# Alert System

> How to post trade alerts in Discord. The Trade Alerts Bot validates your trades, tracks performance, and connects you to the community.

Source: https://tradeecho.com/docs/community/alert-system (updated 2026-07-26)

How to post trade alerts in Discord. The Trade Alerts Bot validates your trades, tracks performance, and connects you to the community.

---

## Why Post Trade Alerts?

- **Real-time sharing** - Share your trades as they happen
- **Performance tracking** - Bot validates and tracks your performance
- **Community engagement** - Connect with other traders
- **Compete for prizes** - Join monthly competitions for cash rewards
- **Build reputation** - Demonstrate your trading skills

---

## Alert Formats

### Options Format

**Opening a position (Buy to Open):**

```
BTO [quantity] [symbol] [strike][option-type] [expiration] @ [price]
```

**Closing a position (Sell to Close):**

```
STC [quantity] [symbol] [strike][option-type] [expiration] @ [price]
```

**Example:**

```
BTO 1 SPY 450C 12/15 @ 2.50
```

Translation: Buy 1 SPY call option, $450 strike, expiring Dec 15, at $2.50 per contract.

### Futures Format

**Opening a futures position:**

```
BTO [quantity] [symbol] @ [price]
```

**Closing a futures position:**

```
STC [quantity] [symbol] @ [price]
```

**Example:**

```
BTO 1 NQ @ 18000
```

Translation: Buy 1 Nasdaq futures contract at 18,000.

---

## Format Breakdown

| Element | Description |
|---------|-------------|
| **BTO** | Buy to Open (opening position) |
| **STC** | Sell to Close (closing position) |
| **STO** | Sell to Open (opening short - selling calls/puts) |
| **BTC** | Buy to Close (closing short) |
| **Quantity** | Number of contracts |
| **Symbol** | Stock ticker (SPY, QQQ, AAPL, etc.) |
| **Strike** | Strike price (450, 380, etc.) |
| **Option Type** | C for calls, P for puts |
| **Expiration** | Date in MM/DD format |
| **Price** | Contract price at entry/exit |

---

## Rules

1. **Post in Member Alerts** - All member trade alerts must go in the designated Member Alerts channel
2. **Post immediately** - Post when you enter the trade. The bot validates price at posting time
3. **Use exact format** - Incorrect formats may be ignored
4. **Bot validates price** - The bot checks contract price at the moment you post
5. **Post STC when closing** - Always post your exit when you close a position

---

## Setting Up Alert Notifications

### Follow a Trader

Use the bot command:

```
!follow @trader
```

You will receive DM notifications when that trader posts alerts in Member Alerts.

### Enable Channel Notifications

1. Go to the enable-alert-dm channel
2. Follow the instructions to enable notifications
3. Choose which alert types you want (Cblast, Steel, etc.)

---

## Common Mistakes to Avoid

| Wrong | Correct |
|-------|---------|
| Buying 1 SPY 450 call @ $2.50 | BTO 1 SPY 450C 12/15 @ 2.50 |
| BTO 1 SPY 450C December 15 @ 2.50 | BTO 1 SPY 450C 12/15 @ 2.50 |

---

## Bot Validation

- **Bot reacts** = Trade validated and recorded
- **No reaction** = Format incorrect or price mismatch

If you post 30 seconds after entering, the price may have moved and your trade could be invalidated. Post immediately.

---

## In-app Member Alerts

You can also read alerts, rankings, and follows inside Trade Echo on **web and mobile** without scrolling Discord all day. See [Member Alerts (In-App)](https://tradeecho.com/docs/community/member-alerts).

---

## Other Trade Echo alerts

This page covers Discord trade alerts (BTO/STC). Trade Echo also sends alerts from the platform itself:

- **Platform module alerts** - Dealer Edge/GEX alert triggers and Option Flow + Algo Edge alert tiers, configured in the app's alert preference pages
- **Chart alerts (NEW)** - create alerts from drawn trend lines or price lines on Pulse charts (web and mobile), managed from the alerts manager panel
- **Full alert matrix** - see [Notifications FAQ](https://tradeecho.com/docs/faq/notifications) for every alert type and where to configure it