any errors

Run for at least a few trading sessions before considering live.

Step 5 — Go Live​

When you're confident the strategy works as expected:

  1. Change account=Sim101 to your live account name
  2. Start with minimal quantity (qty=1)
  3. Set up Account Manager drawdown protection
  4. Monitor closely for the first few sessions

Next Steps​